Customer Reviews

The Natural Pharmacy Revised and Updated 3rd Edition: Complete A-Z Reference to Natural Treatments for Common Health Conditions

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Reading multiple books and websites about diet, herbs, and nutritional supplements can be overwhelming. I'm fairly new to alternative medicine and supplements, so I was delighted to find a comprehensive book called The Natural Pharmacy at my local bookstore. This book is a well-researched compilation of the latest in natural health. I'd much rather use a resource such as this one than spend hours wading through books and websites every time I have a health concern.

The editor of The Natural Pharmacy, Dr. Alan Gaby, is past President of the American Holistic Medical Association. I own the 3rd Edition which was published in 2006, so I am assured that the book is up-to-date as well as accurate. The content is clear, concise, and well-written, making the information accessible to readers without backgrounds in healthcare. The Natural Pharmacy is divided into three main sections: health concerns, nutritional supplements, and herbs. Serious health conditions such as breast cancer and heart problems are discussed in the book as well as minor conditions like eczema and the common cold. When I have a health concern, I check the first section for recommended herbs, supplements, and dietary changes. Those who are looking for detailed information and research on specific herbs, vitamins, and minerals would find that info in the latter sections. The book is extremely well-organized and easy to navigate, complete with cross-references that are found throughout the book.

The Natural Pharmacy is an excellent book that has been well-researched. I highly recommend this valuable resource to anyone who is interested in a more natural approach to healthcare.

I found the book to be an excellent source of information. I appreciated the fact that research was cited in the book so that a person could find the actual research if they chose to do so.

important facts about deficiencies that various drugs [medicines] can cause, not easily to find elsewhere.
useful for any doctor [or patient]

Huge book with lots of good info on almost every subject. The shortfall is there is too little on each subject, but you would probably need a whole set of books.

What is nice is that you can get a quick overview when sometimes it takes takes too long to sort through google ads and sales ads for a medical treatment on the internet.

Also, it is good to know of other herbal remedies that you might not know about.

I saw this book in a local health food store and thought that it looked like a great resource. I have only had it a short time and can already tell it is going to be used alot. I work in a middle school clinic and I have already used it for information for co-workers as well as a parent who needed advice in treating her children. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about herbs/alternative medicine,etc.

The work documents a plethora of naturally based
healing protocols. Some of the more important ones
are listed.

CoQ10 , arginine and magnesium may be employed for
angina. Copper, iron, Vit A,B(6,12), C and E may
be helpful for anemia. Garlic. fish oil, fenugreek,
selenium and green tea may be helpful for atherosclerosis.

Coleus and fennel are listed as being helpful for asthma.
Boswelia, onion and licorice are anti-inflammatories.
Lactase and probiotics may be helpful for diarrhea.
Digestive enzymes are helpful for pancreatic insufficiency.
The B6 vitamin may be helpful for autism. Propolis is a
named tonic for parasites.

CoQ10, B2, Vit C,E and D are listed as tonics for Parkinson's.
Deglycyrrhizinated licorice is a potential protocol for peptic
ulcer. Inositol may be helpful for peripheral vascular
disease. Alpha lipoic acid, cayenne, fiber and fenugreek are
listed protocols for diabetes. Folic acid is listed as a
primary tonic for pregnant mothers. Fish oil may be employed
for small artery constriction. Xylitol is the protocol
listed for ear infections. Evening primrose, folic acid, B6
and Vit E are listed as good tonics for breast cancer.

5-HTP, SAMe, magnesium, Vitamins B and E are listed for
fibromyalgia. Wheat bran, milk thistle and Vit C are listed
for gallstones. Gamma oryzanol, Vit C and N-acetyl cysteine
are protocols for gastritis along with L-carnitine, magnesium,
zinc and B complex.

Fish oil and folic acid are tonics
for ulcerative colitis. N-acetyl cysteine is listed as a
good tonic for bronchitis together with anise, Vit A and E,
thymus extract and Vit C. B6 is listed as a pertinent vitamin
for carpal tunnel syndrome. Lycopene and selenium are listed
for prostate cancer. Fumaric acid ester is listed for psoriasis.
Iron is listed for restless leg syndrome. Proanthocyanidinas
is listed for retinopathy. Borage oil is listed as a protocol
for rheumatoid arthritis. Cayenne is listed for shingles.
Fish oil and folic acid are listed as tonics for
sickle cell anemia.

Eucalyptus is listed as a tonic for sinus. Bromelain is
a potential tonic for sinusitis. Tyrosine is listed for stress.
Potassium and vinpocetine are listed as a tonic for stroke.
Fluoride is listed for tooth decay.

These are just a few of the herbal and vitamin tonics listed
to assist in treating the grossest symptoms of the above conditions.
You should always consult with your physician or a health
professional familiar with complementary medicinal protocols.
Dosage is critical to implementation on a patient-by-patient
basis together with blood, urine and other tests.

This volume is a guide containing useful tonics for a variety
of disease processes people face in their everyday lives.

Looked at many herbal books. This one is THE BEST. Cross references herbs/vitamins and conditions/problems. Alphabetical listing of herbs/vitamins also.
What I like best about this book is the practical applications it discusses AND what happens if you take too much of the herb or vitamin.
Written in plain English so that anyone can understand it. I reference it all the time and it's actually interesting reading on it's own.
If you're interested in herbs, vitamins, herbal remedies then THIS IS THE BOOK!

The Natural Pharmacy is well organized, thorough and easy to understand. I'd recommend it for any home library as a clear and concise reference.

Wonderful resource. Give me and my patients excellent guidance. Well written and easy to understand. Has good back up for both traditional and alternative health care. Would recommend this book to anyone.

I have used the book and I liked it because it had footnotes to supposed studies, unfortunately, there is no way to check the footnotes, as they are not included in the book.

Instead, a weblink is provided, which doesn't work!

The reader is led to believe, on page xxi , How to Use This Book, that once one has accessed [...] they can read the specific medical papers, verifying the information that is given in the book. The link doesn't work.

This is a serious error and failure on the part of the authors and publisher, Three Rivers Press, New York, . and lack of a site makes me question the credibility of not just the publisher, but all of the papers in the book.

In addition, when trying to access the site the reader is taken to an advertising link, [...]

I hope that if Three Rivers Press publishes 4th edition, and it is time they do so, given the error, they will take care of this issue and provide a functioning site, or better yet, include the footnotes in the book. That would make it easier to verify. Links to the actual papers could be provided.