Psychoactive Medicinal Plants And Fungal Neurotoxins

This book provides a clear and comprehensive overview of psychoactive medicinal plants, explaining in detail the species that are most commonly used in medicine, and describing their mechanism of action, the implicated toxin, clinical manifestation and therapeutic role. It explores the recent research in the area of psychoactive medicinal plants and fungal neurotoxins, and presents the various biochemical pathways involved and the bioactive targets. The book also discusses the current literature in the field, including the latest methodology used to identify the active compounds, their pharmacological and physiological properties along with their clinical efficacy. Compiling the most up to date information on major psychoactive medicinal plants and fungal neurotoxins, the book covers all major classes of psychoactive drugs, including stimulants, cognitive enhancers, sedatives and anxiolytics, psychotherapeutic herbs, analgesics and anesthetic plants, hallucinogens and cannabis.

The ever-rising increase in the consumption of medicinal herbs and its products and its exposure in the human population have generated concerns about the potential neurotoxicity of several new and existing botanicals. This book offers an accurate, relevant, and comprehensive coverage of a wide variety of medicinal herbs and fungi affecting the central and peripheral nervous system. It includes review articles that thoroughly describe the benefits and adverse effects of some of the most commonly used medicinal herbs and fungi, and the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying them. The book provides an all-inclusive overview of the diverse aspects of medicinal herbs and fungi related to neurotoxicity and/or neuroprotection, ranging from discussions of cellular and molecular processes and pathology to clinical aspects. The rich compilation brings together thorough and extensive research updates on the advances in the field. The chapters have been contributed by the experienced and eminent academicians, researchers, and scientists working in the field across the globe.

Acacias: The Genus Acacia (sensu lato) is an evidence-based treatment of this supergenus, through the eyes of a clinical pharmacognosist and integrative medicine specialist. The book begins with antiviral activity, revealing within the five genera of Acacia s.l., pharmacological properties and pharmacologically active compounds. Profiles of prominent species within these genera, including photographs, accompany the narrative of current research and traditional usage into antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, antidiabetic, metabolic syndrome ameliorative, and psychotherapeutic potential. Features Comprehensive treatment of the entire Acacia sensu lato genus Aids ethnopharmacological prospectors of new sources of novel botanically based medicines for modern metabolic and psychiatric diseases Illuminates the presence of psychedelic simple substituted tryptamines in trees and their medical and psychotherapeutic potential Continuing in the tradition of the previous volumes of the esteemed Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Industrial Profiles series, Acacias: The Genus Acacia (sensu lato) provides a unique and comprehensive coverage of one of the most interesting and diverse genera of trees, firmly entrenched in the Levant, Africa, Australia, the Far East, and the New World. The influence of these genera on pharmacy and industry (especially through gum arabic, wildcrafted in Africa from Senegalia senegal), human consciousness, the advent and development of religions, planetary ecology, botanical therapeutics, and the emergence of psychedelic medicine reflect both the history of our species and the transformative promise of tomorrow.

Mycelium Running is a manual for the mycological rescue of the planet. That’s right: growing more mushrooms may be the best thing we can do to save the environment, and in this groundbreaking text from mushroom expert Paul Stamets, you’ll find out how. The basic science goes like this: Microscopic cells called “mycelium”--the fruit of which are mushrooms--recycle carbon, nitrogen, and other essential elements as they break down plant and animal debris in the creation of rich new soil. What Stamets has discovered is that we can capitalize on mycelium’s digestive power and target it to decompose toxic wastes and pollutants (mycoremediation), catch and reduce silt from streambeds and pathogens from agricultural watersheds (mycofiltration), control insect populations (mycopesticides), and generally enhance the health of our forests and gardens (mycoforestry and myco-gardening). In this comprehensive guide, you’ll find chapters detailing each of these four exciting branches of what Stamets has coined “mycorestoration,” as well as chapters on the medicinal and nutritional properties of mushrooms, inoculation methods, log and stump culture, and species selection for various environmental purposes. Heavily referenced and beautifully illustrated, this book is destined to be a classic reference for bemushroomed generations to come.

Ethnobotany includes the traditional use of plants in different fields like medicine and agriculture. This book incorporates important studies based on ethnobotany of different geographic zones. The book covers medicinaland aromatic plants, ethnopharmacology, bioactive molecules, plants used in cancer, hypertension, disorders of the central nervous system, and also as antipsoriatic, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiurolithiatic. The book will be useful for a diverse group of readers including plant scientists, pharmacologists, clinicians, herbalists, natural therapy experts, chemists, microbiologists, NGOs and those who are interested in traditional therapies.

This book continues as volume 6 of a multi-compendium on Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants. It covers edible fruits/seeds used fresh, cooked or processed into other by-products, or as vegetables, cereals, spices, stimulant, edible oils and beverages. It covers selected species from the following families: Sapindaceae, Sapotaceae, Schisandraceae, Solanaceae, Thymelaeaceae, Urticaceae, Vitaceae and Winteraceae. This work will be of significant interest to scientists, researchers, medical practitioners, pharmacologists, ethnobotanists, horticulturists, food nutritionists, agriculturists, botanists, conservationists, lecturers, students and the general public. Topics covered include: taxonomy; common/English and vernacular names; origin and distribution; agroecology; edible plant parts and uses; botany; nutritive and pharmacological properties, medicinal uses and research findings; nonedible uses; and selected references.