Product Description
Fully updated and authoritative, this revised edition of DK's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine makes this classic, completely illustrated reference guide even bigger and better than the original. Featuring more than 550 medicinal plants and the most current scientific research, this volume provides a comprehensive guide to healing with the world's oldest form of medicine. A unique photographic index profiles over 550 plants, with detailed information on habitat and cultivation, parts used, active constituents, therapeutic properties, and traditional and current uses. A special section profiles 100 of the most common plants, featuring herbal preparations and recommendations for self-treatment. Guidelines on growing, harvesting, and storing medicinal plants also demonstrate making remedies for home use. In addition, accessible text offers fascinating insight into the chemistry of plants and their healing properties, explaining how and why they work as medicines within the body. The major herbal traditions of different cultures- Europe, India, China, Africa, Australia, and the Americas- are vividly described. A review of herbs from a historical perspective reveals the connection between medicinal herbs and cultural beliefs toward healing. Offering extensive coverage of all that herbs are- from cultural traditions to chemical components to self-treatments for common ailments-this Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine is the ultimate reference for anyone interested in exploring the healing benefits of medicinal plants. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Awesome pricing!
The book was brand new with hardcover! The pricing was unbeatable! I would recommend this seller to everyone!

Good, but still lacking
I bought this book looking for a complete reference book for herbals for my family.I have two young boys, and it has been very challenging finding at home remedies for them when they have been sick.I don't like making too many trips to the doctor's office if I don't have to, and I'm more of a hands off, let nature take it's course kinda gal.However, when the boys or my husband are sick, I like to have something on hand that's not the most potent OTC you can buy, or even the herbal mixes they sell at the health food stores unless I am certain that what's in there is going to do no harm, and actually help them.That being said, this book falls short of what I was looking for.The full color pages are nice, and there is quite a bit of information available on each herb represented.It is also nice that there is a special section on kids in the back which tells you what the proper dosage is for little ones.However, I am concerned to find very little information on contraindications or cautions, for instance, herbs you should never take if you are pregnant are not noted except in a small section in the back. Kind of an awkward way to read the book.Specifically, the herb Lobelia has no mention of the fact that many herbalists don't use it because large doses can be fatal...might be good to know, eh?The organization is weird for the lay person (by scientific name), and there are some commonly found herbs in herbal remedies I have bought before that are not listed in the book.Overall, maybe good to have on hand, but not the one reference book you must have.

GREAT!
I was excited to get this book, but I was thrilled when I actually received it and got to look into it more. It explains how to use the herbs, store them, dry them, turn them to creams, tinctures, infusions, you name it! The other thing I LOVED was the photos of each herb and plant making it soooo much easier to accurately identify them while out hiking! Great book, definitely get it if you're starting out and wanting to learn more :)

Great book!!!!
This has almost everything anyone would need to learn about herbs, how to fix, what to fix, and for what problem!I had to get one when I read my friend's copy.A must have for anyone wanting to learn about herbs, and application of them.

Best Herbal Encyclopedia I've come across!
I absolutely LOVE this book! I've had it for several years, and have given numerous copies away to friends and family including my own family doctor. My father was the one to first come across it in one of those discount book stores many years ago, and once I saw it I was hooked.

It is thourough and well written, and the lay-out is fantastic. It is so easy to read. Some of the reviews have complained about the fact that it is an alphabetical listing of plants/herbs as opposed to ailments/diseases, but this is what makes it great in my opinion. Often a particular plant has several therapeutic benefits, so it is nicer to read about one plant at a time (and less confusing, in my opinion). I disagree that it is difficult to find things, as the index also contains the common names of the plants as well as an index of ailments. Towards the back of the book there are ailment groups such as women's health problems and pregnancy, Cold & Flu, Allergies/hayfever, Digestive ailments/nausea, Respiratory ailments, and more, where you have a bunch of the most useful herbs for each group of ailments listed.

It's also a great book to sit down and flip through when you have a minute to read or rest. You can flip it open to a random page and read all about that particular plant. It's all very facinating and useful information. I use this book all the time. Whenever someone complains of pain or discomfort, I look it up in my trusted Herbal Encyclopedia and see if there's anything around the house I can use.

Some of the herbs I use more regularily are Camomile for stomach cramping, ground Ginger and Tumeric for nausea or stomach pain, Cardamon for gas, abdominal discomfort or if I need to burp, Rosemary for energy, Lemon juice in warm water for an internal shower of the digestive system.... to mention a few.

I also see a naturopath and take quite a few herbal mixes and supplements due to CFS, and being able to come home and look up why I'm taking each and every thing is great, and helps with compliance.

I'm actually looking for some new herbal books, as this one of course doesn't contain every possible medicinal plant (thought it comes close), but I haven't found one that comes close to this one. Highly recommend it to anyone. Especially great if you have children as it is a great reference guide when someone isn't feeling well. Why use synthetic drugs when there is an effective yet gentle natural alternative! A total joy to read and always useful! Definitely 5 stars. ... Read more

Product Description
For the first time, here is a detailed explanation and classification of herbs,using the ancient system of Ayurveda.More than 270 herbs are listed, with 108herbs explained in detail.Included are many of the most commonly used westernherbs with a profound Ayurvedic perspective.Important Chinese and specialAyurvedic herbs are introduced.Beautiful diagrams and charts, as well asdetailed glossaries, appendices and index are included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

The Yoga of Herbs
"The Yoga of Herbs," is a practical opus, assisting one to understand how uncomplicated herbal self-help and self-healing can be. Further, this text also assists the serious student in a bit of astrology to understand the connection of herbs to various houses and elements of the zodiac houses which are fire, earth-water, air-either, to bring the "tridoshas" (the three body types-compositions we all have which must be in delicate balance for whole health), which is in fact the foundation of all spiritual traditions. Additionally, Vasant Lad provides the Sanskrit, for each herb for those who want to learn the parallel connection between the Ayurvedic Indian Eastern Tradition and the Western Tradition of healing. Thank you greatly Vasant Lad for this wonderful healing opus!!!!!!

Great Ayurvedic Resource
This is an excellent detailed reference for ayurvedic herbal properties. Claudia Newcorn - author of the award-winning fantasy, Crossover Crossover: Krisálys Chronicles of Féyree

Ayurvedic herbs, nature's medicine
As a student of Ayurveda, the Yoga of Herbs by Dr. Frawley and Dr. Lad were excellent coverage of herbs, not only Ayurveda but reference to the Chinese herb name as well.I will use this book frequently for reference in my Ayurvedic studies and will highly recommend the book to those who are looking for alternative therapies to allopathic medicine.It will always be my philosophy that we treat ourselves with a healthy lifestyle, healthy state of mind, and work towards living a life of higher consciousness.Dr. Frawley and Dr. Lad are experts in the field of Ayurveda and with mentoring such we have in them, our health issues would be far less just by following the use of herbs that the doctors have incorporated into the Yoga of Herbs.

Good info on Ayurveda; Bad info on herbs
I enjoyed the author's description of basic Ayurvedic Medicine (TAM) principles and philosophy; as for the monographs of herbs and their actions not so much. I own the 2nd ed. and found many problems with the Materia Medica of the book. When the authors describe Basil (Ocinum spp.)they misrepresent the plant as Tulsi which is actually Holy Basil (Ocinum Sanctum)- one of the most used plants in TAM; the adaptogenic qualities of Tulsi are not present in other types of Basil. Another misrepresentation is Hibiscus (Hibiscus Rosa-Sinesis) for which they use the wrong species of plant (actually Hibiscus sabdariffa) and the wrong part of the plant used (the flower is not used as the book says but the calyx); Wikipedia also states the Hibiscus Rosa-Sinesis flower is used to shine shoes and in devotions to the god Devi, not specifically for beverages as the Hibiscus sabdariffa.
Yes I did like the descriptions of TAM doshas and philosophy but if you wish to try the herbs mentioned in the book I recommend finding another book like those by Tillotson, Murray, Pizzarno, Gladstar, Hoffman or even Penny C. Royal for more dependable herbal monographs.

