Herbal Drugs: Development and Applications

The study of botany and the use of medicinal plants is known as herbal medicine or phytomedicine. Human beings have used plants as a basis of medical treatments for decades. Herbal drugs are categorized as a part of traditional medicine. They are produced in various forms such as herbal teas, which result from extracting herbs into water, tinctures, which are obtained by combining ethanol with herbs, and essential oil extracts. Modern medicine also makes extensive use of many compounds which are derived from plants. The scope of herbal medicine is not limited to plants alone but is sometimes extended to include fungal and bee products, as well as minerals, shells and certain animal parts. This book attempts to understand the multiple branches that fall under the discipline of herbal medicine. It also studies how they are developed and how they can be applied in the treatment of various ailments. This book, with its detailed analyses and data, will prove to be extremely beneficial to professionals and students involved in this area at various levels.