Critical Approaches to the History of Western Herbal Medicine: From Classical Antiquity to the Early Modern Period

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This open access collection provides historians with a coherent guide to a variety of sources in relation to medicinal plants that they have thus far lacked, grappling with questions such as: Why the history of Western herbal medicine has received such little research coverage in any systematic and authoritative way, even though it has figured large in both lay and learned healthcare of the past And what methods and sources are most appropriate for the study of medicinal herbs and herbal practices of the past Critical Approaches to the History of Western Herbal Medicine encourages a serious re-assessment of research in the history of herbal medicine and provides examples of appropriate methodologies and critical examinations of relevant sources. In this innovative collection, historians and researchers from a range of disciplines come together to share material on the identification and use of medicinal plants, the activities of people involved with herbal medicine and the investigation of past herbal therapeutic beliefs and practice. Classical and medieval scholars, social and literary historians, archaeologists and ethnobotanists all contribute to this exploration of the history of Western herbal medicine. The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by Knowledge Unlatched.

Reviews

This is a broad investigation of sources for the history of herbal medicine it certainly will inform and delight researchers in this very broad field of study. -- Barbara Griggs * Herbalgram *
Historical research underpinning Western herbal medicine lacks systematic and scholarly documentation, largely due to the advent of biomedicine in the early 1900s. With the acceptance of the germ theory of disease and the availability of a burgeoning array of pharmaceutical "remedies," research in the field gradually fell into decline. This book provides a solid foundation for fleshing out this important historical record. Editors Francia (St. Cross College, Univ. of Oxford, UK) and Stobart (Univ. of Exeter, UK) are both herbal medicine historians and accomplished practitioners. Each chapter contains an introduction, a conclusion, a recommended reading list, and notes. Authors rely on primary sources, including manuscripts and printed herbals (especially early-modern midwifery manuals); archival sources, including an innovative exploration of trade and probate accounts to determine popularity and exchange rates for cumin in medieval England; and research from art history, archaeology, ethnobotany, and other disciplines. This is an invaluable resource for readers interested in the historical aspects of herbal medicine. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals/practitioners. * CHOICE *

Author Bio

Susan Francia is a member of St Cross College, Oxford, UK, and an independent researcher. She is a former teacher of herbal medicine and, most recently, of the history of herbal medicine at Middlesex University, UK. Anne Stobart is Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Exeter, UK and former Director of Programmes in Complementary Health Sciences and Programme Leader of the BSc in Herbal Medicine at Middlesex University, UK. She is currently a member of the Advisory Board for the newly established Journal of Herbal Medicine (Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone).