Nature's Pharmacopeia: A World of Medicinal Plants - Hardcover

Choffnes, Dan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0231166605 ISBN 13: 9780231166607

Publisher: Columbia University Press, 2016

Synopsis

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.

The book 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 create new pharmaceuticals.

About this title

Book Description:

This beautifully illustrated textbook pairs the best research on the biochemical properties and physiological effects of medicinal plants with a history of the ways in which humans have cultivated plant species, extracted their chemical ingredients, and investigated their effects on the body. Geared toward nonspecialists, Nature's Pharmacopeia fosters an appreciation of the 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.

About the Author:

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 doctorate at the University of California, Berkeley, and has conducted field research in medical botany in Central America, South America, and South and East Asia.

About this edition

• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0231166605
• ISBN 13: 9780231166607
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 352