The best herb book i've ever read.
This is the best, bar none. It goes into detail with each herb, telling us the energetics of the herbs, in terms of ayurveda-the oldest system of popular standardized medicine in the world. Ayurveda literally means science of life. There is indepth information on the physical and psychological effects of each herb. It even tells you how the herbs relate to the chakras. Dr. Vasant Lad is the countrys' leading authority on Ayurveda (besides Deepak Chopra)and he got together with David Frawley-a very learned Vedic scholar to write this book. Together they make magic happen. This book is more than worth the money . ... Read more

Product Description
For the past ten years, Andy Rosenfarb has successfully used acupuncture and Chinese medicine to treat a wide range of eye conditions. His treatments include moxibustion techniques, tuina (massage), microcurrent stimulation, Chinese herbs, and qigong exercises, along with “essential acupuncture” where essential oils are placed on acupuncture points. The culmination of his work—which includes a recent pioneering study involving metabolic testing–is this handbook for healing the kinds of conditions too often considered almost impossibly challenging or irreversible.

The first half of Healing Your Eyes with Chinese Medicine explains Traditional Chinese Medicine and its perspective on the eyes, which is based on the idea that the eyes and the brain work in tandem, not isolation. The second half focuses on proven methods derived from Rosenfarb’s practice, including nutritional, supplemental, and lifestyle adjustments. Individual chapters cover eye disorders such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, and many more. This book is intended as a practical manual to help readers understand their eyes and vision more comprehensively, and to learn new, affordable ways for retaining the precious gift of sight. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great Book for Eye Care!
This is an easy to follow, useful guide to eye care for all eye problems. Lots of specific exercises and herbal formulas. Very inspiring, helpful and rewarding. Highly recommended to anyone wanting to maintain or to improve on the health of their eyes.

Not so much for laypeople, but gives a LOT of hope.
I've got an old friend Andy who taught me to play poker years ago.He recently was stricken with age-related macular degeneration.Right when he reached his retirement years and can play a lot of poker - he can't anymore.

My "new" friend Andy - the guy who wrote this book - gave me a lot of hope for my old friend.As he said to me in an email:

"FYI, no one is too far gone in my experience.I've had some crazy success cases of people whom I thought would not get any results.As long as there is still a pulse, there is still hope..."

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can often help when nothing else will.The reason is that drugs rarely cure anything.Most drugs do one of two things.They kill something (in the case of antibiotics or chemotherapy drugs).Or, they react with receptors on cells (by blocking, interfering or activating the receptor).Cell receptors react to biomolecules such as hormones, neurotransmitters, etc.

The problem is this doesn't cause healing - it merely blocks symptoms.Acupuncture and Chinese medicine works by helping the body's natural healing mechanisms take over.Only your body can heal itself - nothing else.Even the greatest surgeon can't heal the smallest cut.

Andy just had an article printed about macular degeneration in Acupuncture Today.You can search for it at their site. According to the article, he's had an 80% success rate.If you're interested in treatment for age related macular degeneration, it's an excellent article. It will tell you if this book is for you.

If you're interested in treatment for other eye conditions and want to know if this book addresses it, you can search inside this book - click on the book cover, above.

Wish I had read this book in acupuncture school....
Another reviewer wrote that this book is not geared towards practitioners, I disagree as I was able to immediately use much of the information in my clinic.

I graduated from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in 2002 and have been fortunate to operate an extremely busy Chinese Medicine practice since early 2003.I also participate in NIH funded research on Chinese Medicine through UMDNJ (University of Medicine and Dentistry, NJ).Over 90% of my patients are "medical throw-aways" who come to Chinese Medicine as a last resort after conventional medicine has failed.A significant percentage of these patients have been those with degenerative eye disorders.

After reading Andy's book on eye and vision disorders, I feel that this book should be a required text in modern acupuncture schools.When I was in school there were no books devoted to the exclusive practice of Chinese opthamology within a modern clinical setting.What little material I read on Chinese opthamology was isolated to theory and pattern discrimination...and of limited help in real world practice.If I had read this book four years ago when I started my practice, I would have had a greater success rate with my opthamology patients.

The information in this book reveals why Andy is considered by other acupuncturists to be a leading authority on traditional Chinese opthamology.This book is clearly a labor of love as he gives away many of the "secrets" that he has learned from specializing in eye disorders for the past 10 years.Any acupuncturist looking to specialize in eye disorders needs to read this book.There is a detailed explanation of Chinese meridian theory and how each elemental pair relates to treating certain eye disorders, and even after years of working as a professional acupuncturist I was able to find new information in this section.Yet what makes this book different from conventional text books is the conversational style of teaching that the author has, and the large amount of "real world" information presented that is only available from someone who has experienced plenty of success (as well as early failures) in his field.

For example, the book integrates Western and Eastern medical theories by breaking down the different part of the eye into their five element classifications (ie: sclera=metal, macula=water) and how specific western diagnoses of eye disorders such as age-related macular degeneration can be treated using traditional zhang-fu and meridian theory.His categorization of various opthamological diseases into five-element theory is then used to explain how the most common Chinese herbal formulas can be used to treat different disorders such as diabetic retinopathy and myopia.Additionally, there is information on the use of self-care exercises for the eyes, a unique explanation of essential oil therapy using Chinese theories, micro-current stimulation, and an explanation of how modern visual acuity tests can be integrated into a Chinese Medicine practice.Most of the above information I have not found in other texts.

As an acupuncturist I found this book to be a goldmine of clinical information for my practice.But if you are suffering from degenerative vision loss and are looking for alternative treatments, I feel that this book would be an excellent start to learn more about natural methods for healing the eyes.I have treated many patients with degenerative eye disorders and I know how terrifying the experience can be...but there is hope if you remain persistent in your search and keep an open mind.Knowledge and understanding will always overcome fear, and this book will give you a new level of understanding if you suffer from vision loss.Admittedly, there may be some parts of the book that might be difficult for the lay person to understand.The information has not been watered down and the author assumes that you have an intense interest in the subject. You will have to read the theory section in the first few chapters several times to be able to understand the more detailed information in the second half of the book, but this is to be expected as Chinese Medicine is a vast subject that takes many years to grasp.

Bottom line: Highly recommended for both clinicians and patients.Five Stars!!!

Excellent book for patients and practitioners alike
This book is written in a way that both patients and practitioners alike will be able to get a lot out of it.The layout is clear, and it is very readable.

I was drawn into the book from the beginning.Even though I am very well acquainted with the basics of Chinese medicine and the organ functions, they are presented an a different context in this book.Everything is given within the context of the eyes and eye diseases.This allowed me to take the knowledge that I had on treatment principles in general, and apply it to eye patterns.

Perhaps the most outstanding aspect of the book is the holistic approach presented to working on eye diseases.There is information on lifestyle, eye exercises, qigong, herbs, acupressure, acupuncture, essential oils, magnets, and moxibustion.All of this information can be used by practitioners to improve their ability to treat eye problems.More importantly, it is written in a way that the patient can go home and do eye exercises, qigong, acupressure, or any of the other home treatment modalities presented in this book to further their eye health.

Overall an excellent book.

