This concise overview of terpenes and their applications covers the structure, natural sources, biological and pharmacological effects, as well as selected total syntheses of the compound. This book includes a chapter on structure determination, as well as added information on biogenesis, polycyclic terpenes, gingkoloids and neo-hopanes. This title is an ideal introductory book for anybody starting work in this field.
From cooking to medicine, from engineering to art, chemistry—the science of molecules—is everywhere. A celebration of the molecules of chemistry, Every Molecule Tells a Story celebrates the molecules responsible for the experiences of everyday life: the air we breathe; the water we drink; the chemicals that fuel our living; the steroids that give us sex; the colours of the seasons; the drugs that heal us; and the scented molecules that enrich our diet and our encounters with each other. You can’t see them, but you know that they are there. Unveiling the structures of poisonous "natural" substances and beneficial man-made molecules, this book brushes away any preconceived notions about chemistry to demonstrate why and how molecules matter.
A witty, engaging, in-depth, and evidence-based look at how cannabis affects our brains. Pot, weed, ganja, chronic: whatever you call it, cannabis can profoundly affect the human body and brain. In The Science of Weed, renowned physician, psychiatric researcher, and Yale neuroscience professor Godfrey Pearlson offers a deep dive into the true facts of cannabis, covering everything from its botany and chemistry to its impacts on psychology and human behavior. Taking a neutral approach to the subject, Pearlson emphasizes evidence-based research to separate the reality from the hype about this complicated plant. Pearlson explores the origins of cannabis, its interactions with humans throughout history, and its medicinal applications. His clear explanations of the plant's chemical structure and composition, as well as the internal cannabinoid system of the human body, ensure readers gain a real understanding of the mechanisms behind a subjective high. Moving beyond its effects on humans, Pearlson discusses the plant's collective impact on economics and the health care system, demonstrating how scientific scrutiny can bring enlightened reason to the contentious debates surrounding the drug. By objectively explaining the science behind weed, this book provides a thorough education for anyone who wants to know how cannabis affects our brains and bodies. It allows for an unbiased consideration of public policy on legalization, and helps readers weigh risks and benefits to make their own decisions about using it.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT MARIJUANA AND HOW DO WE KNOW IT? Marijuana is the most frequently consumed illicit drug worldwide, with over 158.8 million users, according to the UN. Responding to public pressure, the US federal government is likely to legalize recreational marijuana within the next few years. With increasing numbers of people using cannabis both medically and recreationally there are many looming questions that only science can answer. These include: - What's likely to happen, both good and bad, if the US legalizes marijuana? - What are some simple, science-based rules to separate fact from fiction and to help guide policy in the highly contentious marijuana debate? - Exactly what is cannabis doing in the brain that gets us high? A journey through THC neuroscience - Does cannabis really have medical benefits - what's the evidence? - To what extent does cannabis impair driving? - Can smoking marijuana in adolescence affect IQ or risk for developing schizophrenia? - Is marijuana safe to use during pregnancy? - Reviews the endocannabinoid system and why our bodies are full of "weed receptors" - Introduces readers to the various forms of marijuana: flower, dabs, hash, edibles, shatter, vapes, tinctures, oils and synthetics, THC, CBD and terpenes. - Demonstrates how and why cannabis affects different people very differently. Discusses how MRI and PET scans can help show the effects of marijuana on the brain. - Discusses long-term effects of adolescent and adult cannabis use. - Examines the evidence for cannabis's role in increasing the risk for schizophrenia-like illnesses.
"What makes the book so encompassing, informative, and relevant is that Haeger has avoided focusing on viticulture or enology or economy in isolation, and has instead looked at all of them in their historic and contemporary scientific and socio-cultural context. . . . Not everyone loves Riesling, but those of us who do will find our passion articulately explained and expressed in Haeger’s book."—Anne Krebiehl, MW, The World of Fine Wine "If you haven't been sold on dry riesling, this is required reading; if you're already a fan, it's an essential reference to add to your shelf."—Wine & Spirits Riesling is the world’s seventh most-planted white wine grape variety and among the fastest growing over the past twenty years. It is a personal favorite of many sommeliers, chefs, and other food and wine professionals for its appealing aromatics, finesse, and minerality; for its uncanny ability to reflect terroir; and for its impressive versatility with cuisines of all types. It is stylistically paradoxical, however. Now usually made dry in most of Europe and Australia, and assumed dry by most German consumers, Riesling is made mostly sweet or lightly sweet in North America and is believed sweet in the American marketplace irrespective of origin. Riesling is thus consequently—but mistakenly—shunned by the mainstream of American wine drinkers, whose tastes and habits have been overwhelmingly dry for two generations. Riesling Rediscovered looks at the present state of dry Riesling across the Northern Hemisphere: where it is grown and made, what models and objectives vintners have in mind, and what parameters of grape growing and winemaking are essential when the goal is a delicious dry wine. John Winthrop Haeger explores the history of Riesling to illuminate how this variety emerged from a crowded field of grape varieties grown widely across northern Europe. Riesling Rediscovered is a comprehensive, current, and accessible overview of what many consider to be the world’s finest and most versatile white wine.
Legal in all 50 states, this entertaining, informative, and whimsically illustrated guide covers 4,000 years of weed and its significance—psychoactive, cultural, medical, sexual, and more—in just 22 pages and with 20 scratch-&-sniff scents. From the science behind the munchies to the botanical link between weed and beer; from weed’s sexual upsides to its (literal) sexual downsides; from Tupac to Shakespeare to why weed makes music sound better: This book may just be the greatest-ever gift for anyone from the cannabis connoisseur to the cannabis curious.
A beautifully photographed primer on growing your own cannabis, with guidance on which strains to choose for your USDA growing zone, tips on harvesting flowers, and recipes for salves, tinctures, and edibles. “A phenomenal resource for anyone looking to grow cannabis. Perfectly tailored to guide all growers—from the first-timer to the experienced gardener.”—Dan Grace, president and cofounder of Dark Heart Nursery Cannabis is as easy to grow as a tomato plant. If you live in a suitable climate and provide sun, water, and good soil, you can grow vigorous, beautiful cannabis in pots, raised beds, or your own yard. Not only is cannabis an easy addition to your garden, it can also provide health and mood-lifting benefits. The Cannabis Gardener teaches you how to choose which strains are right for you and how to cultivate the plants from seed to finished flower. Gorgeous full-color photographs capture each stage of the growing process and show how cannabis plants can be incorporated into your garden design as well as raised beds and containers. After you establish your plants in the garden and monitor them through the flowering stage, you'll find tips on how to harvest, dry, cure, and store your "grow." Also included are recipes for savoring your harvest, from salves, tisanes, and tinctures to cannabutter for baking and cooking delicious treats such as CBD gummies flavored with vanilla beans, cheddar crackers, and even cannabis chocolate sauce. The Cannabis Gardener is an accessible and practical guide for any level of gardener interested in growing their own attractive cannabis plants.
