Reviews (2273)

Priceless
Most people who give this book negative ratings are just plain ignorant or cheap morons. The guy has done a ton of research to bring us this kind of information and he risks his life to expose the scumbag ripoffs in the food and drug industry. This book just shows how we Americans are brainwashed, tamed sheep, swollowing what we're given. Most of American food is sick and the sickness passes onto people. The milk you drink is filled with pesticides and growth hormones and even though all the scientists will say it doesn't have any effect on people, they're lying, why?because they'll get sued. That's right, there is no freedom of speech, even doctors have to watch their mouth. The fact is that the growth hormones and pesticides do transform into your body. Just why do you think the Canadians refused to feed their cows growth hormones?because they know what the effects are but us Americans, we're ignorant and lazy and we don't care. That is our attitude.So here's a guy that sheds some truth on what's going on in the food/drug industry and there's still morons who will badmouth him for doing so or some idiots who thought they'll pick up this book and all their problems will be solved. It makes me mad that there's such people out there who can misinterpret a book so badly.The guy never says you should get off your prescription drugs or try natural remedies before consulting with your doctor, it is written on the very first pages for crying out loud yet people come on here and write ridiculous reviews.Again, these must be the lazy couch potatoes who think picking up a book will cure their illness. No, you need to get off your butt on this one. If you want to be spoonfed pills, continue with your local pharmacy. I could go on forever how great this book is but I'll just say, ignore all the idiotic negative reviews and get this book and follow what it says,it's probably the best thing you can do for yourself. It's worth it's weight in gold.

This Book Was A Waste of Money!
This book was just terrible.This guy is paranoid and he thinks everything is a conspiracy.Just hog wash-Don't waist your money!

A Re-Directory for information
What little information this book tells you about those "natural cures" are already common knowledge. It goes on and on, ad nauseum, about corruption. If you want more information about certain alleged cures, the book tells you to go to certain websites, and when you get there, you have to pay. It's like buying a cookbook that hardly has any recipes, and telling you that you have to go online and pay up front. What's the point of buying the book if it only has a few recipes? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Therapies    2. Alternative medicine    3. Consumer Health    4. Diet / Health / Fitness    5. Diet/Nutrition    6. Diets - General    7. Health & Fitness    8. Healthy Living    9. Herbal Medications    10. Naturopathy    11. Nutrition And Diet    12. Self-care, Health   

Reviews (3)

A stunning update of a classic
When I went to update this with my handwritten notes made on the second edition I found that the material had already been added.Much improved over the older edition with more information on alternate species, constituents, pao zhi and modern uses.It still has the annoying multiple indexes but at least they are thumb indexed. Well worth the investment for owners of earlier editions who actively use herbal medicine.

Important, but flawed?
My copy of this book is full of printing errors, including chapter summaries that are incomplete and index page numbers that are as many as two pages off.I expect much more from Eastland Press.

The Chinese medicinal products bible - required reading
At last, Bensky et al. third edition is finally out and what a vast source of knowledge it is. For anyone using Chinese medicinal products, this really is your bible. Massively expanded from the 2nd edition, there are hundreds more many medicinal products included.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Medicine    2. Chemistry - General    3. China    4. Consumer Health    5. Herbal Medications    6. Materia medica    7. Medicinal plants    8. Medicine, Chinese    9. Science    10. Science/Mathematics    11. Therapeutics   

Reviews (5)

Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies
As a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine I can attest to the value of this book's information. It is a fantastic reference book and provides practitioners with detailed formulae descriptions, analysis of formulae and is invaluable to any Chinese medicine practitioner.
Bensky's Formuales & Strategies
This is a classical book about Herbal Formulaes. I have read it several times and consult it often. I believe Strategy refers to how an herbologist will be able to use the book to add or modify ingridient and dosage. Unlike the review I wrote for "Material Medica", I find this is a useful book with much needed information to come up with a prescription. Needless to say the translation of this book is choppy in many places. The authors can keep the terms more to the point. These flowerly terms used is a minus.
No contenders
The fact that no real contenders have emerged in more than 13 years since this book's publication is sufficient testimony to its quality.Read more

