2nd Edition

The Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs

By Kee C. Huang Copyright 1998
    534 Pages
    by Routledge

    Records cataloging the healing powers of natural substances - plants, minerals, and animal byproducts - date back more than 4,000 years. There is no denying the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine, yet - until recently - the roots of this knowledge were largely lost in superstition and folklore. However, the use of herbs as an alternative medical treatment for many illnesses has increased steadily over the last decade, particularly since such herbs are categorized as "Natural Food Products" and are not yet subject to strict control by the FDA. Reports published in 1996 indicate that more than 10% of the US population has used herbal remedies.

    This book does not debate the value of Eastern or Western medicine but brings together Chinese herbal lore and Western scientific methods in a current, comprehensive treatise on the pharmacology of Chinese herbs. This second edition of The Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs presents the chemical composition, pharmacological action, toxicity, and therapeutic value of 473 herbs.

    The book:

  • Classifies herbs according to their therapeutic value
  • Informs how active ingredients in herbs may adversely interact with other herbs or drugs
  • Evaluates which herbs have the potential for more investigation and possible use as drugs
  • Describes the pharmacological action of each herb based on recent scientific study and describes each herb according to Chinese pharmacopoeia and folk medicine
  • Provides a review of Chinese medical history
  • Presents information on how to use modern chemical techniques for enhancing or modifying herbal ingredients into better agents with more strength and activity


    What's New in the Second Edition
    Discussions on:
  • Herbs and their specific effects on the immune system
  • Herbs and fertility/infertility
  • Anti-cancer herbs
  • Anti-HIV herbs
  • Anti-malarial herbs
  • Ginseng and ginsenosides
  • Anti-Alzheimer herbs
  • Herbs affecting the nervous system
  • Introduction
    A Brief History of Chinese Medicine
    The Cardiovascular System
    Herbs with Multiple Actions
    Cardiac Herbs
    Antiarrhythmic Herbs
    Antihypertensive Herbs
    Antianginal Herbs
    Antihypercholesteroliemic Herbs
    Antishock Herbs
    The Nervous System
    Anesthetics and Muscle-Relaxing Herbs
    Sedatives and Hypnotic Herbs
    Anticonvulsive Herbs
    Anti-Alzheimer and Nootropic Herbs
    Analgesic Herbs
    Antipyretic Herbs
    Antirheumatic Herbs
    Central Stimulating Herbs
    The Alimentary System
    Stomachic and "Wind"-Dispelling Herbs
    Herbs Promoting Digestion
    Antacid and Antiulcer Herbs
    Laxative Herbs
    Antidiarrheal Herbs
    Emetic and Antiemetic Herbs
    Choleretic and Antihepatitis Herbs
    Tonics and Supporting Herbs
    The Respiratory System
    Antitussives
    Expectorants
    Antiasthmatic Herbs
    The Genitourinary System
    Diuretic Herbs
    Herbs Affecting the Uterus
    Fertility and Contraceptive Herbs
    The Hematopoietic System
    Herbs Promoting Blood Formation
    Immunoenhancing and Immunosuppressing Herbs
    Hemostatic and Antistasic Herbs
    The Endocrine System
    Herbs Affecting the Thyroid Gland
    Herbs Affecting the Adrenal Cortex
    Antidiabetic Herbs
    Chemotherapy
    Antibacterial, Antiviral, and Antifungus Herbs
    Anti-Human Immunodeficiency Viral (HIV) Herbs
    Antitubercular Herbs
    Antiseptics and Disinfectants
    Anthelmintics
    Antiamebial and Antitrichomonial Herbs
    Antimalarial Herbs
    Anticancer Herbs
    Appendix
    Index

    Biography

    Kee C. Huang

    "This well-referenced text is geared to the clinician and researcher. …There are improvements over the previous editions of this well-respected text…More specific dosages and herbs, and isolates have been added."
    --Christopher Hobbs, LAc

    "This valuable resource succeeds in its goal to help the Western scientist understand ancient Chinese herbal medicine from the viewpoint of modern pharmacology."
    - Kuo-Hsiung Lee, University of North Carolina

    "This compendium...is the definitive treatise on the subject...useful to medical researchers, physicians, historians, pharmacologists, and students."
    - William J. Waddell, M.D.