Jim Meuninck - Basic Illustrated Medicinal Plants

Jim Meuninck, naturalist and biologist, resides on Eagle Lake, Michigan, with his spouse, Jill. Jim has written and published numerous books, including four FalconGuides, two CDs, and six DVDs on ethnobotany, Native American medicine, edible flowers, and survival skills. For more information on the author and to access his vast reservoir of free botanical information and self-reliance tips, go to herbvideos.com.

I want to thank Dr. James Duke for his ground breaking references found online, in field guides and medicinal plants handbooks presenting user friendly and innovative advice. Thanks also go to Jill, my steadfast companion, best friend, and spouse. A special nod to daughter Rebecca, who has accomplished so much for all of us through her hard work at the Ann Arbor Ecology Center, and once again, I thank my ancestors and yours for their contributions to the vast amount of botanical knowledge that improves our diet and engenders good health.

This book would not be possible without all the efforts and insights of the FalconGuides team to include my gracious, creative, intelligent, and hard-working editor, David LeGere. Accolades galore for Staci Zacharski, editor-extraordinaire who hammered home this books form and guided it to completion. And thanks to both copyeditor, Kathy Brook and proofreader, Paulette Baker, and to layout artist, Melissa Evarts for her wonderful creativity.

Use these herbs liberally when cooking: in salads and salad dressings, teas, barbecue, soups. Experiment! Taste the herb, imagine what it may complement, then give it a try.

1. Garlic: infection fighter, stimulant

2. Rosemary: cancer-fighting antioxidants, stimulant

3. Basil: antioxidants, infection fighter

4. Mint: stimulant, digestive

5. Lemon balm: relaxing tonic for mild depression, irritability, anxiety

6. Fennel: anti-inflammatory, analgesic, appetite stimulant, antiflatulent

7. Lovage: respiratory and digestive tonic, antibronchitis

8. Oregano: antiseptic, antiflatulent, stimulates bile and stomach acid, antiasthmatic

9. Cilantro (coriander): treats flatulence, bloating and cramps; breath sweetener

10. Horseradish: perspirant, stimulant

11. Thyme: tea for preventing altitude sickness, antiseptic, inhalant (antiasthmatic), stimulant

ars-grin.gov/duke. Database of medicinal plant chemistry

cinim.org. Canadian Institute of Natural and Integrative Medicine website

clinicaltrials.gov. Online source of clinical trials in progress with broad coverage

herbalgram.org. American Botanical Council website

herbvideos.com. Jim Meunincks site with thousands of pages with photos and links

nccam.nih.gov. US Office of Alternative and Complementary Medicine website

rain-tree.com. Database of Amazon rain forest plants and their medicinal uses

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