Indian Alchemy (Rasa Shastra) and Pharmacy (Bhashajeya Kaplana) are important branches of Ayurveda. Efficacy of several mineral (Shilajit as antoxidant and antidiabetic) and polyherbal formulations (Trikatu as bioavailability enhancer) has been proved by modern investigations. Work titled Dictionary of Indian Alchemy and Polyherbal formulations include information on classic terms used in Indian Alchemy and pharmacy. It includes information on therapeutic uses of polymineral and polyherbal formulations. The work also includes data on modern investigative work on metals and coded polyherbal formulation. Scientific monographs on Shilajit, Trikatu and Triphala is salient feature of the work.

Ethnobotany deals with traditional and indigenous associations of people with plants. The subject has been attracting more and more scholars in India and many other countries. It’s importance in search for new molecules from ethnomedicinal herbs and useful genes from wild relatives and land races of crops, still in use among many native folk, for genetic engineering has enhanced the importance of the discipline. The number of books and research papers published each year has been rapidly increasing .Research workers need to know about the work done on their topic of study. Bibliographies reviews greatly help in this and save their valuable time. About 2500 publications are listed in the present book. To facilitate the search of reference on particular region, ethnic groups or use categories indexes are given for providing clues to such search. Research guides can easily spot gaps in ethnobotanical studies in any ethnic society, as also regions of the country. Biographers will find from one source the work done in single or joint authorship by the scientist on whom they are writing. To facilitate this an index by surname of joint authors is also provided. The book will be an essential reference work for research workers.

The book provides a scientific background needed for the identification of medicinal plants commonly occurring in India. It explains scientific terms for description of plant parts. It explains the method for identification of plants employing scientific terms. Any unknown medicinal plants can be identified to its family, genus and ultimately to the species. More than 610 species of Indian Medicinal Plants, including those 365 mentioned in the CCIM approved University syllabus of Ayurvedic medicine are listed. An exhaustive list of above plant species provides correct and up-todate scientific name together with names in English, Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi languages and plant parts used in medicine. It also provides about 88 line drawings of plants parts and 125 coloured photographs for confirmation of identified plants. With the help of this book, one will be able to identify 610 species of Medicinal Plants. This will help in pinpointing the genuine drug and its parts by way of comparison. It may also help in detection of genuine as well as adulterated plant species and their parts. Thus, it is hoped that, the book will be useful to Agriculturists, Ayurvedic practitioners, Pharmacicsts in addition to the students of Ayurved, botany as well as a common person interested in knowing common Indian Medicinal Plants.

The present book comprises of two sections, A and B. Section A has the text of the lectures during the Training Course in Ethnobotany, and the section B has some of the material and exercise handled by the trainees during the Workshop and in practical classes. The sequence of the lectures has been so arranged as to gradually and step by step introduce the scope, methodology, and applications of the subject along with the subjects of preparation of scientific papers and research projects. This book will not only popularize the important subject of Ethnobotany but will also provide basic instructions for person freshly interested or inducted into this discipline.

This book highlights the medical importance of and increasing global interest in herbal medicines, herbal health products, herbal pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, food supplements, herbal cosmetics, etc. It also addresses various issues that are hampering the advancement of Indian herbal medicine around the globe; these include quality concerns and quality control, pharmacovigilance, scientific investigation and validation, IPR and biopiracy, and the challenge that various indigenous systems of medicine are at risk of being lost. The book also explores the role of traditional medicine in providing new functional leads and modern approaches that can offer elegant strategies for facilitating the drug discovery process. The book also provides in-depth information on various traditional medicinal systems in India and discusses their medical importance. India has a very long history of safely using many herbal drugs. Folk medicine is also a key source of medical knowledge and plays a vital role in maintaining health in rural and remote areas. Despite its importance, this form of medicine largely remains under-investigated. Out of all the traditional medicinal systems used worldwide, Indian traditional medicine holds a unique position, as it has continued to deliver healthcare throughout the Asian subcontinent since ancient times. In addition, traditional medicine has been used to derive advanced techniques and investigate many modern drugs. Given the scope of its coverage, the book offers a valuable resource for scientists and researchers exploring traditional and herbal medicine, as well as graduate students in courses on traditional medicine, herbal medicine and pharmacy.

Egyptian hieroglyphs, Chinese scrolls, and Ayurvedic literature record physicians administering aromatic oils to their patients. Today society looks to science to document health choices and the oils do not disappoint. The growing body of evidence of their efficacy for more than just scenting a room underscores the need for production standards, quality control parameters for raw materials and finished products, and well-defined Good Manufacturing Practices. Edited by two renowned experts, the Handbook of Essential Oils covers all aspects of essential oils from chemistry, pharmacology, and biological activity, to production and trade, to uses and regulation. Bringing together significant research and market profiles, this comprehensive handbook provides a much-needed compilation of information related to the development, use, and marketing of essential oils, including their chemistry and biochemistry. A select group of authoritative experts explores the historical, biological, regulatory, and microbial aspects. This reference also covers sources, production, analysis, storage, and transport of oils as well as aromatherapy, pharmacology, toxicology, and metabolism. It includes discussions of biological activity testing, results of antimicrobial and antioxidant tests, and penetration-enhancing activities useful in drug delivery. New information on essential oils may lead to an increased understanding of their multidimensional uses and better, more ecologically friendly production methods. Reflecting the immense developments in scientific knowledge available on essential oils, this book brings multidisciplinary coverage of essential oils into one all-inclusive resource.