Throughout the world, traditional medical systems continue to impact the lives of many people. These systems vary greatly in their underlying beliefs – but all commonly rely on the consumption of plant matter as a central practice. An Ancient Mesopotamian Herbal is a new, fully illustrated book that explores the uses of flora in traditional medicine and how these botanical roots extend to modern, ‘conventional’ medicinal treatments. Using new research and yet unseen data from modern day Iraq and surrounding areas, and drawing on the expertise of archeo-botanists, scientists and Assyriologists specialising in historic Mesopotamian medicine, An Ancient Mesopotamian Herbal is a ground-breaking reassessment of research on ancient Mesopotamian flora.

Barbara Böck is Senior Researcher at the Spanish National Research Council. Shahina A. Ghazanfar is a senior Botanist and expert on the flora and vegetation, conservation, and plants of economic importance of the Middle East. Mark Nesbitt is a Senior Research Leader at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.