Applied Illustrated Compendium of Materia Medica

In this book, based on modern drug use, each entry for the 500 frequently used herbal medicines are presented with Chinese description, colour plate, English description, and index. The Chinese description is based on the Pharmacopeia of the People's Republic of China (2005 edition). In its 21 chapters, the book not only offers information on these 500 herbal medicines systematically and comprehensively - their names, bynames/common names, sources, original plants, distribution, descriptions, harvest time and processing methods, chemical compositions, pharmacological actions, properties and flavours, actions and indications, and dosage and usage - but it also provides a concise narration with detailed and accurate data. Presented mostly in Chinese but an English description (sources, actions and indications) for each herb is also included. Each entry shows latin name and common English name (for example cortex dictamni [baixianpi] is also labelled densefruit pittany root-bark). For English readers, there is a problem: the herbs are classified by function but this is only obvious if you read Chinese. In addition, the set's herb index in volume four is arranged alphabetically by pinyin but it is also in Chinese. A beautifully presented set that includes great colour illustrations and packaged in a sturdy box (with padding). Great as a gift, or for the serious TCM practitioner or TCM scholar.