David Hoffmann, a Fellow of Britain’s National Institute of Medical Herbalists, has been a clinical phytotherapist for more than twenty-five years. He started his herbal practice in Wales, continuing at the Findhorn community in Scotland, and has been practicing in California since 1986. A long time activist in the environmental and peace movements, he ran for parliament in Britain for the Green party in 1983. He is one of the founding members and a past president of the American Herbalists Guild and is on the advisory boards of the American Botanical Council and HerbalGram. The author of seventeen books, including the highly regarded The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal, An Elders’ Herbal, and The Herbal Handbook, Hoffmann teaches phytotherapy throughout the English-speaking world and is currently a faculty member of the California School of Herbal Studies. He is also a visiting faculty member at Bastyr University, the California Institute of Integral Studies, the National College of Phytotherapy, and the Rocky Mountain School of Botanical Studies.

“David Hoffmann has produced an herbal reference masterpiece. This is one of the most comprehensive and detailed reference books to be produced in many years and will become one of the standard texts for professionals and researchers. I will place it next to my desk with my most often-used books.”

• Introduction Part One: Introduction to Principles and Practices1--Herbs, Holism, and ScienceScience and Phytotherapy Pharmacognosy and Ways to Assess Herb Quality The Conservation of Medicinal Plants2--Classification of Medicinal PlantsThe Linnaean System of ClassificationDerivation of Botanical Names3--An Introduction to PhytochemistryPrimary and Secondary Plant MetabolitesCommonly Used Terms and Concepts4--CarbohydratesMonosaccharidesPolysaccharidesGlycoproteinsGlycosidesGums and Mucilages5--LipidsFatty AcidsLipids Containing Glycerol6--TerpenesMonoterpenesIridoids SesquiterpenesSesquiterpene LactonesDiterpenoidsSaponinsTriterpenoid Saponins Cardenolides and BufadienolidesPhytosterolsNortriterpenoidsPlant Exudates ResinsOleoresinsBalsamsGum Resins7--PolyphenolsSimple Phenols and Phenolic AcidsPhenylpropanoids and Cinnamic AcidsCoumarinsQuinonesXanthonesStilbenoidsFlavonoidsFlavones and FlavonolsIsoflavonoidsFlavanonesDihydrochalconesBiflavonoidsLignans and NeolignansTannins8--AlkaloidsPyrrolidine and Piperidine AlkaloidsTropane AlkaloidsPyrrolizidine AlkaloidsPurine AlkaloidsIsoquinoline AlkaloidsIndole AlkaloidsErgot AlkaloidsCarboline AlkaloidsQuinoline AlkaloidsQuinolizidine AlkaloidsDiterpenoid AlkaloidsSteroid AlkaloidsMiscellaneous Alkaloids9--PharmacologyPharmacodynamicsPhytoestrogensPharmacokineticsImmunomodulators Inflammation and Anti-Inflammatory AgentsCancer and Plant ConstituentsAntiviral AgentsAntioxidants and Free Radical ScavengersCardiac GlycosidesNonsteroidal Cardioactive Plant ConstituentsCholesterol and Lipid-Lowering ActivityHypertension and Hypotensive AgentsPlatelet Function and Cardiovascular Herbs and the LiverHypoglycemic Agents10--Toxicity, Contraindications, and SafetyEvaluating Causality in Adverse Events ToxicologyOxalic Acid Terpenes GlycosidesPolyphenolicsAlkaloids PolypeptidesLectinsPhotosensitivity11--The Formulation and Preparation of Herbal MedicinesHerbal MedicinesInfusionsDecoctionsTinctures (Tincturae)Fluid Extracts (Fluid Extracta)Syrups, Elixirs, and Emulsions (Emulsiones)Juices (Succi), Linctuses (Lincti), Mucilages and OxymelsWaters (Aqua)Capsules, Pills, and TabletsLozenges (Trochisci) and Pastilles (Pastilli)Baths (Balneotherapy)Douches and EnemasOintments and SuppositoriesLinimentsGargles (Gargarisma) and MouthwashesInhalants (Vapors) and Spray Solutions (Nebulae)OilsCompresses and PoulticesIncompatibilityPart Two: Treatment Approaches by Body System12--A Model of Holistic Herbal MedicinePhytotherapeutic Selection CriteriaDosage and Formulation CriteriaOutline of Treatment Chapters13--The Digestive SystemFlatulenceConstipationLaxativesDiarrheaAphthous Ulcers Periodontal DiseaseEsophagitis and Gastroesophageal RefluxGastritis Peptic UlcersHiatus Hernia Functional Dyspepsia or “Indigestion” Irritable Bowel Syndrome Inflammatory Bowel Disease Ulcerative Colitis DiverticulitisJaundiceChronic HepatitisViral Hepatitis CirrhosisCholecystitisCholelithiasisHemorrhoids14--The Cardiovascular SystemTonics for the Cardiovascular System CholesterolHypertensionArteriosclerosisCongestive Heart Failure Angina PectorisPeripheral Arterial Occlusive DiseaseVaricose Veins15--The Respiratory System CoughsAcute BronchitisChronic BronchitisPertussis AsthmaEmphysemaThe Common ColdInfluenzaHay FeverSinusitisLaryngitisTonsillitis16--The Nervous SystemManaging Stress: An OverviewDepressionInsomniaWithdrawal from BenzodiazepinesAnorexia NervosaHeadacheMigraineNeuritisTinnitusMotion SicknessShingles17--The Urinary SystemFrequencyDysuriaHematuriaEdemaCystitisUrinary Calculus18--The Reproductive SystemEmmenagoguesAmenorrheaDysmenorrheaPremenstrual SyndromeMenopausePregnancyHerbs to Avoid During PregnancyUterine FibroidsEndometriosisFibrocystic Breast DiseaseBenign Prostatic Hypertrophy19--The Musculoskeletal SystemExternal Applications for Musculoskeletal Problems Myalgia OsteoarthritisRheumatoid ArthritisOsteoporosisGoutBursitis and Tendinitis Restless Leg Syndrome20--The SkinHerbs for Topical ApplicationEczema and DermatitisPsoriasisAcne21--The Immune SystemGeneral Support ProtocolsDetoxification Postoperative RecoveryGeneral Guidelines for Treating InfectionVaginitisProstatitisBoilsFungal Skin InfectionCancer22--The Endocrine SystemHypothyroidismHyperthyroidismDiabetes Mellitus The Adrenal Glands23--Phytotherapy and the ElderlyToning and Nurturing Health in EldersPrevention and Treatment of Disease in Elders24--Phytotherapy and ChildrenMeaslesMumpsColicConstipationDiarrheaIndigestionNauseaOtitis MediaAttention Deficit Disorder Diaper RashCradle CapImpetigo25--Herbal ActionsAdaptogen AlterativeAnticatarrhalAnti-InflammatoryAntimicrobialAntirheumaticAntispasmodicAstringentBitterCardiac RemediesCarminativeCholagogueDemulcentDiureticEmmenagogueExpectorantHepaticHypnoticHypotensiveNervineStimulant26--Materia MedicaAppendices1--Glossary2--Selected Examples of Binomial Meanings3--Herbs by Latin and Common Names4--Pharmacy Terms5--Weight and Measure Conversion6--Herbal Information Sources7--Taxonomy HierarchyBibliographyIndex