The Healing Herbs: The Ultimate Guide to the Curative Power of Nature's Medicines [Hardcover]

Michael Castleman (Author), Sheldon Saul Hendler (Technical Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1991

Suddenly herbs and how-to herbals are popular again. But while other books tend to rehash traditional uses of herbs and old wives' tales, this book reviews world-wide scientific literature on which herbs really work and how to use them safely. 7 photographs; 100 illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Except for vague references to folk practices, many books on herbs gloss over their medicinal uses. Not so here. After chapters discussing the history of herbal therapy, the controversies waged over the safety of herbal remedies, and strategies for herb storage and preparation, Castleman offers encyclopedic entries on 100 of the most common healing herbs. Unlike some herbalists, he makes no extravagant claims about the plants; subheadings entitled "Dead-End File" and "The Safety Factor" detail, respectively, what specific herbs won't cure and the herbs' side effects. The author wisely stresses that self-treatment with herbs should never take the place of professional medical care. His informative entries are highly readable and packed with anecdotal lore. A final chapter contains an invaluable table of common ailments, with herbal preventives and treatments included. A list of references and a bibliography finish this very useful volume. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

The Healing Herbs provides the information you need to use the earth's wonderful bounty of medicinal plants confidently, effectively, and above all, safely. It examines 100 of the most widely used, most easily available, most familiar, and most fascinating medicinal plants, tracing their history, folklore, and healing properties, and summarizing the latest scientific research on their many benefits. The Healing Herbs also explains where to find the herbs, how to take them, store and prepare them, even how to grow them.

The Healing Herbs also includes an easy-to-use A-to-Z herb encyclopedia, plus a section titled Prevention and Treatment: A Fast-action Guide to Using the Healing Herbs, including: Conditions--from ear infection to stress, A-to-Z conditions and the herbs you can use to treat and prevent specific symptoms and diseases; Healing Actions--from antibiotic to sedative, an A-to-Z list of medicinal uses with herbs as a natural alternative to certain medicines; Other Uses--some unusual uses for the healing herbs, for example as insect repellent or memory improvement. Both Conditions and Healing Actions include special precautions about certain herbs, whether in preparation, long-term use, or short-term effects. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 289 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books; First Edition edition (April 15, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1863810021
• ISBN-13: 978-1863810029
• ASIN: 0878579346
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #590,058 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Castleman is a journalist and novelist, author of more than 2,000 newspaper, magazine, and Web articles, 12 consumer health books, and three mystery novels.

He is "one of the nation's leading health writers" (Library Journal). For 35 years, he has been a prolific freelance medical journalist focused on optimal health, mainstream medicine, alternative therapies, nutrition, fitness, and sexuality. His nonfiction books have a combined total of more than 2.25 million copies in print. His comprehensive guide to herbal medicine, The Healing Herbs, recently expanded and updated as The New Healing Herbs, 3rd Edition (Rodale, 2009), has sold more than 1 million copies.

Three of Castleman's books have been Book of the Month Club Selections: The Healing Herbs; Blended Medicine (Rodale, 2000), a home medical guide that combines mainstream and alternative therapies; and Nature's Cures (Rodale, 1996), a scientific investigation of 33 alternative healing arts, everything from acupuncture to yoga. Two have won "Health Book of the Year" awards from the American Library Association: Blended Medicine and Nature's Cures. One was in print for 28 years, Sexual Solutions. Foreign-rights sales have included: the British Commonwealth, Germany, France, Latin America, Spain, Finland, and China.

Castleman has also written widely for magazines, among them: Smithsonian, Reader's Digest, Prevention, Family Circle, Redbook, Self, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Ladies' Home Journal, New Woman, Men's Health, Men's Fitness, Men's Journal, Psychology Today, Playboy, Parenting, Child, Natural Health, Natural Solutions, Mother Jones, and Salon.com, among others. Twice he has been nominated for National Magazine Awards--in 1997, for "Harm With Every Puff: How Smoking Hurts," in Mother Jones, and in 1996, for "The Real Truth About Breast Cancer," in San Francisco Focus.

His newspaper articles have appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, San Francisco Examiner, and San Jose Mercury-News, among others.

Castleman's R-rated mystery series is set in San Francisco, and features newspaperman-sleuth Ed Rosenberg. Titles include: The Lost Gold of San Francisco (2003, movie option) Death Caps (2007) and A Killing in Real Estate (2010).

Castleman earned an M.A. in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism (1979), and returned to teach medical journalism there (1995, 1996). He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Michigan (B.A., 1972).

Castleman grew up in Lynbrook, New York, a Long Island suburb of New York City. Since 1975 he has lived in San Francisco with his wife, a family physician. They have two adult children. In his free time, he enjoys jazz, blues, yoga, downhill skiing, and scuba diving.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the $$....., May 13, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (South Central Lousiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Healing Herbs: The Ultimate Guide To The Curative Power Of Nature's Medicines (Paperback)

I have been learning about herbs for a few years now, once in a while you run across a book that seems to give you information that others do not, Michael has done just that. It is in terms that I understand, and want to try to grow these plants and learn how to use them. If you are looking for a book that helps you understand, and helps make you feel like you really could accomplish herb growing, please invest in this book. It was orginally found at our local library. Hey, a no risk sneak preview !

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction Herbs, January 18, 2008

By 

J. FERRARA "Jay" (Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Healing Herbs: The Ultimate Guide To The Curative Power Of Nature's Medicines (Paperback)

This book is a great introduction to the effects of herbs on the body and to the your overall health. Mr. Castleman explains the ins and outs of herbs from thier history to their interations with medications. He even explains the use of herbs through out history stating that the Frankensence and Mur used by the wise men we to help with the prvention of desease in early age.

He goes over the major concerns when dealing with some herbs. The first is are they safe? He mentions that most herbs have been used for centuries with out harm to the body or with major side effects. In modern day, there is concern when herbs are mixed with drugs.

The other concern is how and where to get them. Remember that herbs come from all over the world, one needs to know how to get them and store them.

The final sections describes the 100 healing herbs where Mr. Castelman explains each herb, their side effects, drug interations and more. Definately helpful when you need to know about a particular herb.

As always, consult your health care professional when you decide to take an herb because of the drug interations with them.

I recomend this book for your library along with Dr. Whitaker's Guide to natural Healing (see my review), 8 Weeks to Optimal Health by Dr. Weil, The Doctors Complete Guide to Vitamins and Minerals, Earl Mandrell's Vitamin Bible (see my Review) as part of your health regimine.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book, January 14, 2000

By 

Paula Blom (Holland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Healing Herbs: The Ultimate Guide to the Curative Power of Nature's Medicines (Hardcover)

The one and only book you will ever need on Herbs. A must for anyone who uses them. The best part of the book is the "side affects" to each herb. Something you normally do not hear about, but need to know when taking herbs.