Plants and Health

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This volume presents ethnobiological insights into how people utilize plants for health and well-being. It emphasizes contemporary examples illustrating the central role of plants in fostering healthy environments and promoting mental and physical wellness. The authors adopt various analytical frameworks, including interpretive, cognitive, political-ecological, systems theory, phenomenological, and critical studies, to examine the intricate relationships between humans, plants, and the environment. The case studies span diverse geographical regions, showcasing the varied health benefits associated with plants and herbs. The volume opens by discussing the intrinsic healthfulness of plants and the concept of ecosystem health in relation to environmental degradation awareness. It further explores how medically-pluralistic societies highlight the connections among the environment, the state, and citizens. Profit-driven models for the extraction and production of medicinal plants are analyzed concerning health equity and sovereignty. Some chapters delve into the globalization of medicinal plant knowledge, emphasizing the significance of translocal networks in the production of herbal remedies across different societies. This exploration of human interactions with plants to promote health will engage readers in anthropology, biology, ethnobiology, and related fields.