Ethnomedicinal Matrix


Book Description

While examining the relationship between health, culture and medicine in post-colonial India, the dominant perspective in sociological and anthropological literature conceptualizes medicine and culture as autonomous domains and views the relationship between the two in oppositional terms where culture (lay persons' beliefs and practices) is seen largely as impeding the progress of biomedicine (allopathic, modern medicine). In this conceptual scheme, all medical knowledge systems other than biomedicine is denied any valid medical status, clubbed as culture devoid of any cognitive content, and is seen as coterminous with religion and superstition. This perspective largely ignores the ground reality of the existence of ethno-medicine among Tribal communities. Tribal contributed tremendously to the development of indigenous medical systems in India. However, their contributions have not been documented and studied properly. This book makes a modest attempt to bridge this gap and offers a platform for debate and discussion towards safeguarding and development of Tribal medicine in India.




Uses and Abuses of Plant-Derived Smoke


Book Description

Plants provide the food, shelter, medicines, and biomass that underlie sustainable life. One of the earliest and often overlooked uses of plants is the production of smoke, dating to the time of early hominid species. Plant-derived smoke has had an enormous socio-economic impact throughout human history, being burned for medicinal and recreational purposes, magico-religious ceremonies, pest control, food preservation, and flavoring, perfumes, and incense. This illustrated global compendium documents and describes approximately 2,000 global uses for over 1,400 plant species. The Uses and Abuses of Plant-Derived Smoke is accessibly written and provides a wealth of information on human uses for smoke. Divided into nine main categories of use, the compendium lists plant-derived smoke's medicinal, historical, ceremonial, ritual and recreational uses. Plant use in the production of incense and to preserve and flavor foods and beverages is also included. Each entry includes full binomial names and family, an identification of the person who named the plant, as well as numerous references to other scholarly texts. Of particular interest will be plants such as Tobacco (Nicotiana tabaccum), Boswellia spp (frankincense), and Datura stramonium (smoked as a treatment for asthma all over the world), all of which are described in great detail.




Taxonomic Nomenclature


Book Description

This book suggests an in-depth look at nomenclature in systematics instead of providing another "instruction for use" of various Codes of nomenclature. The focus is on ideas of what taxonomic nomenclature is as a part of the professional language of systematics considered in its full historical and conceptual scope. Basic concepts of nomenclature are outlined, and their development characterized; a hierarchy of fundamental principles of nomenclature are summarized; and the relationship between taxonomic nomenclature and taxonomic theory discussed. This book is addressed to those who would like to go beyond the boundaries of existing Codes to look at the subject from a more general, mostly theoretical standpoint. Key Features • Provides a review of the role of nomenclature in systematics • Reviews the conceptual scope and historical contexts of nomenclature • Analyzes fundamental principles of nomenclature • Outlines the historical development of nomenclature • Reviews the rules of nomenclature in botany, zoology, microbiology, and horticulture Related Titles Mishler, B. D. What, If Anything, Are Species? (ISBN 978-1-4987-1454-9) Pavlinov. I. Ya. Biological Systematics: History and Theory (ISBN 978-0-367-65445-0) Rieppel, O. Phylogenetic Systematics: Haeckel to Hennig (ISBN 978-0-367-87645-6) Wilkins, J. S. Species: The Evolution of an Idea, 2nd ed. (ISBN 978-0-367-65736-9)




Medicinal Plant Conservation


Book Description

Collects information on distribution, life history, biology, population status, levels of extraction and trade and resource management of medicinal plants; includes several citations to works on CITES plants and ethnobotany.




Palms of Southern Asia


Book Description

Southern Asia is a vast and ecologically diverse region that extends from the deserts of Afghanistan to the rainforests of Thailand, and is home to a marvelously rich palm flora. Palms of Southern Asia is the only complete field guide to the 43 genera and 352 species of palms and rattans that occur in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. This attractive guide's handsome illustrations and succinct, authoritative, and jargon-free text make identification easy. Each species account includes the correct scientific and common names, and fully describes morphology, habitat, and uses. Featuring a distribution map for most species and 256 full-color photographs, this is also the only field guide to cover the extremely diverse palm flora of Vietnam, and the first to offer a taxonomic overview of the rattan species of Southern Asia. Palms of Southern Asia is a book of major importance for botanists and an invaluable aid for naturalists and conservationists, and it's the perfect field guide for ecotourists traveling in the region. Covers all 352 naturally occurring palms in Southern Asia Features full-color photographs of 256 species, many never before illustrated Includes a distribution map for most species Provides the first taxonomic overview of the rattans of Southern Asia







Plants of the World


Book Description

Evolution of land plant -- Plants and human culture -- Naming plants -- Classification and the angiosperm phylogeny group




Himalayan Fermented Foods


Book Description

The magnificent Himalayan Mountains, the highest in the world and home to the famed Mount Everest and K2, are also imbued with a rich diversity of ethnic fermented foods. Dr. Jyoti Prakash Tamang, one of the leading authorities on food microbiology, has studied Himalayan fermented foods and beverages for the last twenty-two years. His comprehensive




Plants as Medicine and Aromatics


Book Description

Plant‐based medicines and aromatics are increasingly in demand in the healthcare sector all over the globe where they are used, not only for the treatment of various diseases, but also for maintaining good human health. Plants as Medicine and Aromatics: Uses of Botanicals reviews modern uses of ancient botanicals as medicine and aromatics, including chapters on both traditional usage and modern drug discovery development, as well as clinical research and development in ancient medicinal herbs. Features: Assesses the status of aromatics and medicinal plants as well as their modern uses. Elucidates the uses of plants within traditional culture practices for the prevention and treatment of diseases. Examines contemporary approaches being used to explore medicinal botany. A volume in the Exploring Medicinal Plants series, Plants as Medicine and Aromatics: Uses of Botanicals presents a comprehensive understanding in terms of modern uses of botanicals of medicinal and aromatic plants. It is useful to researchers, teachers, cultivators, students, and for those interested in herbal medicine.