Darkness Matters or Ancient Herbs

Darkness Matters: Understanding how NeuroMelanin Impacts Health, Disease, Memory, Movement and Consciousness

Author: Edward Bruce Bynum

Asking the question, Are people with dark skin truly different?, these essays consider the history, science, and psychology of melanin. With contributions from such noted writers and scholars as Hunter Adams, Ann Brown, Richard King, and Owen Moore, these writings explore the history of people with surface skin melanin. The genetic influence of melanin on culture and learning is also addressed, with a specific look at the unfair treatment of African American children in schools that has led to poor IQ test scores and disproportionate numbers of African American children in special education classes.

Book review: Frontiers of Economics or Principles of Economics

Ancient Herbs

Author: Marina Heilmeyer

The forty plants in this book present both herbs and other plants that were important for culinary, medicinal, and cult purposes in classical antiquity. Thus olive and pomegranate, myrtle and rose join coriander and marjoram, garlic and thyme. In the introduction, the author draws on her extensive knowledge of ancient practices to paint an intriguing image of the uses of and myths about plants from Greek and particularly Roman kitchen gardens. Quotes from classical authors testify to ancient practices, some curious, some still standard today.
The delightful illustrations reproduce drawings from early nineteenth-century botanical publications, which often show the plants at various stages of growth, from seeds through ripe fruits.

Table of Contents:

Introduction     1
Ancient Herbs
Absinthe: Artemisia absinthium     18
Anise: Pimpinella anisum     20
Asaferida: Ferula assa-foetida     22
Basil: Ocimum basilicum     24
Bay Laurel: Laurus nobilis     26
Bee Balm: Melissa officinalis     28
Caraway: Carum carvi     30
Celery: Apium graveolens     32
Chamomile: Chamaemelum nobile = Anthemis nobilis     34
Chicory: Cichorium intybus     36
Clover: Melilotus officinalis     38
Coriander: Coriandrum sativum     40
Cretan Dittany: Origanum dictamnus     42
Cumin: Cuminum cyminum     44
Dill and Fennel: Anethum graveolens and Foeniculum vulgare     46
Elecampane: Inula helenium     48
Fenugreek: Trigonella foenum-graecum     50
Garlic and Onion: Allium sativum and Allium cepa     52
Hollyhock: Alcea rosea     54
Horehound: Marrubium vulgare     56
Hyssop: Hysoppus officinalis     58
Iris: Iris x germanica var. florentina     60
Juniper: Juniperus communis     62
Lovage: Levisticum officinale     64
Marjoram: Origanum majorana     66
Mugwort: Artemisia vulgaris     68
Mustard: Sinapis alba     70
Myrtle: Myrtus communis     72
Olive: Olea europaea     74
Parsley: Petrosdinum crispum     76
Pennyroyal: Mentha pulegium     78
Pomegranate: Punica granatum     80
Poppy: Papaver somniferum     82
Rose: Rosa gallica     84
Rosemary: Rosmarinus officinalis     86
Rue: Ruta graveolens     88
Sage: Salvia officinalis     90
Spearmint: Mentha spicata     92
St.-John's-wort: Hypericum perforatum     94
Thyme: Thymus vulgaris and Thymus serpyllum     96
Acknowledgments     98
A Note on Illustrations     99
Suggestions for Further Reading     100