Synopsis
Increasingly, modern medicine relies on so called traditional or ancient medical knowledge. Holistic practices such as adhering to proper diet, observing rules for appropriate behavior, and administering medical preparations are coupled with the latest technology and methods to treat the whole patient. In light of this trend, there is much to be gained from understanding of one of the oldest medical systems still in existence. Tibetan Medicinal Plants provides you a detailed analysis of how Tibetan plants are used in this centuries old system.
The book opens with a summary of Tibetan medicine and covers the various habitats in which the plants are found. The main part of this volume encompasses 60 monographs listed by the Tibetan plant name. Each monograph consists of several chapters addressing different topics related either to the Tibetan or the Western approach. Most of the monographs contain a description of the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the used plant parts, and anatomical features of 76 plants are provided.
Each monograph presents an overview of the known chemical constituents and pharmacological properties of each plant and describes their use in Tibetan medicine. In contrast to other publications on Tibetan medicine, where translations of the Tibetan terms are given in other languages, this book treats the Tibetan word as a technical term, keeps the Tibetan term and explains its meaning, lessening confusion by reducing the number of translations.
Traditional Tibetan medicine has been in existence for centuries. Curative practices existed in the prebuddistic era, and the art of healing developed more than 2500 years ago. Tibetan Medicinal Plants provides a comprehensive overview of all plant types, thus making it easier to grasp the Tibetan concept. It gives you a comprehensive look at this centuries old science.
Doody Review Services
Reviewer:Michael Gabay, PharmD(University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy)
Description:This is an in-depth review of 59 plants used by practitioners of Tibetan medicine. The book is written from a scientific, but yet very Eastern medicinal, perspective. Highlights of the book include color illustrations of the various plants and a glossary of Tibetan medical terms. The glossary is very useful for understanding the purposes of these plants in treating or preventing diseases.
Purpose:The main purpose is to contribute to the existing knowledge of Tibetan medicinal plants and the preservation of traditional Tibetan medicine, through both traditional Tibetan and Western approaches to medicine. Since there is little published data available about Tibetan medicinal plants in such a format, I believe the objectives are worthy. The authors meet the objectives, but it seems to me that there is a tendency to accentuate the Tibetan medicinal approach throughout the book. The combination of both approaches is difficult to do as mentioned by the authors.
Audience:It is hard to pinpoint a specific audience for this book beyond those who work specifically with Tibetan medicinal plants in practice or researchers who may wish to know about the chemistry and pharmacology of these plants. The authors seem to be quite credible.
Features:The Tibetan medicinal herbs are covered in a monograph format. Sections within each monograph include plant classification, distribution, chemistry, pharmacology, and use in Tibetan medicine. The authors have obviously done a great deal of background research to find references for the information contained in the book. Most of the references would be unretrievable for most researchers, however. The information is very scientific and descriptions of the use in Tibetan medicine of the plants forces the Western medicine practitioner to consistently refer to the glossary for definitions of disease states. No mentions are made of interactions with prescription medications or possible safety concerns regarding use. Most of the Tibetan medicinal plants lack any solid clinical data for efficacy or safety.
Assessment:This book is needed. In general, very little information is available regarding Tibetan medicinal plants even in contemporary natural product books. The book does give researchers and practitioners basic scientific information about each plant and the basis for their use in Tibetan medicine, but does not relate well how these uses fit into Western medicine applications. For general healthcare practitioners, this book probably would not be that useful. Information is not applicable to most practice settings, is not patient-focused, and contains little to no efficacy and safety data regarding these plants. However, I don't believe these were specifically the goals of the authors.