The Complete Guide to Herbal Medicines

This book is very useful - in one way. It describes the darker side of herbs. The fact that you shouldn't take ginseng if you are taking insulin is a fact little known by many, including unprofessional herbalists. However, the entire book is about the dangers of the plants - the "suspected" medicinal values are listed in a tiny sidebar, yet the authors go into enormous detail about side effects, interactions and dangers. This information needs to be known, as it is important, but the book is negative in every aspect. It seems more than anything that the authors are trying to discourage the use of herbal medicine. This book is not a reference for herbal medicine, nor will it tell you how to use the herbs for medicine. But it is good information to know.

First off, this is written by two pharmacologist, so they have a reason to scare you - medical prescriptions are BIG business for pill producers and doctors alike. They do not wish you to find there are things you can create and take yourself ( and with often much better results!!) because that cuts into their money!! So accept this book as written with prejudices. That said, it is still a good reference work for people wanting to know more about herbs. It details over 300 herbs, how they interact with drugs, a glossy for medical terms so you can full understand what they are say.It has a nice little box that tells you why people take the herb, interactions, important points to remember, doses, what current research shows, other names and references for further reading.A good work, when used as a companion piece for more balanced works and herbs and their usages.Also a good reference work for writers using herbs in their books.

The Complete Guide to Herbal Medicine is an excellent resource on herbal remedies. It provides in depth scientific based information on every herb one can think of. Most importantly, it is not biased. The authors provide information about the various herbs without trying to sway readers into utilizing herbal remedies. This book is not only great for patients, but also health care professionals like myself.

Fetrow and Avila, both of whom hold doctorates in pharmacy have prepared what I consider a "quick and quotable" reference for my work as a pharmacist. I appreciate the black box highlights for each herb entitled "what the research shows". This provides the caveats I must consider before recommending (or not recommending) an herbal supplement. Don't look for additional fluff or color plates in this book; there are none, just easy to find A to Z herbs with references. Worth the price for any healthcare provider's toolbox.