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  • Article

A graveyard of plants for the people I love

Searching for her own ceremony to acknowledge the passing of her grandmother, Jennifer Neal turned to plants. The ritual she created was personal and loving, and celebrated life as well as acknowledging loss.

  • Article

Unravelling genetic origins from the potato to cinchona

Starting with the humble potato, Nataly Allasi Canales reveals how researchers unearth the genetic origins of modern plant varieties, and explains why their work is so important for biodiversity.

  • Book extract

Ayurveda: Knowledge for long life

The story of medicine in India is rich and complex. Aarathi Prasad investigates how it came to be this way.

  • Article

Graphic battles in pharmacy

James Morison’s campaign against the medical establishment inspired a wave of caricatures mocking his quack medicine.

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  • Practical observations on the use of oxygen, or vital air, in the cure of diseases. To which are added a few experiments on the vegetation of plants. Part I / By D. Hill.
  • Gloriosa superba L. Colchicaceae Gloriosa lily. Gloriosa rothschildiana is now a synonym. Climbing plant. Distribution: Southern Africa to Asia. National flower of Zimbabwe, state flower of Tamil Nadu. Contains colchicine which is poisonous, teratogenic and used for treating gout, Familial Mediterranean fever and Behcet's disease. Its toxicity limits its use as a anti-cancer agent. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Gloriosa superba L. Colchicaceae Gloriosa lily. Gloriosa rothschildiana is now a synonym. Climbing plant. Distribution: Southern Africa to Asia. National flower of Zimbabwe, state flower of Tamil Nadu. Contains colchicine which is poisonous, teratogenic and used for treating gout, Familial Mediterranean fever and Behcet's disease. Its toxicity limits its use as a anti-cancer agent. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • The garden of health, containing the sundry rare and hidden vertues and properties of all kindes of simples and plants, together with the maner how they are to be used and applyed in medicine ... against divers diseases and infirmities most common amongst men / Gathered by ... William Langham.
  • A systeme of anatomy, treating of the body of man, beasts, birds, fish, insects, and plants ... Illustrated with many schemes ... engraven in seventy four ... plates. And after every part of man's body hath been anatomically described, its diseases, cases, and cures are concisely exhibited ... / [Samuel Collins].
  • A systeme of anatomy, treating of the body of man, beasts, birds, fish, insects, and plants ... Illustrated with many schemes ... engraven in seventy four ... plates. And after every part of man's body hath been anatomically described, its diseases, cases, and cures are concisely exhibited ... / [Samuel Collins].
  • A systeme of anatomy, treating of the body of man, beasts, birds, fish, insects, and plants ... Illustrated with many schemes ... engraven in seventy four ... plates. And after every part of man's body hath been anatomically described, its diseases, cases, and cures are concisely exhibited ... / [Samuel Collins].
  • A systeme of anatomy, treating of the body of man, beasts, birds, fish, insects, and plants ... Illustrated with many schemes ... engraven in seventy four ... plates. And after every part of man's body hath been anatomically described, its diseases, cases, and cures are concisely exhibited ... / [Samuel Collins].
  • A systeme of anatomy, treating of the body of man, beasts, birds, fish, insects, and plants ... Illustrated with many schemes ... engraven in seventy four ... plates. And after every part of man's body hath been anatomically described, its diseases, cases, and cures are concisely exhibited ... / [Samuel Collins].
  • Aspirin crystals. Aspirin was originally extracted from willow bark but is actually produced in all plants as a defence mechanism in response to damage or attack. Much higher levels are therefore found in less than perfect fruit and vegetables. Aspirin is used to treat pain, reduce fever and to prevent heart disease and cancer. Some people think it should be reclassified as a vitamin.
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