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 (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Rachel Streit (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Herbs can be a powerful path to healing if used in the right combinations with man-made medications, vitamins, and minerals, and with other herbs and healthy foods. But their potent ability to heal can become downright dangerous when used with out care. The Complete Guide to Safe Herbs provides detailed information on the right way to take hundreds of herbs to improve health -- without worrying about unexpected side effects. Easily accessible designs illustrates seven chapters covering these key categories: 175 Best Bets for Safe and Effective Herbs; Important Herbal Combination Formulas for Common Ailments; All the Essential Details on Combining Herbs with Over-the-Counter and Prescription Drugs; Helpful -- and Dangerous -- Herb and Food Combinations; Herb, Vitamin, and Mineral Interactions -- What Works and What to Avoid; Buyer Beware; Clear and Concise Advice on Which Herbs to Watch Out For; Herbal Dos and Don't for Children, Pregnant and Nursing Women, and Older People.

About the Author

Chris D. Melitis, N.D., is the Dean of Clinical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at The National College of Naturopathic Medicine, one of America's premier institutions, and the oldest in the country, for the teaching of naturopathic physicians. His previous books included Interactions Between Drugs & Natural Medicines, A Naturopathic Guide to Clinical Nutrition, and Better Sex Naturally. Rachel Streit is the editor-in-chief of Natural Health magazine, the longest running and most respected periodical in the field of natural self-care. Streit has edited three other titles in this series, including The Complete Guide to Medicinal Herbs, The Complete Guide to Homeopathy, and The Complete Guide to Integrative Medicine. Established in 1971, Natural Health is the longest running and most respected periodical in the field of natural self-care. Read by more than a million health-conscious readers each issue, Natural Health is a trusted leader, providing credible information, guidance, and inspiration to both core devotees of natural healing and to the growing legions of new natural health enthusiasts. Published by Weider Publications, Inc., Natural Health's Editorial Advisory Board includes such esteemed authorities as Dean Ornish, Carolyn Dean, and Andrew Weil.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT; 1st edition (April 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789480735
• ISBN-13: 978-0789480736
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 8.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #407,923 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Improve Your Health with Herbs, June 7, 2002

By	Rebecca Johnson "SeasonedwithLove.com" (Washington State) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

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

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must for the Budding Herbalist, May 17, 2004

By	Lindsay Ryan Moore (Yakima, WA United States) - See all my reviews

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Demystify the herb world, January 12, 2006

By	Gail A. Ruff - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.