The use of medicinal plants to treat everyday complaints and illnesses is becoming ever more popular. This pocket guide is aimed not only at doctors and members of the various healing professions interested in phytotherapy, but also in particular at interested lay people, for whom this book is intended as a practical guide in the often confusing self-treatment market. This pocket guide is based on experiences and prescriptions that have been used in Germany for many years or even decades. If necessary, they have been supplemented by US-American remedies and suggestions for use. Where possible, available scientific literature has also been taken into account. The book includes the medicinal plants most widely used in Germany, almost all of which are also used in the US, as well as their use in the treatment of major syndromes. A general section in which production processes, quality characteristics, and legal backgrounds are explained is followed by portraits of the most important medicinal plants with references to more recent scientific literature. Illnesses and possibilities of treating them with medicinal plant preparations as well as a critical evaluation of the significance of this therapy make up the next section. A specialty of this checklist is the section “Care Involving Medicinal Plants.” Here special value was attached to practicability. A tabular section divided up into medicinal plants with brief summaries of remedies and references follows. Contact addresses and lists of manufacturers as well as a comprehensive table of contents round off the guide.

Dr. Liane Platt-Rohloff and Ms Angelika-M. Findgott from Thieme International have done a first-class job of coordinating the work of both authors and editing the manuscripts. We, the authors, know that we echo their sentiments in wishing that this pocket guide will be a practical aid to all those who are interested in using medicinal plants and will contribute to the alleviation and curing of illnesses and complaints.

There is an herbal remedy for most ailments - and you will find the most important ones in this concise pocket guide. Co-authored by Karin Kraft, one of the members of the German Commission E, and Christopher Hobbs, a renowned North-American herbalist, this handy pocket guide gives you the decisive facts about important medicinal herbs, taking into consideration both major European monographs (Commission E and ESCOP) and up-to-date clinical trials. The book goes on to inform the reader on the usage of herbal remedies for a number of common indications.

The book gives first-hand, easy to access information on the administration of herbal remedies for the medical practitioner and herbal therapist alike. Profit from the wealth of German tradition, extended by North American experience in the usage of herbal medicines.