A Must Have Book for Practitioners
This book helped to fill the gap of this specialty. Andy gave descriptions of terms I have never heard of before that allowed me to appreciate it even more instead of hearing all the same 'ole boring descriptions/definitions that many others use or copy from other books.

The chapters were well organized and well suited for the beginner who wants to understand the organ functions pertaining to Chinese medicine and how a practitioner will treat eye disorders.

I now know what "snail-shell moxa" is by the pictures in the book.

Relating the western diagnosis to Chinese medical terms make this book useful and important to the practitioner as well as the authors own clinical experience he shares in this book.

I think anyone interested in vision health whether you are a practitioner or layperson will greatly benefit from this book. ... Read more

Product Description
The first book to exclusively use Chinese medical theories and terminology to guide practitioners of Chinese medicine in the use of Western herbs

• Written entirely according to the theory, diagnosis, and treatment paradigm of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

• Explains how to combine and modify the standard TCM formulas to non-Chinese herbs suitable for Western practitioners

• Includes 58 monographs of common Western healing herbs, detailing how each plant is used clinically

The ever-growing number of Chinese medicine practitioners in the West has brought about an amalgamation of many styles of Chinese medicine and various other forms of medicine from around the world. This book addresses the increasing demand for knowledge of how to integrate plants from outside the standard Chinese materia medica into the fold of Chinese medical practices in the West. It is the first in-depth guide to using Western herbs exclusively according to the theories, diagnoses, and treatments of traditional Chinese medicine that harmonizes the unique terminology and theories of TCM with other botanical medicines.

The book contains 58 monographs, illustrated with full-color photographs, of herbs commonly used by Western herbalists. Each herb is grouped by the basic categorization for medicinals in Chinese medicine, such as Herbs that Resolve the Exterior and Herbs that Regulate Blood. The monographs detail the energetics, function and indication, channels entered, dosage and preparation, and contraindications of each plant. The author also explains how to use the herbs to modify standard formulas used in everyday Chinese herbal medicine, based on his own clinical experience. An appendix of Western Analogs for Chinese Herbs further highlights 40 Chinese medicinals that have related species growing in the West.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The best book on the use of North American herbs in TCM
Thomas Avery Garran has written an excellent book, combining his deep experience using western herbs in Chinese medicine with a thorough understanding of the energetics of the herbs.Although there have been a couple of earlier books attempting to use western herbs in the sophisticated Chinese herbslism, this one lacks the serious dosing errors of Holmes'sEnergetics of Western Herbs and is more extensive than Jeremy Ross's larger book, Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine.His practical experience with each of the herbs profiled gives this book an edge, and his ability to compare western analogues of Chinese herbs helps Chinese medicine fit within a locally sourced herbal tradition.The book allows one to make use of the generally fresher and organic American sourced herbs while using the genius of Chinese Medicine diagnosis.

not what I expected
It's a beautiful book, in fact it seems to me more like a coffee table book than a real practitioner's handbook. There are lots of beautiful full page color photos but not as much information as I'd hoped. The text and approach are good, certainly authoritative, but I expected to find many common western herbs listed. I live in Europe and most of the herbs in the book are specific to north America. Lovely book but not as useful as I'd hoped.

Western Herbs According to TCM
Very good book. All you need to know about the subject you could find in this book.

Each herb is grouped by the basic categorization for medicinals in Chinese medicine
Western Herbs According to Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Practitioner's Guide offers up some 58 monographs, illustrated with color photos, of herbs commonly used by Western herbalists. Each herb is grouped by the basic categorization for medicinals in Chinese medicine, with writings dealing with functions, dosage, preparation and contraindications. Any herbal medicine collection must have this in-depth index of Chinese formulas applied to Western herbs.

Valuable new herbal for the clinic
As a practitioner of both Western and Chinese herbal medicine I am thrilled to see this book in print. This book contains many features that are completely unique to clinical guides in the Traditional Chinese Medical literature in print in the West. First off, the photographs taken by the author are gorgeous, unrivaled in any clinical herbal that I know of.The adherence to T.C.M. terminology makes this book more coherent than other attempts to take on this task in the past which ought to allow for easier inclusion of the included Western herbs in a clinical setting for the practitioner. Especially engaging are both the authors commentary on combining medicinals for specific conditions and for combining Western herbs with Chinese formulas.Also of value in the commentary is the extraordinary erudition - the guided tour of the best of 2000 years of Materia medicas and clinical manuals of both herbal traditions. I could go on, but well, just buy the book... ... Read more

Product Description
The 2nd edition of The Practice of Chinese Medicine: The Treatment of Diseases with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs describes the application of traditional Chinese medical theory to the diagnosis and treatment of 48 diseases, conditions and disorders. In addition to the existing 34 covered in the first edition, 14 new conditions and symptoms have been added, and these include common, chronic, and acute conditions which clinicians may see in their practice. Each chapter contains aetiology and pathology; differential diagnosis according to TCM; selection of treatments with acupuncture and herbs, with explanation of choices; case studies for illustration; summary of Western differential diagnosis; and discussion of prognosis and prevention. This book brings the enormous wealth of the author's experience, and his insights in applying TCM medicine to a Western context, to the support of all clinicians whatever their own range of experiences. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

The Practice of Chinese medicine: the Treatment of Diseases with Acupuncture and Chinese herbs
Very good approach of pattern in Chinese Medicin starting from vestmedicin diagnosis that is very usefull for doctors like me.

Wonderful service and product
I am always satisfied with the service and the products I receive from Amazon.Thank you!

Review of the CD Rom
I bought the CD hoping I could have the information on several computers.I have had the book for 10 years.

You cannot use this CD on several computers.You have to download the software and use the CD to get information.I'm very disappointed about that.If I had know that, I would have just ordered a second copy of the book to keep at the office, instead of this CD.

This CD is not very functional.You can't just scroll down with your mouse, you have to click on the toolbar or hit the page down button.

Giovanni, of course, is the master.He is a wonderful author and is responsible for educating thousands of Western acupuncturists.I graduated 7 years ago and still use all his books.

In case you are wondering, he is also a very sweet and funny person.I went to his seminar and was very happy to find out that such a genius can be so humble and funny.He always admits he doesn't know everything and that is rare in authors of Chinese Medicine books.;)

Buy the book, not the CD!

OK ... but not the colour on the cover ...
I initially dove into this book, very well laid out and attractive but don't be deceived it's not the be all of diagnosis despite it's mammoth number of pages.As far as I've been trained, he's about 70% of the full story ... definately a wonderful introduction to TCM's internal medicine but not everything you need to know.His appendix pages on western differentiation are very welcomed, but are quite basic.Many people in TCM are not so interested in Western meds. but they are very important so thumbs up on the inclusion.

It's not a bad book, but it's not so great as the Chinese texts I have in my library who give you the same info at a fraction of the cost, less room on your shelf and a lot less speculation.

Thanks to Maciocia we have a solid intro to TCM, for that I think we are all indebted ... but his factory of TCM books are a bit much considering you can get the real info from the source in Chinese Textbooks with both Chinese and English in them.

Yours,
Hastings

A Mixed Bag
This book is huge, even though it's only about 34 diseases.It's filled with case studies that easily transform into CA state board test questions.

My study partner went through and pulled every one of these case studies out to memorize them.I found myself doing the same, since I disagreed with Giovanni's diagnosis about 25% of the time... I had to memorize his diagnosis anyway.In one case, he got no result, and consulted with a Chinese doctor, who diagnosed the patient the way I had when I firsted saw the signs and symptoms!

What's really infuriating is when he uses a rationale to diagnose something one way in one place, but then doesn't consistently apply that in other cases.

So, we are required to know Giovanni's opinions and diagnosis style even if they may be wrong.It would have been nice to see - in a reference book - a separation between mistaken treatments and ideal/accurate treatments.

