Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition [Hardcover]

James A. Duke (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0849312841 | ISBN-13: 978-0849312847 | Publication Date: June 27, 2002 | Edition: 2

Still considered the definitive work on medicinal herbs and their uses after two decades, the Handbook of Medicinal Herbs has undergone a long-anticipated revision. In the second edition, world-renowned ethnobotanist James A. Duke provides up-to-date data on over 800 of the world’s most important medicinal plant species. The book contains more species, phytochemicals, proven indications, folk indications, and dosage data than the first edition in a new easier to use format. The in-depth content, the addition of color plates and over 200 black and white illustrations makes this book the most comprehensive resource on medicinal herbs available.

NEW IN THE SECOND EDITION:

·         Over 100 color plates, 4 color maps

·         Over 200 black and white illustrations

·         Over 800 medicinal plants — more than twice as many as the previous edition organized alphabetically by common name

·         More herbs from the African, Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Jamu traditions

EASY ACCESS TO INFORMATION YOU NEED

Designed to give you fast access to the information you need on a regular basis, this new edition is organized more systematically than any other medicinal herb publication. The entries are now arranged alphabetically by common name with the scientific name in parenthesis. Major synonyms are also provided.

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It has become increasingly clear that there are hundreds of biologically active compounds, often additive or synergistic, in all our plants, foods, spices, herbs, medicinal, and poisonous plants. The debate continues on how these plants work and how they should be used. Blending scientific fact with folk uses and the author’s personal experience, Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition provides the most well rounded discussions of safety, efficacy, toxicity, and rational use found in any herbal reference.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 896 pages
• Publisher: CRC Press; 2 edition (June 27, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849312841
• ISBN-13: 978-0849312847
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,461,004 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

JAMES A. DUKE, PHD, held several posts in his more than three decades with the US Department of Agriculture, including chief of the Medicinal Plant Resources Laboratory. He is the author of numerous scholarly and popular books, including the bestseller The Green Pharmacy, and is on the board of advisors for Prevention. He resides in Fulton, Maryland.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ok book, September 5, 2010

By 

Lyle "L3" (Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition (Hardcover)

I appreciate the vast size of the book and massive amount of plants included in it, however it reads like an index. The info is just a summarized listing of what the herbs are used for, by culture, etc. but nothing detailed. A useful book for fast, one stop herbal referencing to quickly find out what plants are useful for what condition, but for the price it should be the last one you buy unless herbal medicine is your profession. Pictures are just a single, black, non-photographic outline of the plant.
Overall, a high quality book but it is more like a pharmaceutical pill/tablet identification guide in structure or a dictionary than a book to refer to for detailed information. It does thoroughly list known uses; and not hypothetical or superstitious "folk" uses, but legitimate ones backed by time or research. This is probably the main focus of the book. So with all that, it is a well done and potentially useful book for those well versed in herbal medicine, esp. those who are doctors of alternative medicine, but not worth the money for the weekend herbalist. In my opinion, start out your herbal library with other books. On a personal note, I take herbal and alternative medicine very seriously and am an exercise physiology student. But herbal medicine is also not my profession. That said, I have an interest in the topic far deeper than just growing a few mint plants for tea in a colorful herb garden.

5.0 out of 5 stars Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, 2nd Edition, James Duke, December 12, 2011

By 

Tony Picking - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition (Hardcover)

This is by far the most complete and informative book on medicinal herbs available, and it's sure to be the first source that serious herbalists will turn to for information if they have it in their library. I've spent many dozen hours just reading it as an enjoyable educational text - its hard to put down!!