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This beautifully illustrated, elegantly written textbook pairs the best research on the biochemical properties and physiological effects of medicinal plants with a fascinating history of their use throughout human civilization, revealing the influence of nature's pharmacopeia on art, war, conquest, and law. By chronicling the ways in which humans have cultivated plant species, extracted their active chemical ingredients, and investigated their effects on the body over time, Nature's Pharmacopeia also builds an unparalleled portrait of these special herbs as they transitioned from wild flora and botanical curiosities to commodities and potent drugs.
Nature's Pharmacopeia opens with an overview of the use of medicinal plants in the traditional practices and indigenous belief systems of people in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and ancient Europe. It then connects medicinal plants to the growth of scientific medicine in the West. Subsequent chapters cover the regulation of drugs; the use of powerful plant chemicals – such as cocaine, nicotine, and caffeine – in various medical settings; and the application of biomedicine's intellectual frameworks to the manufacture of novel drugs from ancient treatments. Geared toward nonspecialists, this text fosters a deep appreciation of the complex chemistry and cultural resonance of herbal medicine, while suggesting how we may further tap the vast repositories of the world's herbal knowledge to realize more novel pharmaceuticals.
Preface
Note to the Reader
Introduction
1. The Concepts of Ethnomedicine
2. The Regulation of Drugs
3. The Actions of Medicinal Plants
4. The Actions of Medicinal Plants on the Nervous System
5. Poppy
6. Coca
7. Peyote
8. Wormwood
9. Hemp
10. Coffee
11. Tea
12. Cacao
13. Tobacco
14. Popular Herbs
15. The Future of Medicinal Plants
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Dan Choffnes is associate professor of biology and Asian studies at Carthage College, where he teaches courses in genetics, developmental biology, experimental design, and medicinal plants. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley, and has conducted field research in medical botany in Central America, South America, and South and East Asia.
"An excellent overview of the potency and potential of medicinal plants and their effects on the development of human culture starting in pre-historic times, throughout antiquity, middle-ages and modern times. Nature's Pharmacopeia can significantly impact the training and education of undergraduate students pursuing degrees in the life sciences, history or other disciplines in the humanities."
– Thomas Eulgem, University of California, Riverside
"A well-researched, clearly written, and beautifully illustrated textbook on important aspects of the world's ethnomedicine. Throughout the volume, Choffnes seamlessly weaves together fascinating stories and scientific facts and provides an excellent introduction to the past, present, and future of traditional medicine."
– Dr. Rainer W. Bussmann, director, William L. Brown Center, Missouri Botanical Garden
"Nature's Pharmacopeia is a compelling and wonderfully readable introduction to the importance of plants as therapies and toxins. Dan Choffnes provides a detailed, fascinating overview of some of the most interesting and economically important species – this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the green world."
– Michael J. Balick, vice president for botanical science and director, Institute of Economic Botany, New York Botanical Garden
"The beauty and romance of medicinal plants are beautifully illustrated in this book, which belongs on the shelf of every researcher, doctor, and medically literate citizen."
– Paul Alan Cox, director, Institute for Ethnomedicine, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
