Traditional medicine, including the knowledge, skills and practices of holistic health care, exists in all cultures. It is based on indigenous theories, beliefs and experiences, and is widely accepted for its role in health maintenance and the treatment of disease. Medicinal plants are the main ingredients of local medicines, but rapid urbanization is leading to the loss of many important plants and knowledge of their use.
This book covers only a small proportion of the immense knowledge on traditional medicine, the plant species from which they are derived, the diseases they can treat and the parts of the plants to be used.