Customer Reviews

Natural Health Complete Guide to Safe Herbs: What Every Consumer Should Know About Interactions and Side Effects for Hundreds of Herbs, Drugs, Supplements, and Foods

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Prescription and over-the-counter drugs can interact with herbs, so before taking an herbal formula it is a good idea to see which herbs should not be taken with various vitamins, minerals and prescription drugs. There are also some herbs that most people should avoid and this book contains the information you need to make the best decisions about your health.

Herbs can be quite powerful and there can be side effects. There are seven sections that explain the 175 best herbs and how to use them to promote healing and relive minor symptoms.

The Contents Include:

Introduction - Why you should take charge of your health naturally.
Safe & Effective Herbs - Safe herb catalog and herbal medicine explained
Safe and Effective Multiherb Formulas - Multiherb forumulas explained
Herb-Herb and Herb-Food Interactions - Potentially harmful interactions
Dietary Supplement-Herb Interactions - Beneficial dietary interactions, harmful interactions.
Drug-Herb Interactions - Drug catalog and understanding interactions.
Herbs for Special Cases - Safe herbs for children, potential dangerous herbs for children, unsafe herbs for pregnant and nursing women, safe herbs for older adults, dangerous herbs for older adults.
Buyer Beware - Herbal safety, herbs to avoid.
Appendix - Reliable manufacturers, suppliers, top-selling herbs, index of safe herbs, conditions index, additional reading, easy-to-use index.

Not only does this book give you the best information I've seen on herbal medicines, it also is beautifully illustrated with full-color pictures of the plants being discussed. The layout of the items is especially appealing and you will find this book easy-to-use and very practical.

For instance, if you are taking Anacin 3, Asprin-Free Excedrin, Bayer Select, Excedrin PM, Panadol or Tylenol, these contain Acetaminophen which is a pain reliever and fever reducer. While there is no known herbal interactions, you may want to help prevent liver damage from long-term use of acetaminophen by taking Milk thistle. So, preventative care is also discussed in detail.

The Index of Safe Herbs by conditions gives you information fast. If you have Insomnia, you can look up the name of the condition and you will find recommendations for Catnip, Chamomile, Dill seed and Valerian. To read about Chamomile in detail, you can easily look up the herb at the front of the book in the safe herb guide.

What you will find is a picture of the herb plant, why it is used, how it works, comments and cautions and dosage information. For instance, if you can't sleep, but are using a blood-thinning drug like warfarin, or you are allergic to ragweed, you might want to skip that remedy and research a second option. In the beneficial herb-herb interactions tables, you will see that catnip and passionflower are good combinations to relieve anxiety and insomnia. However, they should not be used with antidepressants or MAOI antidepressant drugs like phenelzine.

As with any remedy, it is a good idea to discuss your health issues with your doctor before taking herbal supplements or vitamins. Use this book to catch those items your doctor might not even be aware of. Most physicians don't seem to be aware of the side effects of herbs and don't take a great interest in this area. That has been my experience. Once you know what works for you, I think you will see your doctor less and feel empowered that you can in fact help your body heal with your own knowledge.

Echinacea, olive leaf extract and oregano have literally been a miracle for me and my husband. Within about three days of catching a cold, we seem to recover and get on with life. Before, even on antibiotics, it took one to two weeks to get well.

I looked up Olive Leaf on page 44 and sure enough it is used to treat infections, including colds and ear infections. It contains oleuropein, that has been shown to kill bacteria and viruses. It also has been used for antibiotic qualities for more than 6,000 years! Talk about an ancient remedy. Echinacea is also a Native America remedy and then you have oregano which contains substances that are known to be antibiotic and antifungal. I take the capsules as the oil is rather intense and is not recommended for internal use.

Herbs may be the miracle you have been looking for.

~The Rebecca Review

This book is necessary for anyone even considering using herbs and herbal remedies for their family. It gives you interactions herba can have with prescription medication, other herbs, vitamins and minerals, even interactions with food!!! I have several other definitive herb books, but this is a must have. It also lists herbs that are safe for Children,the Elderly, and Pregnant Women,as well as the Herbs you should not use.

I'm so pleased to tell readers that this book was so pleasurable to read that I read it cover to cover the day it arrived. I started on an herb regiment four months ago (thanks to webmd.com), much to the dismay of my rheumatologist and cardiologist as I was already on fifteen prescription pills a day. With the help of the herbs I've been able to cut those pills in half. But I, too, was concerned about my ignorance as to the possible incompatibility of my newly found herbs with my doctor's advice and pills. Thanks to this book, we can all rest assured that I'm not messing with a dangerous mixture. Absolutely one hundred percent of my prescriptions were listed in the book and found to be safe with the herbs I'm now taking daily. The book is beautifully written with colorful pictures and easy-to cross-reference drugs, herbs, foods, etc. and their interactions with one another. At the end, a bonus that I had not expected: a long list of ailments offered to the reader who may have he or she's own agenda for wanting to try an alternative path to wellness. The mystery of these age-old remedies, that our ancestors probably used, is quickly unraveled in a written format simple enough for a child to understand. And, if I'm not mistaken, the author never once promised to cure cancer, etc. That would have been a giant signal to me that I was dealing with a quack. It is what it is, a guide to herbal usage. It's my new favorite book! P.S. Thank you to the previous on-line critics who lead me through the maze of self-help books to this very special one.

I bought this books when it was first released at a medical college bookstore and paid a lot for it. It's one of the best investments in a book that I ever made.
This book gives an excellent view of herb to herb interactions; as well as drug to herb interactions. If you or someone you know is on prescriptive medication check this out before suggesting herbs or even other vitamins. It also includes info on herbs that you don't normally see. The authors don't downplay the importance of using herbs, but how to use them safely.

It is well worth any money you pay for it and I really think you will like this book. I use this book constantly as I am an herbalist and don't want to give out wrong info to people.

It seems it's always about 2:00 a.m. on a weekend that a family member suddenly awakens with a common ailment that nevertheless requires Dr. Mom to "do something" now! The "Complete Guide To Safe Herbs" provides indispensable knowledge needed to prepare for these times and others - what to have on hand, and then explains how to use the Creator's all natural "pharmacy."

Additionally, this marvelous volume provides descriptions of herbs, "Don't mix with," "Do take with," and "Keep in mind" comprehensive sections. There are "Herbs for special cases," "Buyer beware," "Drug-herb interactions" and potential interactions, plus a host of other types of hard-to-find but easily understood info, and all in one place! (Dr. Meletis has done the extensive research for us.) Of course, it also includes an essential, inclusive index.

Also importantly, the book's scientifically sound truths lay to rest some perhaps unsafe "old wives' tales" and factoids.

I treasure my gift copy of this gorgeous, impressive hardback. It is appropriate for the young as well as the young at heart. Lovely for display in any room, "Complete Guide To Safe Herbs" makes learning about herbs a joy!

Sylvia W. Zook, MS, PhD
Author of "Eatin' After Eden - The Meat of the Word"

With Allopathic medicine (regular medicine) proving to be miraculous in some situations. At the same time in other situations its proving to be too strong, too much and causing too many side effects. Welcome in herbal medicine as kind of a similar but more sensitive way to treat many of the same problems.

Welcome in a book like this which keeps it simple. Yes simple, yet has very valuable information about herbs and drug interactions and even talks about which herbs are safer than others. A fantastic book to have on hand if you are interested in the wonderful world of herbal medicine.

Being as the publisher is Dorling Kindersley, the book is well laid out and beautifully illustrated. Being as the authors are medically qualified, the book is comprehensive and user-friendly. Very good book indeed.