Subjects:  1. China    2. Formulae, receipts, prescripti    3. Formulae, receipts, prescriptions    4. Health/Fitness    5. Herbs    6. Medical / Alternative Medicine    7. Medicinal plants    8. Medicine, Chinese    9. Therapeutic use    10. Alternative Medicine    11. Medical    12. Traditional medicine & remedies   

Reviews (7)

Important work if one understands its place
This is an important work, helping to document the validity of herbal medicine. However, it is not an all-encompassing work and obviously isn't referenced. Nevertheless, the German Commission E's method of publishing monographs based on the information gathered from companies, researchers, and practitioners (but apparently kept confidential) serves a useful purpose. It is always helpful to consult this text to get some solid conformation for common traditional uses. Every practitioner and researcher should have this book, though it certainly cannot be used in a vacuum.

Huge Disappointment!
I had hoped this book could be my benchmark for herbal information.What I found was a book that was hard to use with little useful information....Otherwise, Facts and Comparisions' Review of Natural Products is a better choice.

The Most Solid and Dependable Work on the Market
I have worked with herbs for many decades and have shelves and shelves full of works on Herbs and Healing. The German Commission E Monographs is still an often used Reference that in my oppinion belongs on everyone's shelf who works with Herbs. True, it does not cover all that the herbs are capable of and due to lack of proof, many wonderful herbs are not approved, BUT, and this is most important, whatever you find in this book is scientifically proven and you can believe it. I VERY strongly recomend this book, and the CD as well.Whenever you explore a new herb, or need to know facts, check it out in the Commission E Monographs. Then you have a very good outline from where you can start to work with, and together with other herbals get to know and experiment to arrive at your own conclusion. And that is not to mention the inclusion of interaction with other drugs, side effects, mode of administration, active composition for each monograph and different chapters that cover all that is important.A MUST for every practitioner and professional. A MUST for Everyone involved in healing, period.If you can only buy one book on herbs, I would recomend this one. Herbs are gentle and effective healers as a rule. That does not mean that when handeled and prescribed wrong they can't be fatal and dangerous as well.Due to a long time of suppression, there's much information that is doubtful at best, plain wrong and harmful at worst. So even if it's not always approving old favorites, and not mentioning all properties of all herbs, it is an amazing work. Non Nonsense and you can count on everything it says to be true. Five Stars? No way, but that's the maximum available. I would give it many more if I could. But YOU be the judge. Check it out for yourself in a store if in doubt. But don't let this work pass you without giving it a chance. It is truly a treassure. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Medicine    2. Alternative Therapies    3. Consumer Health    4. Diet / Health / Fitness    5. Food Content Guides    6. Germany    7. Health & Fitness    8. Health/Fitness    9. Herbal Medications    10. Herbs    11. Materia medica, Vegetable    12. Therapeutic use    13. Reference works    14. Traditional medicine & remedies   

Reviews (24)

This book drove me to drink.
Very informative.This was the book I needed to give me the confidence to begin. I was curious about the subject and wanted to begin a program of diet and detoxicfication; however, I questioned the sanity of the venture.Steve Meyerowitz does a terrific job of dispelling any fears and he makes sense of the practice of fasting safely. A very complete study on the subject including a nice aray of receipes.

An Excellent Guide for Everyone to Detox and Become Healthy
I found this book to be a great tool for all methods of detoxing concerning liquids.The author explains the nutrition and healing methods of different juices concisely and without the "bull" in most books.I read through this book in an afternoon - I literally could not put it down.The author covers water, fruit juice, vegetable juice, and liquid detoxing.
Mr. Meyerwitz knows his stuff
Don't listen to the reviewers who gave this book low stars and complained that it was "too simple" or "cultish" or "anti-religious" or "too religious". They obviously didn't understand, apply, or perhaps even read through the information.
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Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Diet / Health / Fitness    3. Diets - Better Health    4. Diets - Special Conditions    5. Fruit juices    6. Health & Fitness    7. Health/Fitness    8. Herbal Medications    9. Raw foods    10. Therapeutic use    11. Vegetable juices    12. Diets & dieting    13. Fruit juices-health aspects    14. Vegetable juices-health aspects    15. Fasting-health aspects    16. Detoxification    17. Natural Healing.   

Reviews (7)

Yes itis an Encyclodedia.
Book Report:
A heral magic
I love this book. I use its medicine for almost everything from headaches to stomachaches. I would remained this book to anyone looking to an alternate root for medicine.

