Abstract

Humans have used plants to treat illnesses since prehistoric times. Though modern Western medicine consists of pills and injections rather than leaves and flowers, the plant-derived compounds in many medications show evidence of this history. This project aims to connect medicinal plants’ traditional and historical uses with the findings of modern scientists. Medicinal Plants of Iowa provides Iowa residents who are interested in herbal remedies with a resource that describes the healing properties of plants commonly found in the state. As well as healing properties, a description of each plant’s appearance and preferred habitat type is provided, allowing users to identify plants more easily. The book uses jargon-free, comprehensible language to describe the outcomes of clinical trials involving medicinal plants and compare these findings to the plants’ uses in traditional medicine. Traditional medicine practices were built through generations of experimentation but are often intertwined with religion and ritual. While this can paint traditional medicine in an unscientific light, it is evident that these practices have inspired contemporary scientific research and have thus contributed to modern medicine as we know it.

Keywords: Iowa, medicinal plants, plants of Iowa

How to Cite:

Tran, L., (2023) “Medicinal Plants of Iowa: Connecting Science and Tradition”, Synthesis: A Digital Journal of Student Science Communication 4(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.17077/2643-8410.31464