Also, there are short sections on western diagnosis in some diseases... but be careful, because biomedicine frequently revises its understandings.This is NOT your source for clinical biomedical info.It may be easy to understand, but may not be up to date or accurate.

There is an interesting section on distal points and their target areas.

As with Giovanni's book, the Foundations of Chinese Medicine, it's not always clear if his ideas come from classical CM or from his own mind.I'd caution the reader to balance their understanding with the works of Wiseman, Deadman, and Sionneau. ... Read more

Product Description
This book captures the unique history of the plant life once essential to the Polish people. It leads the reader on a guided tour through monastery, castle, and cottage gardens, providing details on the history and healing powers of over one hundred herbs and flowers. Beautiful line drawings and woodcuts illustrate the garden patterns and various plants important to Polish tradition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

It's a nice book, but...
It would have been improved greately by the use of time quantifiers. "Traditionally" could mean anywhere from the birth of the Polish nation right through to the day before yesterday. There is a lot of nice information for people who don't mind when exactly "traditionally" was, but I was hoping to find useful information for SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) purposes. I really want to know whether the described habits stem from the Middle Ages or the 19th century, and since I don't read Polish, I can't follow the paper trail back through the bibliography.

Text good, pictures not
It's a useful text but the illustrations are mainly decorative, not useful for identifying plants.

"A lovely garden was the spirit of the housewife"
In this charming book, Sophie Hodorowicz Knab answers all of the questions that anyone might have about the use of herbs in Poland.She starts by informingus about an archaeological site that dates back to 550-400 BC. The site was discovered in the Bydgoszcz province in1931.It was determinedthat the early inhabitants grew several types of grain and used herbs in medicinal preparations andfor flavoring foods.

The author also tells us how herbs were used inthe pre-Christian era and how those practices were integrated into the Christian celebrations that came later. Due to the geographic location of Poland, many travelers following the trade routes passed through her borders and introduced exotic new plants to the country.

There's an abundance of data offered about the herbal gardens in the monasteries. Those gardens were in many ways the most advanced and useful because the monks had links with their fellow orders from all over Europe. Therefore, the different formulas for herbal medicines were passed back and forth between the monasteries.

Palace gardens are also discussed. Since the royal families made marriage alliances with neighboring countries, the spouses often brought different plants and trees with them to be planted in their new home. Italian style gardens and vegetables such as tomatoes and cauliflower were introduced by Queen Bona who was born in Italy.

I particularly liked the information given about the cottage gardens. We're told "that a lovely garden was the spirit of the housewife." These kitchen gardens were much simpler than their formal counterparts. The lady of the house would grow the herbs that she liked best. "There was marjoram for sausage, dill for pickling, and parsley, sage and fennel for enhancing soups and stews." The illustrations in this part of the book intrigued me, and I really enjoyed the folk-style drawings. I thought that the different types of bee skeps were very unique. Sugar was a luxury and the common people kept bees so that they would have honey to use as a sweetener.

Finally, even theglossary of herbs and flowers presented some absorbing and entertaining passages.The customary usage for the various plants are offered and a few recipes and remedies are also included. The names of the plants are given in English, Latin and Polish.There's even a recipe for Benedictine which sounds very intriguing!

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to anyone wanting to learn about Poland. ... Read more

Product Description
Traditional Chinese medicine is perhaps the oldest system of health care in the world--and one of the safest and most effective. This easy-to-use handbook provides everything readers need to know to be able to explore Chinese herbal medicine for themselves. Illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A very nice reference for many exotic and some common herbs
This book is an excellent companion to Reid's "The Tao of Health, Sex, and Longevity" There are 108 herbs commonly used in Taoist medicine. Only a few of the herbs are easily obtainable such as aloe, garlic, ginger, and cinnamon. The majority of herbs however you will have to go to either a "Chinatown" or buy those herbs online. Each herb is broken down by it's affinity to yin or yang, and how each one corresponds to the meridians (body channels). There are a lot of great traditional compounds that have been used for centuries. There are treatments for all sorts of common ailments to virulent diseases that are considered difficult to treat or cure. And for the person in good health; there are formulas and recommendations to preserve that level and raise it higher into excellent health.

Good overview of how to prepare and find chinese herbal treatments.
Clear guidelines for herbal use, need some background in Chinese medicine to understand some of the terms. Herbs and their uses, herbal combinations to use for specific conditions, where to find the herbs.

Compact Reference
With so many phony TCM practitioners going around cheating uninitiated Westerners with their exotic claims and theories, it's good to have books like this which only provides the facts.

This small book manages not only to list but even provide some details on each commonly used Chinese herb. The herb's energy, taste and organs affected are all mentioned. It's definitely a good buy for anyone interested in learning more about one aspect of TCM as it is.

Highly recommended home reference on Chinese herbs
Don't let the small size of this book (328 pages in a paperback format) fool you; this book is absolutely packed with information on the healing herbs used in TCM --traditional Chinese medicine.

Author Reid has written a number of books on TCM. This herbal reference is well-written because it includes: the common Western name of the herb, the Latin name, the romanized Chinese name and the name in Chinese characters.

Packages of Chinese herbs may be labeled with any of the above, so this is really helpful. There is also a wonderful section on the principles of Chinese medicine and how the traditional herbal preparations are made. Some of the common combinations of Chinese herbs are included along with how to prepare them. There is a resource reference in the back. Highly recommended to anyone wanting to learn more about traditional Chinese medicine. ... Read more

Product Description
IF YOU TAKE NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS, HERBS, VITAMINS, AND OTHER NATURAL PRODUCTS, YOU NEED THIS BOOK!

Compiled by one of America’s leading authorities on natural medicine, The Pill Book Guide to Natural Medicines answers vital questions about the effectiveness and safety of more than 250 of today’s most popular natural remedies. Dr. Murray's unique A-to-F rating system tells you at a glance whether the product has been scientifically proven to work and if there are risks in taking it. Written in clear, accessible language, here is important information on:

• What the product is for, and how it works
• Safety and effectiveness rating
• Possible side effects
• Drug and food interactions
• Usual dosage
• Cautions and warnings
•Special concerns for seniors, children, and pregnant women

Up-to-date and authoritative, The Pill Book Guide to Natural Medicines also contains Dr. Murray's recommendations for the prevention and treatment of over 70 common conditions, from acne and atherosclerosis to ulcers and varicose veins. Remember, just because a product is “natural” does not mean it is safe. This important reference can help you make wise choices–or even save your health. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

BOOK-THE PILLBOOK GUIDE TONATURAL MEDICINE
This book is the most exellent source of health information I have ever come across--- WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION DRUG USE WHICH ARE SO FREQUENTLY DANGEROUS!!!

A Terrific Reference Book
This book is the best I've ever found for the reference of natural medicines. It covers ailments, the conventional medicines prescribed most often, and the herbal or natural equivalent and its effectiveness and safety rating. I've bought several of these books for friends, and have steered many other people towards it. It should be a must for every bookshelf.

Helpful, Helpful, Helpful!
That about sums this book up. I've referred to it so many times when myself or someone in my family is suffering from a slight case of something or other, but we don't feel like blasting ourselves with over-the-counter medications designed for a slew of other symptoms.

It provides a helpful grading system on how effective and how safe a product is when dealing with a specific illness/symptom.It's just a great book for someone who is interested in supplements & natural remedies but aren't sure where to start.A major upgrade from the kid working at the vitamin store in the mall!

The Pill Book - Natural Medicines
This is a very good book.It tells you a lot more than the pharmacy papers that you receive with your drugs.

