The number of herbs mentioned in this book may be overwhelming if you read it cover to cover, so start with the specific sections that you find of particular interest. The table of contents is laid out very specifically, so you can turn right to the section on angina, joint pain, bunions, impotence, or whatever health issue you're looking to improve. Duke has anywhere from 5 to 20 suggested herbs or supplements for any condition, along with the best way of growing or buying that herb and the proper dosage and method of application. Some herbs, such as ephedra, are known to be potentially dangerous, and Duke does an excellent job cautioning users to follow proper dosages as carefully as you would any prescription medicine. He writes with plenty of personal experience and includes interesting anecdotes, but his discussions of particular studies tend to be on the vague side--he may tell you the positive results, but not mention the year the study was published, or who conducted it. Still, anecdotal evidence is enough proof for most of us, and Dr. Duke's upbeat tone, wealth of information, and specific recipes may be just what the doctor ordered. --Jill Lightner

A Comprehensive Guide Addressing Safety, Efficacy, and Suitability

About a quarter of all the medicines we use come from rainforest plants and more than 1,400 varieties of tropical plants are being investigated as potential cures for cancer. Curare comes from a tropical vine and quinine from the cinchona tree. A comprehensive guide to safety, efficacy, and suitability, Duke’s Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America responds to continuing interest in medicinal plants and the potential remedies they contain.

Determine Which Species Can Be Used for Specific Targets

The author of Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook and CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, James A. Duke covers roughly 500 of the more important Native Latin American medicinal plants in a highly organized format. After a brief introduction, each entry contains scientific and colloquial names, synonyms, reference to illustrations, notes, biological activities, medicinal indications, dosages, potential hazards, extracts, and references. This format supplies a starting point for determining which species can be used for specific targets.

Better Data Helps You Focus Your Search

Year-round moderate temperatures, abundant rainfall, and rich soils make tropical Latin America home to nearly 100,000 of the world’s 300,000 known species of plants, and therefore home to untold numbers of potential cures. Focusing on 500 of the most well-known and well-studied plants, this book helps you focus your search for ammunition against constantly evolving pathogens and newly emerging diseases.