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. 

<p>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.</p><br>