My investigation of more than 200 so-called natural cures revealed 21 that I would try myself and recommend to others, on the basis of mounting scientific evidence, here and abroad, longtime successful use and dramatic case histories. Open up the cures basket for details on the healing powers of herbs, vitamins and other natural remedies. And don't forget to read our herbal safety tips. In Europe, doctors widely prescribe scientifically tested, government-approved natural medicines in place of pharmaceuticals. But Americans are shortchanged by a lack of knowledge about natural remedies, mainly because our medical establishment and government rules discourage their use.
Federal law prohibits specific therapeutic claims.
Nevertheless, more Americans, including doctors, are trying natural remedies, and leading scientists are validating some of them. Specifics on benefits, doses, possible interactions and side effects are detailed in the book. Daily doses of feverfew, a member of the daisy family, can prevent migraines and reduce their severity, according to British research and countless case histories. Another test found feverfew reduced migraine incidence by 25 percent and dramatically cut symptoms, compared with a dummy pill. Large studies in Japan and Italy find improvement in about 80 percent of heart failure patients on coQ-10.