Reference Resources Guide: Medicinal Plants

Clark, R. (2013). Cannabis: Evolution and Ethnobotany. University of California Press.
Robert Clark gives a history of the plant that spans over the millennia in Eurasia. The author is a biologist, botanist, and horticulturist. Topics included are from the practical uses such as rope and clothing to an examination of the marijuana use in shaman rituals in ancient China. This extensive book covers the medicinal uses of the plant and the richness of oils in the seeds. It is technical and is not suitable for the casual reader. The book is the college textbook on cannabis and would be a good source for use in higher education.

Cripps, C. (2016). Essential Guide to Rocky Mountain Mushrooms. Urbana : University of Illinois Press.
This is a reference book on identifying mushrooms of the Rocky Mountains and covers which ones are rumored to have medicinal uses. The mushrooms are categorized by habitat zones. It is a text that is both beautiful and informative with its color photographs, which include hundreds of species. The author is a mycologist and associate professor in the Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology at Montana State University. She does research on fungi and has written and edited various books on the subject. Cripps does not go into detail about specific medicinal uses, nor does she reveal the edible mushrooms with the critical eye of a forager.

Choffness, D. (2016). Natures Pharmecopeia. Columbia University Press.
This book provides a textbook style primer to medicinal plants and is not appropriate for the accomplished biologist. It is beautifully illustrated and provides a history of the uses of medicinal plants throughout history. Basic indigenous beliefs from people in Americas, Africa, Asia, and ancient Europe are connected to new scientific discoveries in Western medicine. It is well-researched and clearly written. Choffnes combines fascinating stories and scientific facts as he points the reader to the future of medicine.

Motohashi, N. (2016). Occurrences, Structure, Biosynthesis, and Health Benefits Based on Their
Evidences of Medicinal Phytochemicals in Vegetables and Fruits. Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
Growing evidence suggest that phytochemicals from plants provide vitamins, essential amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, minerals, food enzymes and other plant components. In this book you will see that age-related diseases such as hypertension, different types of cancers, myocardial infarction, diabetes, and many others can be prevented with these plant nutrients. Evidence suggests that phytonutrients are anti-tumor, anti-parasitic and anti-bacterial, as well as containing immunosuppressive properties and chemicals that protect eye health. The text gives advanced information and is appropriate for biology students, graduate students, university professors, and researchers studying new pharmaceutical drug strategies.

Rosen, L. (2007). Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Philadelphia, PA.
Dr. Rosen’s is a pediatrician who embraces evidence-based integration of alternative therapies. The book contains useful information about medicinal plant products for children--from infancy to adolescence. Rosen explores the topics of herbs, acupuncture, massage, and mind-body therapy for conditions such as bi-polar disorder. It is an ideal resource for parents and healthcare professionals who are uneasy about adverse reactions of widely used over-the-counter and prescription medicines. The writing is clinical in nature and has no alluring illustrations.

Money, N. (2011). Mushroom Oxford ; Oxford University Press.
In this book the reader will be introduced to the basics of mushroom biology, an area of plant science that remains in its frontier stage. Money takes us on a tour of mushroom history and research. He discusses the application of mushrooms in food and medicine, while also pointing out the dangers of some strains. Money explains the multifaceted nature of the mushroom, and the book is laced with a humor that helps the novice researcher comprehend complexities of the little know plant.

Firn, R. (2010). Nature’s Chemicals: the natural products that shaped our world. Oxford University Press.


Firn’s book is written for the scientist as well as the casual reader. He describes NP”s (natural products) that we are always seeking out to improve our lives--alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, aspirin, heroine, anti-oxidants, flavours, pigments and penicillin, to name a few. These chemicals are constantly being produced by living organisms. Richard Firn grew up on a farm near Edinburgh. He worked in the Biology Department at the University of York until his death in 2010. During his lifetime the author conducted research in Australia, the UK, and the USA. The book contains drawings and no photographs.

Gracie, C. (2012). Spring Wildflowers of the Northeast. Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press.
This is an in-depth book with beautiful illustrations of wildflowers in the Northeast. It includes medicinal uses by Native Americans and gives a history of the plants including how each one was named and how they are related to species in other parts of the world. While the book is scientific in nature, it is also entertaining, making it ideal for any reader.