PLSC 342

Medicinal plants have been used by humans for many thousands of years and continue to make significant contributions to human health. Our knowledge on the applications of medicinal plants is tightly intertwined with culture and language, and is based upon a rich history of use. The use of medicinal plants is common in regulated (e.g. pharmaceutical) and non-regulated (e.g. herbal medicines) industries, home treatment, and traditional Indigenous applications. The purpose of this course is to provide students an understanding of medicinal plants through the lens of scientific legitimacy, thereby helping students to critically evaluate claims made by industry. Both humans and plants vary genetically in space and time, and thus topics surrounding the ethics of using traditional knowledge, bioprospecting, and personalized medicine will be discussed.