Ask a Nurse: From Home Remedies to Hospital Care

I'm a journalist who interviewed the author for an article about the differences between the remedies doctors and nurses prescribe--and I was really impressed with the information this book contained. Ask a Nurse is a compilation of health advice from practicing nurses and nurse practitioners about all sorts of ailments you could experience and their treatments--many of which you can treat right at home. The idea behind this book is that nurses often know more and even better remedies than doctors because they're more involved in patient care. I tend to agree with this idea, especially when it comes to natural or non-prescription remedies. But now that I'm struck down the flu, I'm appreciating this book even more, which is what has inspired me to write this review! In plain language, Ask a Nurse tells the reader the symptoms of many ailments and the signs to look for so you know when it's something serious (I wanted to know if my raw, scratchy throat could possibly be strep--the book says not likely). Ask a Nurse then lists a variety of home remedies, over the counter remedies and prescriptions if necessary. I learned how to soothe the inflammation and pain in my throat in five different ways and how to break up the congestion in my lungs in minutes--all without using meds (I prefer to use meds as a last resort). I woke up in a lot of pain. Now after following the advice in this book, I'm feeling a lot better. Oh, the book says I can expect a few more days of this flu (this book also tells you the difference between a cold and flu), but now the next few days will be a lot less uncomfortable.

This is really a helpful book. So much more useful than those "doctor" books. Clearly, these nurses know more about basic care than most physicians -- that's what makes this book so useful and valuable. I think every household should own a copy.

It is really hard in this day and age to find a health-related book with practical information that is relibale and easy to follow. This book is a great resource for anyone who is interested in finding basic, clearly-stated information about common health problems.