Pharmacodynamic Basis of Herbal Medicine, Second Edition
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Answers What The Ancients Couldn’t!
| 5000 years ago Sheng Nung personally ingested or applied 365 different herbs and reported their functions and effects in history’s first classic of herbal medicine. He found that ginger settled nausea, licorice eased abdominal spasms, and cinnamon warmed the muscles and expelled cold. His patients took his advice, their conditions improved, and that was enough. Beyond the terms of Taoist philosophy, no one ever asked him “why?” Pharmacodynamic Basis of Herbal Medicine, Second Edition does what Sheng Nung was never asked to do—explain why. |
Summary
Continuing in the tradition of the acclaimed first edition, Pharmacodynamic Basis of Herbal Medicine, Second Edition examines in extensive detail the physiologic effects of complimentary and alternative therapies, foods, supplements, vitamins, and traditional herbal remedies. The author considers the site, mode, and mechanism of action to explain the desired and adverse effects and interactions of each herb, drug, and food in an encyclopedic volume.
Today’s Questions
Devoting entire chapters to the most influential herbal remedies, the text either endorses or debunks popular conceptions with pure scientific data. The author provides answers to today’s naturopathic questions by paying particular attention to the chronic diseases engendered by obesity, as well as Alzheimer’s, cancer, imbalances of neurotransmitters such as Parkinson’s, and depression.
The Latest Research
Incorporating current research on the devastating role of chronic systemic inflammation and the cumulative effect of poor oxygen metabolism and free radicals on changes in mitochondrial DNA, enzyme activity, and accelerations in the aging process, the text bridges the gap between ancient remedies and modern knowledge.
Effective Treatment
Deconstructing the molecular mystery that is the interaction among herbal properties, physiology, and disease, Pharmacodynamic Basis of Herbal Medicine, Second Edition opens the door to successful herbal treatment.
Table of Contents
The Pharmacokinetic Basis of Therapeutics
Pharmacodynamics
Adverse Reactions and Drug–Drug Interactions
Herb–Drug Interactions
Natural Products as a Resource for Established and New Drugs
Alternative Therapies
Herbal Therapeutics Then and Now
Dietary Antioxidants
Herbal Drugs and Their High Demand in Treating Diseases
Algae
Alkaloids
Aloe and Colon Function
Banisterine, Selegiline, and Parkinson’s Disease
Belladonna Alkaloids: Autonomic Drugs
Blueberry (Vaccinium)
Botulinum Toxin
Brussels Sprouts
Cannabis
Capsicum, Rosemary, and Turmeric
Carotenoids
Chocolate
Cinchona Tree
Coca
Colchicine and Gout
Compositae
Curare and Neuromuscular Blockade
Daffodil and Alzheimer’s Disease
Eggplant
Ephedrine (Ma Huang): A Decongestant and Vasopressor
Ergot, Its Alkaloids, and Headache
Flavonoids
Flaxseed
Folate in Fruit
Food–Drug Interactions
Foxglove, Cardiac Glycosides, and Congestive Heart Failure
Ginkgo biloba
Ginseng and Cholinergic Transmission
Green, White, and Black Teas
Herbal Plants and Tuberculosis
Herbal Products for the Chemotherapy of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Honey: The Nectar of Life
Horseradish and Antiplatelet Actions
Hypericum (St. John’s Wort) and Depression
Ipecac
Manuka and Fungal Disease
Marine Therapeutics
Morphine:Papaver somniferum
Oats (Avena sativa L.) and Their Antioxidant Activity
Olives and Olive Oil
Onion and Garlic
Immunoenhancing Actions of Plantain
Plants and Diabetes
Pomegranate
Pycnogenol
Pygeum africanum and Permixon for the Treatment of Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Reserpine
Rhubarb
Saffron
Salicylate
Sex Herbs
Sponges and Steroids
Taxol (Paclitaxel) and Cancer Chemotherapy
Tomatoes
Ulcer Therapy with Herbal Medicine
Valerian
Vitamins and Diet
Wheat Germ
Wine
Yogurt and the Immune System
Specific References
General References
Index
Editorial Reviews
Praise for the first edition:
“I was impressed by the scope and presentation of the material and would recommend it to anyone who wanted a good overall introduction to the pharmacology of herbs and plants”
— Peter L. Bonate, Pharmaceutical Research
praise for the first edition
“…offers a balanced approach that spans the gap between the hype in many popular herb books and the wariness of most scientific texts…Very helpful diagrams with charts explaining physiological actions accompany almost every section.”
— American Herb Association
praise for the first edition
“The author is well qualified to undertake such a challenging and important task to bridge the knowledge gap for herbal medicines by providing pharmacodynamic information that is currently available. …useful for both students of allopathic and traditional medicine.”
— Grace M. Kuo, PharmD, The Annals of Pharmacology
praise for the first edition
“Ebadi successfully catalogs and describes the most important of alternative health care practices in use today. … The content is often part folklore, tradition, or legend in addition to detailed scientific hypotheses and facts regarding the active constituents and mechanism(s) of action. One might expect the cover of this book to become well worn due to the number of people that would browse its pages. In that regard, the book is recommended for all readers desiring a general source of information about herbal medications. All levels.”
— P.W. Baures, Kansas State University, in CHOICE
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