Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals, Third Edition

Self-medication for minor illnesses and complaints has become much more common in recent years. Patients make and drink herbal teas as a cure for colds, stomach-aches, and nervousness. But their university studies ill-equip pharmacists and doctors to cope with the demand for competent counseling in this area. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals fills the gap. It contains detailed monographs on 181 medicinal herbs common in pharmaceutical practice. For each herb, this exciting text provides:references to pharmacopoeial monographssourcessynonymsconstituents (often with chemical structures)indicationsside effectspreparation of a teacommercially available phytomedicinesregulatory statusauthentication using macroscopical, microscopical, and chromatographic techniques.Many of the herbs have photographs or drawings to aid the process of authentication and quality assurance. Quantitative studies, likely adulterations, and storage requirements complete the text that is supplemented by references to original scientific publications.Extra references are included to the British Pharmacopoeia, the work of scientists in the English language, and to phytomedicines available in the United Kingdom.