Part 1 Roots: Introduction; Physiology: setting the scene; a herbal physiology; perception and response; assimilation and rejection; processing; circulation; removal - the lymphatics and tissue drainage, the bowel, the bile, the kidneys, the sweat glands, the respiratory system, the toxicity thesis of disease; the control processes - the vital pulse, balancing activity and rest, integration, reproduction; traditional pathology: external ills, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, wind, other ills; therapeutics: the herbalist's approach to health and disease, the rural tradition, the cycle of activity, plant cycles - the four tendencies, the temperaments of plant remedies, the therapeutic choice, Chinese pharmacology, the five tastes, the pharmacology of taste, the doctrine of signatures; traditional herbal therapeutics - is the problem best treated topically or systemically? is the problem 'superficial' (acute) or 'deep' (chronic)? what are the therapeutic priorities for treating acute conditions? - four strategies, prescribing, what are the therapeutic priorities for treating chronic conditions?, how strong are the body's reserves?, what are the strategic options for treating chronic disease - active strategies, restorative treatments, in a nutshell - the four pillars of treatment. Part 2 Branches: Research - how do we know whether herbs work?, towards a herbal research policy, are herbs safe?, sensible measures, the therapeutic perspective; traditional pharmacology : introduction; the archetypal plant constituents, acids, carbohydrates - gums and mucilages, phenols - simple phenols, tannins, coumarins, anthraquinones, flavones, volatile oils - notable monoterpenes, other monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, resins, saponins, cardioactive glycosides, cyanogenic glycosides, mustard oil glycosides, miscellaneous acrid constituents, bitter principles, alkaloids; pharmacokinetics - remedy absorption, remedy distribution, remedy metabolism, remedy excretion, tissue sensitivity; practical matters : herb recognition and quality control, plant structures, pharmacy, obtaining the crude drug, basic processes - comminution, extraction, making mixtures, some specific processes - internal use: liquids, internal use: solids, external use: liquids, external use: semi-solids; remedies: introduction, warming remedies, peripheral vasodilators - yarrow, hawthorn, limeflowers, ma huang, circulatory stimulants - angelica, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, cayenne, aromatic digestives - fennel, cardamom, Part contents.
