Concise handbook of psychoactive herbs: medicinal herbs for treating psychological and neurological problems

Abstract

* Chapter 1. Introduction * Plants As Medicines * The Use of Herbal Medicines * Why Do Plants Make Drugs? * How Humans Came to Use Herbal Medicines * The Science of Herbal Medicines * Summary * Chapter 2. How the Brain Works * Mind, Brain, and Behavior * Communication in and Between Neurons * Structure of the Nervous System * Chapter 3. How Drugs Work * How the Body Affects Drugs * How Drugs Affect the Body * Relationships Between Drug Doses and Effects * Chapter 4. Stimulant Herbs * Pharmaceutical Stimulants * Caffeine Stimulants * Tobacco and Tobacco-Like Stimulants * Amphetamine-Like Stimulants * Summary * Chapter 5. Cognition-Enhancing Herbs * Discussion and Treatment of Dementia * Ginkgo * Ginseng * Tobacco * Solanaceous Vegetables: Tomato, Potato, and Eggplant * Discussion and Treatment of Parkinson's Disease * Fava Beans * Summary * Chapter 6. Sedative and Anti-Anxiety Herbs * The Problem of Anxiety * Insomnia * The Structure of Sleep * Central Nervous System Depressants * Valerian * Kava * Passionflower * Chamomile * Other Reputed Sedative Herbs * Summary * Chapter 7. Herbs for Mental Illnesses * The Era of Psychotherapeutic Drugs * Depression and Anxiety * St. John's Wort * Ginger * Ginkgo * Schizophrenia and Psychosis * Chapter 8. Herbal Painkillers * What Is Pain? * The Pain Systems * The Analgesia System * Herbal Analgesics * Opium Poppy * Myrrh * Willow * Meadowsweet * Feverfew * Ginger * Chili Peppers * Stimulant Analgesics * Local Anesthetic Herbs * Chapter 9. Herbal Hallucinogens * What to Call Them? * The Historical Uses of Hallucinogenic Plants * LSD-Like Hallucinogens * Collective Issues with LSD-Like Hallucinogens * The Nightshade Hallucinogens * Fly Agaric * Chapter 10. Cannabis * History * Cannabis and the Human Body * Cannabis Addiction * Therapeutic Uses of Cannabis * Summary * Chapter 11. Use, Abuse, and Addiction * Definitions * Evolutionary Basis for Drug Abuse * Psychological Perspective * Addiction in the Brain * Are Addictions Limited to Drugs? * Treatment * Treatment Methods * Prevention * Conclusions * Glossary * Bibliography * Index * Reference Notes Included