Murder, Magic, and MedicinePeople have always been curious about the plants and animals with which they coexist. Primitive cultures identified edible and poisonous plants largely by trial and error, and then used them for hunting, executions, euthanasia, and magico-religious rites, as well as for their medicinal properties. In this fascinating book, John Mann investigates the evolution of modern medicine from its roots in folk medicine, and reveals the continuing importance of natural plant and animal products, many of which remain undiscovered but under threat by the wholesale destruction of the Earth's wild places. In this new edition, he has updated the material to include discussion of the background to some of the most talked about drugs of recent years, including Prozac and Viagra. |
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... binding or cover and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data Mann , J. Murder , magic , and medicine ...
... binding or cover and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data Mann , J. Murder , magic , and medicine ...
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Common terms and phrases
absinthe acetylcholine acid activity agents alcohol alkaloids American analgesic analogues ancient aphrodisiac aspirin asthma ayahuasca bark became binding blood brain brew cancer Cannabis caused cells cent century chemical clinical coca cocaine compounds consumption contains Culpeper curare Datura death digitalis Dioscorides disease dopamine doses drug Ebers papyrus effects efficacy enzyme ergot example experience fever Galen hallucinogenic hashish heart herb herbal hormones human hyoscine Indians infection inhibition intoxication involved ions isolated K+ K+ known liver lungs magic major constituent malaria mandrake medicine membrane mescaline mode of action molecules morphine muscle mushroom nerve neurons neurotransmitter nicotine noradrenalin nutmeg oestrogens opium patients peyote pharmacological physician physostigmine plant extracts podophyllotoxin poison potent prepared probably produced progesterone properties protein psychoactive receptors release remedies result seeds serotonin smoking sodium species steroid stimulant structural subsequently substances suffering symptoms synthetic tetrodotoxin tobacco toxic toxins treatment tubocurarine tumours usually various viral wine yopo