Synopses & Reviews
Lavishly illustrated, this definitive study identifies 180 plants that have been recognized for their medicinal qualities: green hellebore, marsh marigold, American ginseng, scarlet pimpernel, the common iris, hops, and many others. A therapeutic index keys over 1,000 ailments to alleged botanicals. 180 plates. Table of modern nomenclature.
Synopsis
Widely regarded as the definitive study of American medicinal plants, this volume discusses 180 native and acculturated plants in terms of curative and adverse physiological effects, chemical constituents, along with nomenclature, description, history and habitat. Green hellebore, marsh marigold, American ginseng, scarlet pimpernel many others. Accurate illustration show each plant, with magnification of pollen, fruit, seed, leaf and other parts. The drawings alone are worth the price of the book.
Synopsis
Did you know the root of the common iris found throughout the United States was reputed by the American Indians to be a remarkable cure for gastric disturbances? or that hops -- aside from being used in brewing -- were noted for their sedative qualities? There are hundreds of different plants growing wild throughout the United States that over the centuries have become recognized for their medicinal qualities. Charles F. Millspaugh's American Medicinal Plants was one of the first works to catalogue these many plants and to present thorough exacting descriptions of them as well as their uses and properties to the layman.
After general descriptions of the order and genus, every plant is presented in botanical sequence. Common and scientific names are given along with the name of the botanist who classified it. Then follows a detailed description of the plant with full information on its size, color, shape, range, habitat, and other distinguishing characteristics. The uses of the plant for medicinal purposes are equally detailed, citing observations from the time of the Greeks up to the near present. Each disease or ailment it is reported to have an effect upon is noted, as well as are the plant's adverse or toxic effects. Methods of preparation are dutifully given along with the chemical constituents extracted from the plant. Altogether 180 individual plants are covered -- each with a full page illustration; but considering the generic descriptions given at the beginning of each section, over 1,000 valuable species are touched upon.
Although many of the remedies in this book are now considered questionable, many of them may still be useful. The thorough descriptions and true-to-life drawings will greatly aid you in locating and identifying the plants, and you can use the recipes that are given for their preparation. A special feature is the therapeutic index, which keys over 1,000 ailments to alleged botanicals. Anyone who is interested in and uses natural herbs and plants will find this the best book available on their therapeutic aspects.
Synopsis
Lavishly illustrated, definitive study describes 180 plants: green hellebore, marsh marigold, American ginseng, scarlet pimpernel, and many others. Accurate illustration for each plant. 180 plates. Table of modern nomenclature.
Synopsis
Full descriptions, 180 plants covered: history; physical description; methods of preparation with all chemical constituents extracted; all claimed curative or adverse effects. 180 full-page plates.
Table of Contents
Publisher's Note to the Dover Edition
Preface
Natural Arrangement of the Plants
Additions and Corrections
Table of Revised Classification and Nomenclature
FULL-PAGE PLATES WITH DESCRIPTIVE TEXT
Dicotyledonous Phænogams
Monocotyledonous Phænogams
Acrogenous Cryptogams
APPENDIX
Glossary
Bibliography
Bibliographical Index
General Index
Therapeutic Index
Index of French Common Names
Index of German Common Names