National Geographic Guide to Medicinal Herbs - by David Kiefer (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"Because I have long worked to make accurate information on botanical remedies available to consumers as well as to doctors, pharmacists, and allied health professionals, I am delighted to see the appearance of the National Geographic Guide to Medicinal Herbs. This excellent guide is the work of a team of highly qualified botanical and medical experts, including two of my colleagues from the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. It offers reliable, up-to-date, practical information about 72 of the most important medicinal herbs." --Andrew Weil, M.D., from the Foreword

There is a world of health and healing all around you--in your spice rack, your backyard, and on the shelves of health food and grocery stores. This informative guide is a reference you will keep at the ready, connecting 72 of the world's most common and useful medicinal herbs with the body systems they help and heal.

Eight chapters focus on body systems:
1. Mental Health & the Nervous System
2. Respiratory System
3. Heart & Circulation
4. Digestive System
5. Joints, Muscles & Skin
6. Urinary & Male Health
7. Female Health
8. Wellness & Perception

Each chapter begins with an overview of how plants can bring health to that part of the body, with stories about traditional herbal remedies from around the world and current scientific findings on herbal remedies for specific illnesses. Then each chapter highlights nine plants, combining botanical and medical information--therapeutic uses, effectiveness, preparations, cautions, and advice, including a round-up of current science about the active ingredients in the plant. Every chapter includes a photo gallery showing how one of its herbs is cultivated and processed commercially--the story behind the contents of that bottle you buy in the store. Special features include "Over the Kitchen Counter"--quick and easy ways to use herbs in your everyday life, and time lines for every herb, showing how today's use of herbal remedies collects wisdom from the centuries and around the world. A functional appendix includes an illustrated index to all the plants in the book, an ailment-by-ailment therapeutic index, a glossary, and an index.

Review Quotes

"The perfect union of botanical and medical expertise. This guide is so authoritative, its aim is to educate not only consumers, but doctors, pharmacists and other health professionals as well." -Book Page

About the Author

TIERAONA LOW DOG, M.D., is an internationally recognized expert in the fields of integrative medicine, dietary supplements, herbal medicine and women's health. Dr. Low Dog has been an invited speaker to more than 550 scientific conferences, has published 45 peer-reviewed articles, written 22 chapters for medical textbooks, and published five books including National Geographic's Life is Your Best Medicine and Healthy at Home. She is a frequent guest on the Dr. Oz show and NPR's The People's Pharmacy. She currently serves as the Fellowship Director for the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine where she leads the nation's first inter-professional graduate level training program in integrative medicine. She is the author of National Geographic's Fortify Your Life, Healthy at Home and Life Is Your Best Medicine.