An illustrated reference guide to over 550 of the medicinal herbs currently known and used throughout the world. It includes practical information on using a selection of the most widely available herbs for a range of common ailments. The core of the book is a listing of 500 medicinal herbs, organized alphabetically by Latin name. The index includes herbs from Europe, India and the Middle East, China and the Far East, Africa, Australasia and the Americas. Each herb is profiled with information on its habitat and cultivation, its theraputic properties and actions, and its traditional and current uses. Out of the whole repertoire, 100 key herbs are featured in more detail.