Did you know that Vanilla was formerly served as aphrodisiac by Cassanova and Madam Pompadour, and Elizabeth I loved its flavor?

This is the first book that provides a complete worldwide coverage of orchids being employed as aphrodisiacs, medicine or charms and food. Opening with an in-depth historical account of orchids ( orchis Greek testicle), the author describes how the Theory of Signatures influenced ancient herbalists to regard terrestrial orchid tubers as aphrodisiacs. Doctors and apothecaries promoted it during the Renaissance. Usage of orchids in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Indian Ayurvedic Medicine; by Tibetan yogins and Amchi healers for longevity pills, tonics and aphrodisiacs; by Africans to prepare 'health promoting' chikanda or as survival food when lost in the Australian bush are some highlights of the book. Early settlers in America and the East Indies often relied on native remedies and employment of orchids for such needs is described. Also covered are the search for medicinal compounds by scientists, attempts to prove the orchid's efficacy by experiment and the worry of conservationists.

Unique book on the topics, first of its kind Comprehensive world-wide coverage of orchids and their utilization Beautifully illustrated with more than 330 woodblocks, paintings and photographs

Autorentext
Formerly a prize-winning author of scientific papers, Dr. Eng Soon Teoh, MD, FRCOG, FACS, has done equally well with his books for the general readership. He has been involved with orchids for over 50 years and is a past-president of the Orchid Society of South East Asia, Dr. Teoh spent many years doing laboratory research in London, Uppsala (Sweden), Miami and Singapore, places that gave him the opportunity to study orchids. He is author of a dozen books on orchids, lotus, medical topics, etc.

" .. an astonishing book for its encyclopaedic coverage of the use of orchids in Asian herbal medicine. it should remain the standard reference book on the subject for decades."

Review of Eng Soon Teoh's Medicinal Orchids of Asia (2016) by Henry Oakeley

Inhalt

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION: Orchids as Medicine: A Historical Overview.- Chapter 2: An Ancient Fantasy Salep as Aphrodisiac.- Chapter 3: Foremost Among Medicinal Orchids.- Chapter 4: Dwelling on Rocks (Shihu).- Chapter 5: METAMORPHOSIS: Modern medicine finds new uses for an ancient herb.- Chapter 6: Spiritual Tibetan Medicine; popular wangle.- Chapter 7: The Story of Vanilla.- Chapter 8: Modern Treasure Hunters.- Chapter 9: Medicinal Orchids of Central America.- Chapter 10: Medicinal Orchids of South America.- Chapter 11: Usage of Medicinal Orchids.- Chapter 12: INDIA: Van Rheede, Caius, and others.- Chapter 13: Medicinal Orchids of Nepal and Bhutan.- Chapter 14: Medicinal Orchids of Thailand and Myanmar.- Chapter 15: Medicinal Orchids in the Malay Archipelago.- Chapter 16: Australian Orchids as Food and Medicine.- Chapter 17: Medicinal Orchid Usage in Rural Africa.- Chapter 18: The Challenge: Orchid Conservation.