Natural Medicines--Pill Book, you've done it again!
What started as a guide to the prescription medications we take has transformed into a catch-all series of books educating health conscious readers about the benefits of vitamins, herbs, minerals, and other natural medicines.The Pill Book Guide To Natural Medicines, while the information contained therein is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any known diseases, the guide cites the results of double blind scientifically conducted studies (if any) and gives a letter grade to both the efficacy and safety of known vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, herbs, and other natural products.As with other Pill Book Guides, the Natural Medicines book is a must-have weapon in the health conscious person's arsenal. ... Read more

Product Description
Chinese herbal products are increasingly popular as alternative medical therapies and are now available everywhere in the country. This book provides an A-to-Z list of herbal remedies by ailment, from acne and allergies to weight gain and yeast infections, and a guide to the properties of each herb. This book also contains a detailed description of common herbs and formulas and how they interact within the framework of traditional Chinese medical theories. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A must for those expanding their options
There must be some truth in folk medicine; it's worked for thousands of years. "A Patient's Guide to Chinese Medicine: Dr. Shen's Handbook of Herbs and Acupuncture" is a patient's guide to the world of traditional Chinese folk medicine and how it can enhance one's more modern medical treatment. Herbal properties, acupuncture, and other treatments are discussed, and "A Patient's Guide to Chinese Medicine" is a must for those expanding their options.
... Read more

Product Description
The best of Eastern and Western medicine in an integrative healing system for the mind, body, and spirit.

Now, for the first time, a Western physician and a doctor of Oriental medicine combine the unparalleled technological advances of the West with the unmatched wisdom and healing touch Chinese herbal medicine provides for many diseases and conditions that elude modern medicine. Ancient Herbs, Modern Medicine demonstrates the many important, highly effective ways Chinese medicine and Western medicine can complement each other in treating everything from allergies and insomnia to mental illness and cancer. This accessible, comprehensive guide offers many informative and enlightening case studies and up-to-the-minute information on:

• How integrative medicine combines the best of Western pharmacology and Eastern herbology

• How integrative medicine helps fight the diseases and illnesses of our time, including allergies, asthma, and chronic fatigue syndrome, and eases and even reverses symptoms of arthritis, diabetes, depression, osteoporosis, AIDS, heart disease, and cancer--often without side effects

• How Chinese medicine can help you recognize signs before an illness
becomes a crisis

• The importance of Western techniques in diagnosing serious diseases

• Why Chinese medicine offers the most effective treatment for manychronic/recurrent illnesses

• Restoring essential balance to the Five Energetic Systems--the Heart, Lung, Spleen, Liver, and Kidney Energies

• The Eight Strategies of Herbal Therapy--how herbs work in your body

Plus illuminating discussions of the basic principles of Chinese medicine, as well as food remedy recipes, diagrams, glossaries of medical terms and herbs, resource listings, and much more to help you tailor an integrative health regimen that is right for you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

herb book
not a very informative book in my opinion lots of pages but not much in the stuff i wanted to see, may be good for herbalists. but not for me

Infomercial
What you begin to notice when reading this book is the constant reference to a particular website, which has the same name as the title. And at this site you can BUY all the ancient remedies touched on in the book.
This book is an extended pitch for the website, folks.
Please, look elsewhere.

Herbal Medicine
An excellent book that allows herbal medicine to be seen with clear eyes.

A must for everybody
Ancient Herbs, Modern Medicine should be read not only by lay people who are interested in alternative methods of treatment but also by professionals in the field of medicine. It explains very clearly the theories of traditional Chineese medicine and also gives examples of how this ancient system can be succesfully used in combination with alopathic-so called "modern medicine".

Nancy Deville has a rare quality to explain very clearly even the very difficult questions. Therefore also the non-native English reader will definitely not only understand but also enjoy and profit from the book.

A must for everybody
Ancient Herbs, Modern Medicine should be read not only by lay people who are interested in alternative methods of treatment but also by professionals in the field of medicine. It explains very clearly the theories of traditional Chineese medicine and also gives examples of how this ancient system can be succesfully used in combination with alopathic-so called "modern medicine".

Nancy Deville has a rare quality to explain very clearly even the very difficult questions. Therefore also the non-native English reader will definitely not only understand but also enjoy and profit from the book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

AMISH MEDICINE?
WELL, IF ONE IS INTERESTED IN OLD WIVES REMEDIES, PERHAPS THIS IS FOR YOU; INTERESTING, BUT I'LL STICK TO MY PRIMARY M.D. ... Read more

Product Description
Medicine Grove is a comprehensive herbal, with listings for every common herb and many wild plants of North America. It includes descriptions of the part of the plant used, notes on preparation, lists of symptoms alleviated by the herb, and common effects. But Medicine Grove goes further, with chapters on gathering and growing wild herbs, using herbs in shamanic ceremonies or as plant allies in the wilderness, and birth, death, and dreaming herbs. Cruden combines her own first-hand experiences with a profound knowledge of indigenous traditions, enabling the reader to bring herbal lore into his or her own practice. She explains which herbs are best for seasonal ceremonies, smudging, and making offerings, and tells how to purify a sacred space. She covers topics such as vision quests, consciousness-altering, and the special connections between certain herbs and totem animals.

Medicine Grove brings the concept of an herbal into sacred territory, offering guidelines for incorporating herbs into one's spiritual life, based on the author's lifetime of work with Native American practices.

Customer Reviews (4)

Perfect Union between Herbalism and Shamanism
This is one of the few books that wonderfully joins the earthy world of herbalism with the spiritual world of the modern shaman.There are so many little herbal books around today,that have been watered down from Nicholus Culpepper and even Earl Mindell's later writings.This book gives the human ritual use of the herbs of Nature here perfectly.I can only recommend this book for modern herbalists,who want the deeper spiritual connection between oneself or a coven and the surrounding elements of Mother-Nature.

A fine balance
While I disagree with the previous reviewer regarding Arnold Mindell's "The Shaman's Body" (the work is brilliant and practical--it has actually changed my life--but is more of the Castaneda tradition in language, operation, and purpose), I concur that Loren Cruden's shamanic herbal is a wonderful book. I had been seeking some perspective from a middle ground between the straight plant-spirit shamanism of Eliot Cowan's excellent book and the too-linear, too-rote herbalism of most formal programs of study of the materia medica. Cruden is it!

Actually deserves the word "shamanic"...
As a northern-tradition shaman and an herbalist, this was a good find for once. I'm extremely skeptical of any book with "shamanic" in the title, having been burned on that account many times in the past. ("The Shaman's Body" was so bad that I almost puked, and "The Truth About Shamanism" deserves to be burned on a Beltane bonefire.) But this one was actually good.

It's written by a spirit-worker who does things mostly in Native American traditions, largely because of the area she works in - the Northwest, where there are many fewer European transplanted plants, and the ecosystem is largely still Native, and that's who trained her. it says more than any other herbal I've ever read about actually talking to the plant spirits; her Materia Medica section actually talks about each one from the point of view of a living being with an essence rather than just an inert thing with alkaloids in it.

As a shaman who works with plant spirits on a regular basis, I was thrilled. She differentiates between naturopathic herbalism (purging, working with medical science), naturalistic herbalism (the Wise Woman stuff, working organically) and shamanic herbalism (ask the darn plants what they want!) She repeatedly emphazises the importance of a good relationship to the spirit of each plant that you work with. While she works in an entirely different cultural system than my own northern-tradition shamanism, her writings ring true and she seems to be for real.

Certainly her chapter on psychoactive plants is one of the sanest and most practical that I've seen. She says that it isn't, for her, about whether one chooses to interact with them, but how - and gives a list of ritual steps to take in order to create a relationship with the plant before ingesting the substance - including letting the plant tell you whether it's even appropriate.

