Practical medical recommendations for use of medicinal plants, based on a scientific approach! According to estimates of the World Health Organization, 80 per cent of the world population are primarily reliant on traditional methods of healing, which use empirical knowledge based on the use of medicinal plants. In many rural areas of developing countries there are no alternatives to traditional methods of healing, as neither the financial means nor the necessary infrastructure are in place to allow the use of imported pharmaceuticals. There are, however, insufficient data available regarding the efficacy and side-effects of the treatment of diseases with medicinal plants. The plants described in this book were chosen from a list of 4776 medicinal plants predominantly used in Africa. 54 of these plants were described in ethno-pharmacological reports from five or more African countries, and from this list 25 of the most frequently reported plants were chosen for this collection. Pharmacists, practitioners, nurses, and other people in health care who work in African or other developing countries must often know about both the positive and the toxic characteristics of medicinal plants.

Hard back 168 pages