Excellent beginner text book and quick reference...
I am fond of this book because it is the first of it's kind that I have read.It presents relevant information logically and doesn't go too far with the more advanced information.It is no replacement for a biochemisty degree, but it sure does help you learn about each plant and gives you a general knowledge of what it does and how. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Allied Health Services - General    2. Consumer Health    3. Diet / Health / Fitness    4. Encyclopedias    5. Health & Fitness    6. Health/Fitness    7. Herbal Medications    8. Materia medica    9. Materia medica, Vegetable    10. Medicinal plants    11. Reference    12. Health & Fitness / Herbal Medications    13. Health   

Reviews (6)

A lot of text but many unanswered questions
I take no issue with Christian Ratsch. He is a prolific writer and someone with influence in the world of ethnobotany. However, I want to write a valuable and honest review here. This book is enormous. I know of no other book worth buying that contains as many plants as this one (in relation to a mind enhancing context). In this regard, the book is highly valuable. There are also plenty of photos which give it an artistic quality.
All in one place.
Save time and research.This book is huge and packed.Has information on just about any natural drug source legal or not.This book is so big and packed full of information it would be hard to ever get tired of thumbing through this book.

Perfect
This book is absolutely essential for anyone interested in the topic of entheogens and their use/history. Buy it now! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Body, Mind & Spirit    3. Encyclopedias    4. Ethopharmacology    5. Healing - General    6. Herbal Medications    7. Life Sciences - Botany    8. Medical Anthropology    9. Nature    10. New Age    11. Pharmacodynamics    12. Plants - General    13. Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology    14. Psychotropic plants    15. Botany & plant sciences    16. Drug-induced states    17. Medical / Drug Guides    18. Pharmacology    19. Reference works   

Editorial Review

Readers may find the term Read more

Reviews (11)

A good book with a mixed result

Opens up a world of herbal options for optimal health
I like the way this book lists herbal remedies side by side with conventional medical treatments. It's useful to see your options laid out like that. I like the organization. It's easy to find what you need. I also like that one of the authors has an M.D. it's encouraging to see that a traditionally trained doctor sees the value of phytomedicinals. The book is organized by health problems. Under each heading, there is a listing of herbal as well as conventional remedies, as well as a paragraph describing how each remedy works. This method of organization makes much more sense than listing herbs alphabetically, especially for someone who's in a hurry to find something. I only just received the book from amazon.com, but I can already foresee that I will use it often. I only wish they had made the book bigger and printed it on nicer paper. Oh well...you can't have everything, I guess.

Excellent medical reference book!
This is a thorough book that includes information about possible interactions between herbal remedies and prescription drugs. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Medicine    2. Diet / Health / Fitness    3. General    4. Health/Fitness    5. Herbal Medications    6. Herbs    7. Holistic Medicine    8. Medical    9. Medical Botany    10. Pharmacy    11. Therapeutic use    12. Traditional medicine & remedies   

Editorial Review

There's still a lot to learn about the healing power of plants, James Duke points out, but what we do know is already prodigious. Much of that knowledge is gathered in Read more

Reviews (29)

Green Pharmacy
James Duke has distilled his decades in Field Botany into this Wonderful Book.A must read fora Green way to Health with Natures Bounty.
Lacks info
Great book overall. For each health issue they have a nice variety of plants that have been used for the specified ailment but they dont tell you which part of the plant is used and that can make a big differance!! So you need another resource for that.

Get this book!
This is an awesome book to use before you decide to start taking any pills.From athlete's foot to sinus conditions, it's worth a read and to try a natural approach first. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Medicine    2. Consumer Health    3. Diet / Health / Fitness    4. Herbal Medications    5. Medical   

Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Handbooks, manuals, etc    3. Herbal Medications    4. Materia medica, Vegetable    5. Medical    6. Medicinal plants    7. Plants, Medicinal    8. Reference    9. Traditional medicine    10. Traditional medicine & remedies   

Reviews (23)

too general
Gives uses for many plants and the essential oils but no complete details for making the remedies with the oils. Eg. how much of each oil to put into the natural remedies?