One of the few books on the market that actually earns the "shamanic" name in my narrow estimation. Worth bothering to get and read, no matter what cultural tradition you're in.

-Raven Kaldera
http://www.cauldronfarm.com/nts

marvelous medicine from Loren Cruden
As an herbalist, I am always looking to expand my knowledge of the plant world. Its great to know textbook uses of herbs and one can be quite successful in employing these techniques however, to learn directly fromthe plants is a true blessing and a healer's dream.Loren Cruden directsus to do this in her fabulous book, Medicine Grove.She is undoubtedly intune with nature and while I believe she is gifted in this area, I alsobelieve she consciously works at it.She generously shares her knowledgein this book, making it possible for all of us to re-connect with thespirits of the plant world. Thank-you Loren!In addition to spirit worldconnection tips, there's an excellent materia medica, tips for growingherbs and forms for applying medicinal herbs along with many unusual herbaltidbits included in the appendices.While I have a rather large herballibrary, this is an outstanding addition. Put this book beside EliotCowan's Plant Spirit Medicine - they're a powerful pair! ... Read more

Product Description
The phenomenal growth of public interest in alternative treatments for human

The phenomenal growth of public interest in alternatives to Western treatments for human disease and dis-ease has spilled over into veterinary medicine. Many holistic veterinarians and pet owners are now interested in using alternative remedies to solve health problems with their pets. Psychoactive Herbs in Veterinary Behavior Medicine is the first text on psychoactive herbal remedies for the treatment of behavior problems in small animals and provides:

Psychoactive Herbs in Veterinary Behavior Medicine is an important guide for board-certified veterinary behaviorists, as well as veterinarians and veterinary students with a particular interest in behavior medicine. In addition, pet owners interested in alternative medicine for their misbehaving pets can use this well-rounded work to make informed decisions on the use of over-the-counter remedies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent reference book for veterinarians
The book is well referenced and organized and, as such, is a great tool for veterinarians to have handy.Even if they're not prescribing herbs themselves, clients have often put their pets on herbal remedies and, at the least, the clinician needs to know our current state of knowledge about the effects of these herbs.The gaps in the book simply point out where we have little empirical knowledge at this point.Hopefully, continuing research will make it necessary for Dr. Schwartz to revise it in just a few years.

AVMA 2007 Lecture Excellent
I went to her lectures today and the notes--which she said were directly from the book--were excellent. I really enjoyed the talk and found several ideas that I'd like to try in practice for behavioral issues. Who wouldn't want to try St John's Wort or some other herbal for storm phobias, separation anxiety, urine spraying in cats, etc, in conjunction with or instead of anipryl, reconcile, or some other drug? I plan on ordering her book based on her lectures. I think it will be a valuable resource for alternative sources for common behavioral problems. As long as you try listed doses and warn your owners it's untested, I think the likelihood of severe problems (such as death) very low. I was very happy with her lecture and think the book will be just as informative.

NOT WORTH THE PAPER IT'S PRINTED ON
I FOUND THIS BOOK TO BE FULL OF OLD WIVES BREWS. DR. SCHWARTZ DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE AS TO THE CURRENT DAY USES OF PSYCHOATIVE HERBS IN ANIMALS. PLEASE BE ADVISED HER LACK OF KNOWLEDGE IN THIS FIELD CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HARM OR DEATH TO SMALL ANIMALS. I FIND IT OFFENSIVE SHE PROFESSES TO BE "AN EXPERT" AND THIS BOOK IS A FARCE! THIS BOOK IS AKIN TO A SUPERMARKET TABLOID.
DR. BRENT MONAHAN ... Read more

Product Description
Here is a fascinating book about how plants, minerals and animals have been used by Eastern people, for thousands of years, to prolong life, enhance the powers of thought, strengthen the body, increase virility and fertility even to clear the inner vision to make oneself more receptive to the veiled secrets of God and nature.

It gives the fundamental principles of the oriental health philosophy and discusses the major tonic herbs, such as ginseng, licorice, cinnamon and red dates. In discussing each of the incredible herbs used in the Chinese tonic system, the author describes the properties of the herb both in traditional and modern terms.

There are traditional tonic recipes, modern tonics, and advice on mixing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The only Chinese herb book you will ever need......
I found this gem in a used bookstore around fifteen years ago, and learned
enough about Chinese tonic herbs to change my life, energy levels and how I think about health completely.
This book is written in a comfortable, accessible style, yet is concise and informative as well. It is also perfect as a herbal reference.
For me, the section on prepared tonics has been invaluable.
A previous reviewer is correct about the supplier list being out of date, but a company called East Earth Tradewinds has everything you will require to concoct Mr. Teeguarden's formulas, as well as most of the patent medicines and
prepared tonics listed in the book.If you are interested in looking into the wonderful and amazing herbs of China, buy this book. It is truly excellent, and one you will be referring to for the rest of your life.

A classic book on Superior Tonic Herbalism
What sets this book apart from other books on Chinese herbal medicine is its philosophy of using "superior tonic herbs" to improve the quality of one's life and health. This book is not about treating disease, but rather about achieving radiant health from a Taoist perspective.

This is Ron Teeguarden's first of several books on the subject of Chinese Medicine and in my opinion is a classic. (Note, I have not read his latest book The Ancient Wisdom of the Chinese Tonic Herbs.)

Having formally studied Traditional Chinese Medicine for two years and Ayurvedic medicine for two years I can unequivocally state this is the book to start learning practical do it yourself Chinese herbalism for increased energy, creativity, spiritual growth and happiness. It contains many useful and effective herbal formulas that would not be otherwise accessible to the non-professional. If you want to learn Chinese medicine for the treatment of disease this is not the book to get, rather the focus is on tonic herbs and their correct application. (While tonic herbs are widely used for deficiency diseases in Chinese Medicine, not enough herbs, formulas and theory are given in this book for treating complex deficiency conditions/diseases.)This book shows one how to gradually work towards radiant health through the application of Superior Tonic Herbalism. All the practical and theoretical knowledge needed is covered.

The cost of the herbs involved ranges from $.50 / ounce to $200 / ounce (retail). To seriously put to use the knowledge contained in this book would require having a selection of about 20-35 herbs. Though one could start out with as few as one to three herbs. The primary emphasis is on learning how to mix and cook the bulk tonic herbs into teas (decoctions). These teas range in taste from sweet, sour, and pungent to bitter. (There is one chapter devoted to the use of commercially prepared tonics, but it is not the major focus of the book.)The companies listed to order herbs from are now out of date, but a search of the Internet will reveal more current sources.

Traditionally the tonic herbs are divided into four categories: 1) chi (qi) tonics, 2) yang tonics, 3) yin tonics and 4) blood tonics. Ron Teeguardian covers three additional categories: 1) chi moving/regulating herbs, 2) blood moving/regulating herbs and 3) organ-meridian tonics. The book covers 35 herbs in detail, including buying tips and a black and white photo of each herb.

The section on ginseng (a chi tonic) is very informative and contains insights and perspectives not readily found elsewhere. Also covered in detail is dang shen (Codonopsis pilosula) a safe and low cost ginseng substitute. The coverage of some the "minor" tonic herbs is unique as the longevity properties of these "minor" tonic herbs are usually overlooked or ignored by most texts on the subject.

The theory section is kept simple, but detailed enough to be practically useful. While Chinese Tonic Herbs discusses modern scientific research on Chinese herbs, the formulas and theory is geared toward building up the three Taoist treasures: shen (spirit), jing (essence, refined reproductive energy) and chi (life-force/energy). When these three treasures are built up a person will have a strong reserve of adaptogenic energy to effectively deal with stress and changing life conditions.

