The Herbal Drugstore
Readers may find the termherbal drugstorean oxymoron. But just  as conventional drugstores carry prescription drugs and products for skin care,  hair care, and even pet care, hundreds of manufacturers are now distributing  herbal remedies and treatments for these same ailments and needs. "And just as a  conventional drugstore can be a bewildering place, competing herbal products can  leave you confused as to what to buy," according to authors Linda B. White, M.D.  (Kids, Herbs, Health: A Parents'  Guide to Natural Remedies) and Steven Foster (101 Medicinal Herbs: An Illustrated  Guide). "We created this book to be your guide to an ever-growing herbal  marketplace."They deliver even more than they promise. This is one of the most comprehensive  and well-written herbal guidebooks available. The opening pages are devoted to  important discussions about herb usage, including safety tips (such as never  giving herbs to children younger than 2 years old without your doctor's  approval), dosage information, and how to make your own herbal remedies. It has  a quick-glance chart of familiar ailments, along with a listing of commonly used  drugs and herbal alternatives. (For instance, according to the chart, bladder  infections are routinely treated with antibiotics, but numerous herbal remedies  exist, including bearberry, cranberry, goldenseal, goldenrod, and Oregon grape  root.)The meat of the book, however, is devoted to an alphabetized listing of ailments  as well as extensive discussions of herbal remedies, dosages, and ongoing  treatments. For example, under "sinus infection," readers will find a list of  symptoms, a sympathetic write-up about the causes and different kinds of  infections, and a list of numerous herbs and treatments, from echinacea to the  Chinese herb astragalus. Entries address minor ailments such as a hangover to  serious diseases like diabetes and Parkinson's disease. The book closes with a  thorough index and a listing of manufacturers that sell herbs. Without a doubt,  this isthebook for treating common ailments with herbs. Anyone  interested in exploring alternatives to prescription drugs will find safe and  sound advice within these informative pages.--Gail Hudson--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.