Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements: The Essential Guide for Improving Your Health Naturally

Very dirty. Inside and out looks like someone threw up on it. First book I've ever had to put right in the trash after taking pics.

My uncle, who has been taking vitamins for years, recommended this book to me when I asked him for a single reference that would tell me about vitamins, minerals,EFAs, as well as some of the non vitamin/mineral supplements. This book has it all and I love how it's layed out - for each item it gives a brief overview of what the vitamin etc is, lists the natural food sources which I was particularly interested in, gives the RDA, benefitial effects, and uses. It goes into detail but not so much that you feel bogged down with info. Just enough for me.

The book is the foundation of my Nutritional Supplement program. Murray's information is extremely reliable. He supports most of his comments with references. The best part of this book is that Murray takes cost into consideration. He does NOT recommend everything that might make an impact, but ONLY what makes sense from a cost point of view.

I found this book online after purchasing the author's excellent book on Hypoglycemia. After having low blood pressure all my life, I was suddenly diagnosed with severe hypertension (165/105) and before I knew it I was leaving the doctor's office with a prescription in hand and dire warnings about strokes and heart attacks (at 29 years old). The pharmacist was very worried about someone so young taking the medicine and kept telling me that it would cause a potassium deficiency and suggested a supplement. The next day I took the prescribed medicine (Hydrochlorothiazide) at breakfast. Within an hour I had the most blinding headache of my life (I have migraines, and this was worst than a migraine, which I had not thought possible), my eyes would not focus, I was dizzy, light headed and nauseated. I spent the next several hours being violently ill until my stomach was quite empty. Finally, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, I went to bed completely exhausted. The next day, I pulled out this book and read about hypertension/high blood pressure. I had most (though not all) of the recommended supplements on hand. I called the doctor's office to let them know I was unable to take the medication, and scheduled the next earliest appointment - 6 days in the future. I then began the recommended supplement program (what I had of it already), with the rest on order. I also began walking 20 minutes a day. I altered and supplemented my diet as suggested as well. Upon my return to the doctor 6 days later my blood pressure was 138/90. She took it 5 times over the next hour (both arms, and with several different pressure cuffs) to make sure it was not a fluke of some sort. I explained to her what I had been doing, and she could find no fault in the advice, given the results. Instead of another medication, she told me to keep doing what I am doing and come back in a month for another reading. Though my initial reading had been severe hypertension, the improvement was so great that it is mild and I have high hopes that it will be even better in a month. Now I have several more of Dr. Murray's (and his colleague Dr. Pizzorno's) books and every one is worth it at 10 times the price. The advice is clear and well written, neither assuming you have a medical degree (as some books seem to) or that you are an idiot (which sums up most of the rest). When I acquired "Dr. Murray's Natural Alternatives to Over the Counter and Prescription Drugs", I looked up Hydrochlorothiazide. Even though the fact sheet with the prescription had not mentioned nausea, vomiting, headache, or blurred vision as potential side effects, this book did. Every symptom was there - as well as an explanation of why Hydrochlorothiazide actually increased the possibility of stroke and heart attack. I will never take another prescription medication again without consulting these two books first. Highly recommended for all readers.

During this time of the natural healing explosion it is helpful to have a tool which keeps you from drowning in all the information. Another helpful aspect of the book is the reference section composed of an extensive bibliography, relevant phone numbers and addresses, as well as a painstakingly detailed index of conditions and pages which apply. Worth every penny you'll find youself referring to it when ever necessary and feeling empowered to make informed decisions about your health.

One of the few books I have found that did not make me feel as though I was do something wrong if I did not follow the author's regimen. Nor does the author dismiss physicians in the fashion that other non-traditional authors seem wont to do. Very comprehensive in its approach to treatment of symptoms and descriptions of vitamins, minerals, et al. And best of all, the author actually includes recommended dosages. A great resource.