The book has a few flaws. The taxonomy is a little weak as some of the scientific names used are outdated. Perhaps not enough information is given on how to correctly distinguish between yin, yang, chi and blood deficiency conditions. Also, not enough contraindications are given for each of the herbs discussed. While superior tonic herbs are generally very safe and non toxic, it is possible to use them incorrectly and put one's body into a deeper state of imbalance. Dosage information is somewhat weak, but sufficiently covered if one studies the book carefully. Usually only relative proportions for each herb are given for a formula.

Ron Teeguarden was personally trained by a Taoist master visiting from Korea in the 1970s.His book is part of a real living tradition of Superior Tonic Herbalism.

While several volumes would be needed to do Superior Tonic Herbalism justice this book is an excellent beginning.

(A useful adjunct book is "Yoga of Herbs" by Frawley and Lad, which covers Western, Ayurvedic and some Chinese herbs from an Ayurvedic perspective. Yoga of Herbs focuses both on the treatment of disease and tonification and rejuvenation. It covers some of the spiritual aspects of herbs according to the Ayurvedic perspective. Both Yoga of Herbs and Chinese Tonic Herbs embrace the life energy model of herbalism as opposed to the more modern pharmacological model.)

The real secret of tonic herbalism is doing it carefully (e.g., don't over do it) and steadily every day -- this book will definitely help one get started on this path, by both the knowledge contained within, and the truly inspiring stories and passion of the author. Superior Tonic Herbalism is Ron Teeguardian's passion and mission in life and this book follows from this.

The only Chinese Herbal book that really EXPLAINS things
I have several good books on Chinese herbs, but Teeguarden's book is the only one with full, complete explanations. He includes:

1. Section on the five elements (water-wood-fire-metal-earth), what "cool" and "warm" and "yin" and "yang" mean.

2. Section describing the most-used and important herbs like Ginseng and Dong Kwai, Ma Huang and many others. This section includes photos of the herb shown as they are sold in herb shops, tips on getting the best herbs, the Chinese name (and Korean, sometimes) The names are both Romanized and in Chinese characters, with the Latin name, and the active chemical components and their effects.

3. Formulae for herb tonics, because Chinese herbs are not used alone but in combination (and the reasoning behind the combination.)

4. Philosophy of Chinese medicine for health (prevention versus cure) and much more.

The book is very readable, too. While I very much like other books I own, this one is such a classic, I consider it a MUST-HAVE if you are interested at all in Chinese medicine and definitely the first one you should own.

A must-read...don't miss the last chapter
I found Ron Teeguarden's new book "Radiant Health" to be themost easily understood and comprehensive book on the subject that I've everread. Many Westerners, during the last several decades, have become awareof the benefits of Chinese Medicine, specifically acupuncture. This bookbrings to light the extremely effective system of Chinese Herbal Tonics,which is an ancient tradition of promoting and maintaining a state ofradiant health rather than treating disease once it has developed.Considering the cost of health care to both individuals and society atlarge, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in maintaining theirown personal health or providing for the health of society. Not only doesRon Teeguarden explain in detail the properties and uses of each of thetonic herbs but he has a rare talent of making very complex and profoundconcepts easily understandable to the layman. One suggestion that I wouldmake is not to miss the last chapter called "Six Lessons The TonicHerbs Have Taught Me." Some readers might get bogged down in themiddle of the book where each of the herbs is described. If that happens toyou, just skip to the last chapter and then pick up the book, from time totime, to read about an herb or two. The last chapter was my favoritebecause it beautifully expresses the degree to which the tonic herbs cantransform life and raise it to a pinacle that is the birthright of everyhuman being.

No more snake oil.
Ron has certainly opened the eyes of those of us who wish to avoid the chemicals of modern day medicine. This book will guide you to the Chinese herb that is right for you and your health. While he makes no claims of cures, I can attest to the renewed energy and vitality I have attained from his advice and knowledge ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The slowest delivery ever
I have order several items from Amazon over the years, this book took the longest time to arrive.

Written by radio talk show host Michael Savage?
I bought this book 25 years ago and it has been one of my favorite reference books over the years. It is well organized and has useful and unique information. Recently, I was listening to Michael Savage's radio show and wondered where he got his theme song so I looked it up on Wikipedia (they said Metallica and Mötley Crüe). According to Wikipedia, "Michael Savage is the psuedonym for Michael Alan Weiner, PhD." It also said: "In 1980 Michael Weiner saw the publication of Weiner's Herbal: The Guide to Herb Medicine." The picture on the back cover sure looks like a younger Michael Savage.
... Read more

Product Description

Does Echinacea fight the common cold? Does St. John’s Wort (SJW) really counteract depression? What about chondroitin for joint health? Today’s healthcare professionals are increasingly confronted with questions from patients who want to use herbal supplements to treat various conditions. A critical and scientific assessment of medicinal plant research by an internationally recognized researcher and writer in the field, Tyler’s Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals, Third Edition combines the scientific aspects of herbal medicine, phytomedicine, and pharmacognosy with the modern clinical trials that support the rationale for using plant products in healthcare.

Customer Reviews (3)

A core addition to any and all professional and academic library medical and herbal reference collection
From paleolithic times down to the modern age, herbs have been the fundamental basis for balms, salves, and internal medications for human ills, aliments, physical injuries, and mental traumas. Now in a thoroughly updated and expanded third edition, "Tyler's Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals" by Canadian author, academician and medical researcher Dr. Dennis V. C. Awang, is a 296-page guide to the medical properties and usages of herbs. Beginning with a thorough overview of the basic principles involved, "Tyler's Herbs Of Choice" is superbly organized and presented with chapters focused thematically appropriate herbs with respect to problems involving the digestive system problems; the kidney, urinary tract, and prostate; respiratory tract; cardiovascular system; nervous system; endocrine and metabolic issues; arthritic and musculoskeletal disorders; skin, mucous membranes, and gingiva; performance and immune deficiencies. Of special note are the subsections on herbs and cancer (including the unproven anticancer herbs including apricot pits, Pau d'Arco, and Mistletoe). enhanced with extensive references, and appendix on 'The herbal regulatory system.', and a comprehensive index, "Tyler's Herbs Of Choice" is a core addition to any and all professional and academic library medical and herbal reference collection.

An old school viewpoint?
Written by two pharmacognosists at Perdue University, this book is an update to the original volume in 1994, describing the safe use of the most widely available medicinal herbs.They address recent developments in the use of herbal medicines in a manner that is easy to read and without unnecessary jargon.They include some updated references for most plants, encompassing the clinical literature, known chemical constituents, and the history of their use.Introductory essays describe the basic principles of herbal medicine and problems that the regulatory authorities have had in attempting to deal with these products, especially since the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA).The chapters are arranged by general therapeutic indication and discuss the herbs used to treat various ailments and their reported efficacy based on clinical or preclinical results.

One obvious distinction of the book is the clear message that classical pharmacognosy is the only valid scientific viewpoint.There is still in this updated edition, the strong notion that there is a magic bullet within each plant that we only need identify and standardize.But this is seldom as straightforward as it may appear.For example, in the basic principles section there is praise of standardized preparations of hypericum, yet no acknowledgment that standardization based on hypericin is probably not useful, since it is no longer believed to be essential for the antidepressant activity of St. John's Wort.Standardization and pharmacology of the currently favored constituent, hyperforin, was not mentioned.Publication in a scientific journal does not make a particular finding (e.g. hypericin inhibition of MAO) a "fact."Subsequent studies showed no MAO inhibition with pure hypericin.Conclusions and extrapolations drawn from results of in vitro studies are based on the conventional wisdom, which is often incorrect.While proposing a mechanism of action is a worthy goal, it must be remembered that true drug mechanisms (even the synthetic ones) are still beyond our medical understanding in most cases, particularly for psychotherapeutic medications.For example, while SSRI's are known to act by blocking reuptake of serotonin, the connection between serotonin uptake and antidepressant action still remote.

