Book excerpt: "Based on the latest scientific research, The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants provides a fascinating insight into the chemistry of herbs and their healing properties, explaining how and why they work as medicines within the body." "The major herbal traditions practiced in different regions of the world - Europe, India, China, Africa, Australia, and the Americas - are vividly described and reviewed from a historical perspective, revealing the intimate connection between the growth of herbal medicine and the culture in which it is used." "A unique photographic index profiles more than 550 plants with detailed information on habitat and cultivation, parts used, active constituents, therapeutic properties, research, and traditional and current uses. The profiles of the 100 most commonly used plants also explain herbal preparations and give recommendations for self-treatment." "A practical section outlines how to grow, harvest, and store medicinal plants. The easy-to-follow photographic guide shows how to make different types of remedies for home use, with expert guidance on the self-treatment of more than 60 common ailments."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved