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A photographic guide to the most commonly used and best known South African plant medicines, including their botany, main traditional uses and active ingredients. This second edition has been fully updated to incorporate the latest research findings. The book includes: * Detailed species descriptions of more than 150 medicinal plants and their close relatives, or other species used in a similar way. Each entry includes the following information: a description of the plant, the plant parts used, medicinal uses, preparation and dosage, active ingredients and pharmacological effects. * In addition, each entry includes a distribution map and a diagram of the chemical structure of the main active ingredient * More than 500 excellent photographs of the plants, plant parts used and products * Introductory chapters on, among others, cultural aspects of healing, methods of collection and storage, methods of preparation and administration * A plant list according to ailments * A glossary, detailed index and comprehensive references for further reading This remarkable book is a must for anyone with an interest or involvement in health care and botany.

Reviews

Ethnobotany is now a very popular research topic in South Africa, and greater use is currently being made in terms of natural plants than ever before. The current second edition took note of the excellent research that has been done on ethnopharmacological aspects in relation to indigenous plants. The various entries on more than 150 medicinal plants were updated with respect to plant description, plant parts used, medicinal properties preparation and dosage, the active ingredients and their pharmacological effects. All this valuable data is augmented by distribution maps of the plants and diagrams of the chemical structure of the plant products. Valuable data on cultural aspects of healing and methods of plant collection, their storage, methods of preparation and modes of administration adds additional value to this very pleasing book. This volume should further increase the intensity of research in the field of traditional medicine.

This revised edition of Medicinal Plants of South Africa remains a valuable reference book for serious and amateur gardeners alike. It includes clear photographs of each of the plants described and is refreshingly easy to use.