Tyler's Honest Herbal: A Sensible Guide to the Use of Herbs and Related Remedies (4th Edition) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Varro Tyler (Author) "The resurgence of interest in herbal medicine that originated during the last decade shows every promise of continuing its rapid development into the next century..." (more)
Key Phrases: contained volatile oil, lettuce opium, senega snakeroot, New York, United States, Second Edition (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Originally published as The Honest Herbal in 1982, Tyler's Honest Herbal is still the classic herbal guide for consumers and health practitioners alike, fully referenced with the latest peer-reviewed scientific data. As in previous editions, great emphasis is placed on safety concerns when taking herbs. Tyler's Herbs of Choice, a new edition of the 1994 Herbs of Choice, discusses the therapeutic application of herbal remedies for over 100 health problems. Objective and scientifically sound, it augments Tyler's Honest Herbal, although the titles do not need to be bought together. An added bonus is the useful chapter on "Herbal Regulations," as reliable and understandable information on this topic is hard to find.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"No hype, just the facts. This book is what I look at first when considering herbal therapy." -- Isadore Rosenfeld, MD, Attending Physician, The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York

"Will quickly become a trusted resource for anyone contemplating, prescribing, or taking herbal therapies. . . . Untainted by commercialism and refined into a highly readable fourth edition. . . . The authors deserve special kudos for their extensive use of current, peer-reviewed articles as a basis for making conclusions." -- Leonard S. Marks, MD, Medical Director, Urological Sciences Research Foundation and Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Urology, UCLA School of Medicine --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 470 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 4 edition (August 3, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789008750
• ISBN-13: 978-0789008756
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #848,866 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most reliable herbal reference you can get, November 6, 1999

By A Customer

Varro Tyler is not the kind of herbalist who recommends apanoply of plant materials to cure every ill. On the contrary -- hewill warn you away from a number of dangerous herbs you'll find trumpeted on the Internet or sitting temptingly on the health food store shelves, and explain why others, while not unsafe, will not do what they ads claim.

Tyler's monographs are interesting as well as informative. In a few concise paragraphs he gives the history of each herb, from its earliest uses right up to what is claimed for it now. He explains the pharmacology of each one in detailed but clearly understandable terms. He tells you what to be careful of -- if you have a certain condition, or take certain pharmaceutical drugs, for example. And, most important, he tells you whether or not it's safe and whether or not he thinks it will work.

Tyler is quite conservative. He cites scientific studies (all meticulously referenced) as evidence for everything he says. He tells you whether the studies were well-crafted or poorly done. He explains why "if it's natural, it must be safe" is not true. But if Tyler says it's safe and probably does what you need, it's worth trying.

With all of the claims for herbs we're bombarded with these days, this is a book I wouldn't be without. Check it before you buy anything, and you'll avoid both putting yourself in harms way, and wasting your money.

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Honest, but disappointing, January 24, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

I enjoy Mr. Tyler's monthly column in Prevention magazine and expected this book to be similar in scope and format. I was disappointed to find that it wasn't; much of it is written in medical terms but I can't imagine it being detailed enough for use by a physician or phamacist. I found the book I was looking for in "The American Pharmaceutical Assocation's Practical Guide to Herbal Health" (don't let the title scare you, it's straight-forward) by Andrea Piece. I do appreciate Mr Tyler honest assessments concerning the use of herbs; however, for me at least, this could also have been a much better book than it turned out to be. I will continuous to enjoy his magazine articles though.

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Physician and fellow author recommends this book!, October 6, 1999

By A Customer

In writing "The Care and Feeding of Your Brain" I used several references along with literature searches to document pros and cons of various so-called "smart drugs" or "nootropics", many of which included herbal preparations. Tylers reference was by far the most well-documented and most concise review of herbals that I perused. It is a no-nonsense alphabetical guide that everyone who walks into a pharmacy or health food store to buy these preparations should own. May I recommend "The Care and Feeding of Your Brain" as a companion...Ken Giuffre MD