Herbal Medicine for Human Health

Examines the research issues and methodological problems that need to be resolved in order to exploit the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants and herbs. The opening chapters describe the potential uses of medicinal herbs in primary health care, set out criteria for the selection of plants for further research or immediate use, and compare the use of specific remedies in different countries. The third chapter, devoted to research, considers the need for a different methodological approach when attempting to develop drugs from herbal sources. Arguing that the clinical trial methodology developed for synthetic compounds is inappropriate for testing medicinal plants, the fourth chapter establishes a model for clinical evaluation that avoids several of these methodological pitfalls. Subsequent chapters consider what can be done to strengthen the role of herbal remedies in primary health care, and address questions of standardization and regulation. The book concludes with an outline of research priorities for the coming decades.Chaudhury, R. R. is the author of 'Herbal Medicine for Human Health', published 1992 under ISBN 9789290221623 and ISBN 9290221623.