Pharmacy In The Forest: How Medicines Are Found In The Natural World

Most of us in the developed world are used to getting our medicines in the form of capsules or pills or syrups. So it may come as a surprise to know that many of our best medicines, from antihistamines to anticancer drugs, started out as chemicals in the stems and roots and leaves of leafy plants. And many of them are found in the world's rain forests. A chain of fascinating scientific investigation and research connects the natural world of the forest -- and the people who live there -- to the world of Western medicine and pharmacies. Pharmacy in the Forest offers a first look at how this chain works, and includes resources for further exploring on the World Wide Web.