Phytotherapy of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Evidence-Based and Potentially Useful Botanicals in the Treatment of Cfs [Paperback]

Roberto Patarca Montero (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 7, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0789009099 | ISBN-13: 978-0789009098 | Edition: 1

Make use of botanical options in the treatment of CFS!

Herbal therapy has gained widespread recognition in the world of health care. Herbal derivatives including aspirin, reserpine, and digitalis are mainstays of human pharmacology. Now, for the first time, Phytotherapy of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Evidence-Based and Potentially Useful Botanicals in the Treatment of CFS presents information about the uses of herbal medications for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome, and it does so in language accessible to a broad audience. This vital, up-to-date work discusses the potential and proven CFS-related benefits and adverse effects of well-known botanicals such as echinacea, gingko, ginseng, St. John’s wort, and garlic, as well as many lesser known herbs such as erkang and hedgehog hydnum.

Phytotherapy of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome summarizes the knowledge and experience garnered from published case reports, randomized controlled trials, and meta-analyses on the use of herbal medicine, emphasizing the herbs most often used in the treatment of fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome, and related disorders. Potential applications and pharmacological interactions of herbal products that have not been subjected to clinical trials for the treatment of fatigue are also addressed.

Phytotherapy of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome thoroughly discusses the effects of various botanicals on CFS-related aspects of the following specialties:

• Allergy/Immunology
• Cardiology
• Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology/Hepatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Oncology
• Neurology
• Psychiatry

Phytotherapy of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is written in the spirit of the collegial responsibility that compels the members of the professional health care community--nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and social workers--to inform each other and their patients about herbs, including their potential risks, possible benefits, and antidotes for overdose. Extensive reference notes are included.

Product Details

• Paperback: 94 pages
• Publisher: Informa Healthcare; 1 edition (February 7, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789009099
• ISBN-13: 978-0789009098
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,704,917 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A useful resource for general research on medicinal botanicals, November 10, 2009

By 

e. verrillo (williamsburg, ma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Phytotherapy of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Evidence-Based and Potentially Useful Botanicals in the Treatment of Cfs (Hardcover)

In spite of its title, this brief overview of botanical treatments does not, for the most part, cite evidence-based research that has specific bearing on CFS. Rather, Patarca-Montero limits himself to botanicals that might "potentially" have an effect on CFS symptoms. Given the range and breadth of CFS-related symptoms, "potential" treatments could theoretically encompass nearly all botanicals. Not surprisingly, given the lack of funding dedicated to CFS research, the overwhelming majority of studies Patarca-Montero cites concern other diseases and conditions: cancer, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer's, heart disease, hepatitis, and so forth.

Patarca-Montero begins the book with a short introduction explaining some of the pitfalls of herbal treatment: lack of standardization in herbal preparations, the use of multiple herb combinations in a single treatment, the presence of contaminants, and possible unforeseen interactions between the complex components of botanicals. What Patarca does not mention, but should have, is that because of the multiple immune system abnormalities found in CFS patients, none of the herbs mentioned in this book will have predictable effects. As with pharmaceuticals, a CFS patient may respond to botanicals with paradoxical reactions; a "calming" herb may produce a bout of hyperactivity and insomnia, an immune system "regulator" may produce anaphylaxis. The truth is that even well constructed scientific studies are fairly useless as a guide to treatment, unless the focus of the investigation is CFS itself.

By far, the most useful part of this book lies not in the text, but in the Notes section. With his usual thoroughness, Patarca-Montero has cited a plethora of articles--434, to be precise. If you are reading this monograph to secure a greater understanding of the effects of botanicals in vitro, or upon rats, or on various other illnesses, then the Notes section will provide you with a valuable resource. However, if you are looking for useful herbal remedies for CFS, you had best look elsewhere.