Before formal science enabled a systematic approach to medicine, healers used plants to alleviate pain, ease the symptoms of diseases, and treat complaints of every kind. Today, people still use medicinal plants, in traditional roles or as building blocks for new research and innovative drugs. Featuring 350 full-color photographs, botanical drawings, and maps, this book is based on the work of botanical experts and presents alphabetically arranged, illustrated entries for hundreds of plants. Each is described, with full details of its physical appearance and medicinal uses; its origins and geographic distribution, how it's harvested and used in conventional and alternative medicine, and a range map. There are also sidebars on everything from ancient folklore to the latest research.--From publisher description.