Professionals Handbook of Complimentary & Alternative Medicines

Best alternative medicine book I have read so far. I have a whole bookcase full of herbal books and this is the number one book. The book does not have any photos for identification. Of course, that is not the intent of the book. It is mainly written to show the chemically active ingredients of herbs. This to me is important.

The product is very good I can only give it the highest rating. Way too advanced for me at my stage of learning...but someday I plan to catch up to the book.

This is the most useful herbal I have come across. I am a primary care doctor and many of my patients have questions regarding "alternative medicines". This book lists hundreds of herbs! Each listing includes common trade names and forms, source, chemical components, actions, reported uses, dosage, adverse reactions, interactions, contraindications and precautions, special considerations, and points of interest. Any scientific studies are also presented and analyzed, and there are references at the end of each listing. There are useful tables at the back of the book summarizing drug interactions, herbal agents to avoid in pregnancy, potentially unsafe plants, therapeutic monitoring guidelines, and herbal agents listed as unsafe by the FDA. I would recommend this book to my fellow physicians, pharmacists, and alternative medicine practitioners who have a special interest in herbal medicines.

In day to day practice I probably refer to this book as much as many others combined: in our oncology centre about 40-60% of patients are using some form of alternative medicine. This book is better than the others I own (Mills phytotherapy, the german commission E monographs, Yang Chinese herbal medicines). This book is not intended as a prescription guide, but it is superb for evaluating a given preparation. It provides a quick summary of over 300 compounds: an introduction covering forms, components, actions and reported uses as well as standard dosing. This is followed by adverse reactions, interactions and precautions together with a commentary. This is where this little book stands out. My only disappointment with the book has been when the compound of interest does not appear within its covers: a lot is crammed into 800 odd pages though. However each edition has increased its coverage (so should you upgrade your edition: yes!!).

This is a one of a kind! The well-researched and in-depth science used makes it extremely handy when posed with questions about the most obscure alternative medicines. Dosing, drug interactions, side effects, and sources are all listed. Very handy.