Edible Medicines

The chili pepper is mostly used as flavouring, but ancient Aztecs used it as a remedy for toothache, sore throats, and asthma, and the tonic properties of coffee have been well documented since the 11th century. This book explores the medicinal properties of foods from around the world, and the specific cultural contexts in which they are found.

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The chili pepper is mostly used as flavouring in today's society, but the ancient Aztecs used it as a remedy for toothache, sore throats, and asthma, and the tonic properties of coffee have been well documented since the eleventh century. Although foods have been used for thousands of years to treat various maladies, it is only recently that a concerted effort has been made to examine their pharmacologic potential. "Edible Medicines" explores the medicinal properties of foods from around the world, and the specific cultural contexts in which they are found; it also aims to show that food choice is more closely linked to health than was ever previously thought. Drawing on research from medical science, history, evolution, ethnopharmacology, and nutrition, this volume thoroughly demonstrates the intricate relationship between human culture and mother nature, and provides readers with a greater understanding of the medicinal aspects of food.