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.
Reviews
Nature's Pharmacopeia will have a significant impact on 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 Recommended. CHOICE
Book Information
ISBN 9780231166614
Author Dan Choffnes
Format Paperback
Page Count 352
Imprint Columbia University Press
Publisher Columbia University Press