Medicinal Plants Used in Traditional Persian Medicine

Medicinal plants and the natural products within them, still remain the starting point for breakthroughs in the development of safe, pharmacologically active synthetic molecules for use in a wide variety of clinical situations. Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) is one of the most ancient medical doctrines, and is well-documented in terms of information about diseases, diagnoses and treatments, especially in the application of medicinal plants. TPM has been used for centuries worldwide, and many of these methods are still used in Iran today.

The book introduces the basics of TPM, and describes the key medicinal plants used for the treatment of different diseases. It also highlights possible new targets for research activities in drug discovery of natural products. The book is richly illustrated with historic drawings from old Persian pharmacopoeia and photos of plants in their natural habitats. Reference to Ayurvedic, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and monastic medicine in Europe are also made.

While knowledge about medicinal plants used in TPM still exists in Iran there is a risk that the detailed expertise provided by older generations will be lost in the near future. It is therefore very important that this cultural heritage is properly preserved.

This book provides a valuable, evidence-based resource on TPM for researchers, practitioners and students in medicinal plants, ethnobotany, and herbal medicine.