Review of The Woman's Book of Healing Herbs [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

I really like this book.It's organized nicely, and is helpful in pairing diseases/problems with herbal therapies.It's interesting, and I like the illustrations, as well as many of the beauty products.I do have a couple problems with it though.The book contains a list of the 50 most common herbs, and while it does list some safety precautions, a lot of drug-herb interactions are missing.For instance Coumadin (Warfarin) is listed as interacting with willow bark in this book.But Warfarin also has interactions with ginseng, dang shen, devil's claw, garlic (in large amounts) and ginkgo biloba.A few of these drugs are even in the top 50 in this book, with no mention of the problems they can cause with Warfarin.I think this is a really negative aspect of this book, because people without a pharmacy or medical background might not know about such problems, and as some don't even consider herbals to be drugs (which they are!) they don't know to check for interactions, or even where to check if they wanted to.Another point the book fails to mention is that the FDA doesn't have guidelines for purity of herbal products the way it does for prescription and over-the-counter medication.So you might not be getting exactly what you think you are when you buy an herbal product.If you use this book, I would recommend asking your pharmacist what brand of herbs they suggest, because most pharmacists know which brands are more reliable than others.And also, you should always ask your doctor about taking herbals if you are on ANY medications, and when your pharmacist takes your medication history, tell them what you are on, too.Just because herbals are natural doesn't mean they are safe!

Product Description
Herbal Medicine for Women Only!

In this elegantly illustrated book, top herbalists offer inside advice on how to use herbs to look and feel your best, relieve more than 125 common health problems, and strengthen your immunity against illness. You'll find:

* Step-by-step directions for making your own herbal medicines
* Dosage and recommendations for hot new herbs like black cohosh-- "nature's estrogen"-- and kava-kava, the popular anti-anxiety herb
* Special sections on aromatherapy, dream pillows, and herbs for rejuvenation and relaxation
* Herbal remedies for female-only problems like morning sickness and PMS, plus much more

This beautiful book also features:

* Lavishly illustrated profiles of 50 top healing herbs for women, from aloe to yellow dock
* Full-color photographs, including herbs in their native settings
* Recipes for medicinal teas, soups, formulas, and blends

The Woman's Book of Healing Herbs is perfect for women who are looking for simple ways to use medicinal herbs to treat everyday health problems, relieve stress, and beautify their skin, hair, and nails.


From the Inside Flap
The Woman's Book of Healing Herbs

Practical and elegant, this is the ultimate book on herbs for female-only health problems. You'll find page after page of teas, tinctures, supplements, formulas, masks, compresses, and more. Special blends for relaxation, rejuvenation, and healing. Tonics that prevent or relieve colds and flu, hot flashes and menstrual cramps, digestive upsets, mood swings, pelvic pain, urinary tract infections, and much more.

The book, based on modern scientific evidence, kicks off with a look at the long tradition of herbal healing, then provides lavishly illustrated profiles of the 50 top healing herbs for women. Next, you'll find step-by-step directions, with color photos, for making tonics, compresses, and other herbal medicines in your kitchen with everyday equipment.

A special section of the book, arranged alphabetically, offers herbal remedies for more than 80 health complaints, from altitude sickness to water retention. Throughout, the authors emphasize safe and effective use of herbs for problems ranging from everyday complaints (like sage for bad breath and rosemary for headaches) to long-range concerns (like hawthorn for heart health and astragalus for immunity). Included are popular herbs like echinacea for colds and St.-John's-wort for depression as well as up-and-coming herbs like kava-kava for anxiety and black cohosh for menopausal symptoms.

A major section on botanicals that beautify spells out exactly which herbs can help clear up blemishes, lighten sun-induced age spots, heal chapped lips, smooth crow's-feet and other fine wrinkles, eliminate dandruff, moisturize dry skin and nails, relieve puffy eyes, perk up tired skin, and revitalize dry, oily, or graying hair.

The authors also give special attention to herbs valued for their power to lift mood and bolster emotional health:botanicals that boost energy, enhance sexual desire, improve memory, sharpen concentration, reverse midafternoon slump, and take the edge off stress and nervous tension.

You'll learn which kinds of tablets and capsules to look for when shopping for herbs. But you'll also learn how to use aromatherapy, essential oils, flower essences, liniments, lozenges, creams, ointments, and other herbal alternatives to over-the-counter medications.

This unique blend of historical lore and modern science draws on the wisdom of the world's most trusted herbalists. These are the herbal experts that more and more doctors consult when women ask about herbal treatments. Here, women get that advice first-hand, in easy-to-understand language. And a detailed list of purchasing sources makes it easty to find the herbs recommended throughout the book.

The Woman's Book of Healing Herbs is the one book on which women can rely to help them explore "nature's pharmacy" and select remedies for their unique needs.




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