Also mentioned as "pseudoscience" is the notion that whole herbs are more effective than their isolated active constituents.The basic principles section states that for every example in support of this statement that there is at least one denying it.While a 50:50 ratio hardly seems in itself a reasonable criterion for pseudoscience, I think one would be hard pressed to give one example of constituents being more effective than the whole herb for every example of the inverse.While I completely agree that hyperbole and sometimes outright fabrication are seen in the marketing of herbals, we shouldn't be too quick to categorically discount what herbal practitioners have been saying for so long, but rather to weight them with the same standards as ideas that the "scientists" have generated.

Wait for the paperback or use the older version
I have been waiting for an update of this classic book. However, for most health care professionals or herb users, I don't feel the $40 price tag makes this book worth it. Wait for the paperback of this updated version orget the paperback1994 version. ... Read more

Product Description
Written by leading authorities in complementary and integrative medicine, this convenient, quick-reference handbook provides clear and rational directives on diagnosing and treating specific diseases and disorders with natural medicine. You'll get concise summaries of diagnostic procedures, general considerations, therapeutic considerations, and therapeutic approaches for 84 of the most commonly seen conditions, 12 of which are new to this edition, plus naturopathic treatment methods and easy-to-follow condition flowcharts. Based on Pizzorno's trusted Textbook of Natural Medicine and the most current evidence available, it's your key to accessing reliable, natural diagnosis and treatment options in any setting.

• Expert authorship lends credibility to information.
• Scientifically verified content assures the most reliable coverage of diagnostic and natural treatment methods.
• Over 80 algorithms synthesize therapeutic content and provide support for your clinical judgment with a conceptual overview of case management.
• The book's compact size makes it portable for easy reference in any setting.
• A consistent organization saves you time and helps you make fast, accurate diagnoses.

Customer Reviews (8)

The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Medicine
The book is very useful. The price was the best offer in all scenaries. The shipment was fast and responsible. I recommend to buy this book in amazon.com without any reservation.

Great for protocol planning
Reviewed by Juanita Watson for Reader Views (8/09)

A superb desktop guide, "The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Medicine" is the condensed, shorter version of the comprehensive, two-volume standout in its field "Textbook of Natural Medicine."Written by leaders of natural medicine with links to Bastyr University, this is a uniquely professional yet comprehendible reference book.

As a natural health practitioner myself, I have found "The Clinician's Handbook" to be incredibly useful in designing healing options for my clients.Is it an absolute definitive guide to every disorder? No, but it does outline 80+ of the most common issues facing the public, which may be translated to 80% of clients walking through my door.The easily-referenced sections which include diagnostic summaries, naturopathic considerations, clinical laboratory testing, flow charts, and therapeutic protocols are clear and concise reflecting current information available in the holistic health care field.The inclusion of issues such as food allergy/intolerance, candida overgrowth and chronic inflammation (CRP) immediately indicated to me that this book is striving to include the most recent knowledge in the naturopathic health model.

While I do believe this is a fantastic reference for the general public, being far superior in its depth and understanding compared to most of the wellness/reference guides available, some of the dialogue may be one step further than newbies to natural health can comprehend.It is designed more for clinicians, nutritionists, herbalists, alternative health care providers and the astute layperson with some background knowledge in natural health.My only issue with this book is that I would have liked to have seen a little more attention paid to dietary suggestions in general, and then taking it further to metabolic and biochemical individuality.I believe strongly in "letting thy food be thy medicine," so unfortunately, this is where I feel the book fell a little short.On the dietary issues as well, there are increasing studies and research proving the negative side of soy products, and unfortunately, this book doesn't reflect that research.That said, "The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Medicine" is still, by far, my favorite quick-reference guide and is the first book I reach for in research and protocol planning.

Shelley Kempe
A fantastic reference for any seious practitioner. As a Naturopath and Registered Nurse, I am finding the material in this book invaluable. It presents the medical diagnosis, list of symptoms, nutritional and lifestyle approach and herbal support. Very detailed and informative.

not enough information, very complicated and hard to understand...
I needed help with my illness and I read this book. I was looking for help. While reading it I got so depressed because I couldn't understand the author's advice.

A Naturopathic Doctor's opinion
This is an excellent resource. The scientifically-backed information is informative and current. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Herbs of the Bible is more than a scientific reference book, it is an entertaining and thought-provoking compendium that discusses the story of how humans have used herbs through the ages; a must-have book for anyone interested in herbs, the Bible, or the history of botanical medicine. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Herbs of the Bible is Delicious!
This is one of the best books about Herbs that are mentioned more than 137 times in the Bible. The book is easy to read and has lovely illustrations throughout. The detailed descriptions and uses of herbs are entertaining as well as educational.
The reader can enjoy learning about past and present uses of some of these familiar herbs and plants.
Mr. Duke should be commended for his accuracy and yet delightful knowledge about herbs.
I take his book to show during my speeches about herbs mentioned in the Bible and have yet to meet anyone who doesn't appreciate his book. Even people who aren't interested in using herbs can learn how the chemical components of certain herbs have been the basis of our modern day medicines.
I always recommend that this book should be an essential part of anyone's garden library.

A good reference
James Duke, a medicinal plant specialist, describes close to 60 plants used in Biblical times. Not all the plants he mentions are herbs, as the title of the book may suggest. He includes nuts, fruits, legumes, and spices.

In his introduction, he explains which plant names are used in the Bible, why the Bible does not go into detail about their medicinal values, and how translation errors have lead to misinterpretations of Bible passages.

The major portion of the book is dedicated to the plants themselves. Duke explains their possible benefits and their use in medicine and cooking. He offers folklore, and for some plants even recipes, such as a skin softener made with almond oil, a dandruff shampoo with olive oil, or a wart removal remedy with figs. It's not a book for herbal self-medication, but an herbal encyclopedia on a small scale. I really enjoyed it.

Outstanding
This is an outstanding work on the use of herbs in the bible.The book is user friendly, and should serve as a reference for any interested.It should be part of any one's library who is interested in using the herbs of the bible.

A "Must-Have" for Every Herbalist, Spiritual Healer, etc!
I was fortunate enough to be able to read this book before it went to press, as I was asked to give a quote for the back of the book. It is thorough, well researched, and is a valuable resource for scholars,healers, herbalists, historians, spiritual healers, students - well, foreveryone! Herbs that were mentioned in the Bible are explained and includesa look at how they are still used today. Anyone familiar with Dr. Duke'swork will want this on their library shelf! ... Read more

Product Description

The most current scientific information on medicinal herbs.

Written by two leading pharmacists, this clinical reference provides reliable and authoritative information on the most popular medical herbs, which are easily found in a pharmacy or health food store. A botanical description and an analysis of the medicinal qualities of each herb accompany complete details of the preventative and therapeutic values for health conditions ranging from allergies and arthritis to menopause and more.

Special attention is paid to safety, potential adverse effects and possible drug interactions. Presented in a user-friendly format, each entry combines the most current research with reliable dosage recommendations. This all-new edition features five additional herbs -- ashwagandha, bitter orange, hoodia, oregano and red clover -- and extensively revised text and layouts.

Features include:

This outstanding guidebook to medicinal herbs is ideal for data-hungry consumers and health care professionals.