Encyclopedia of Essential Oils
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils is a wonderful book to add to a collection of knowledge of Aromatherapy.It contains very detailed properties of each essential oil - easy to understand and great for reference for all to read, learn and practice.If you can't find what you are looking for specifically for an essential oil, you will most definately find it in this book.

Your Aromatherapy library is not complete if you don't have the book
If I had to have only two books in my Aromatherapy Library, this would be one of them, along with The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, by Salvatore Battaglia. I have been an Aromatherapist since 2003, I know - a relatively short time - but a productive time, and I could not have accomplished what I have without this book. It is a very complete list - if not the best list - of essential oils available in book form, with all their properties, chemical breakdown, methods of extraction, history, ancient uses for the plants and oils, modern uses, toxicity and as if this wasn't enough - the photos are marvolous and extremely helpful in identifying plants and the oil colour. Every plant gets a whole page and the format repeats and is so easy to follow. What makes this book stand out among its peers is the ease of use with an excellent index, glossary of terms, botanical index, botanical classification and references (just because a book has these thing doesn't mean they are always good or useful).
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Subjects:  1. Aromatherapy    2. Body, Mind & Spirit    3. Consumer Health    4. Diet / Health / Fitness    5. Encyclopedias    6. Essences and essential oils    7. General    8. Health/Fitness    9. Herbal Medications    10. Reference works   

Reviews (13)

Some concepts are dated, but overall, a good health guide
In the book, Mr. Kloss said of all diseases, "God has invented the cure and is waiting for man to discover it."The longer I practice as a pharmacist, the more I realize he was right.
Informative
Good information but I find many of the treatments brief or outdated, I prefer The Little Herb Encyclopedia by Jack Ritchason. Together they make the perfect herbal library.

if I could own one book other than the bible this would be it.
This book should be in everyone's home.Lots of information you will not get anywhere else.It's all useful every page. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Therapies    2. Consumer Health    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health/Fitness    5. Herbal Medications    6. Aromatherapy    7. Health & wholefood cookery    8. Homoeopathy   

Reviews (19)

healed my lyme
I have tried a great many things for lyme disease; I have been sick for over 6 years. This protocol was incredible. After only a few weeks most of my symptoms were gone. After six months all my symptoms were gone. Stephen Buhner's knowledge of the herbs is incredible and this protocol is the most thought out that I have seen. It has given me my life back. While it may not work for everyone the vast majority of people on the lyme internet groups report incredible success with it. Thank you Stephen Buhner.

Be Careful
I have had Lyme disease for some time now, and am always interested in treatments that could help keep it at bay.I tried andrographis, the first of the core protocol herbs that this book suggests, and after three weeks of following the recommended dosage I broke out in hives all over my body.I have never had an allergic response to anything in my life, so I was quite surprised.Even after taking benadryl, my face and hands were severely swollen the following day.I saw three physicians to determine the nature of the allergic reaction, ended up on prednisone for 9 days, and I have since returned the remaining androgaphis bottles I had purchased.The author did indicate that very rarely people have an allergic reaction, and I suppose I was one of the unfortunates.I am sure the herb works wonders for some, but please be careful.I would not have expected to fall into a very rarely category.

Good on lyme, disappointing on treatments
The first few chapters on lyme contain more information than any other source I've heard of and are impressive.That information alone makes the book worth buying, and a true "find".I've been researching lyme for a year now, and he had information I'd never heard of before, like the way lyme infests the renal system and infects the urine so it can infect grazing animals.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Therapies    2. Consumer Health    3. Diet / Health / Fitness    4. Diseases - Contagious    5. Diseases - General    6. Diseases - Skin    7. Healing    8. Health & Fitness    9. Health/Fitness    10. Herbal Medications   

Reviews (5)

Herbs
I am taking a medicinal botany class and was not satisfied with the information the text book gave me and wanted to know more I saw this book and ordered it.I love it.It is a must have for someone interested in herbs even my instructor found it helpful.

Best of it's kind
I have an older edition that my sister bought for me for christmas several years back.It's one of the few books i'll have for the rest of my life because of its incredible value as a comprehensive herb and plant info resource.The edition I have has pictures, names, references in the front with longer descriptions in the back in the same style as an audubon society field guide book.It's great for picking up and reading random stuff or to lookup the medicinal uses of a specific herb.The book never ceases to amaze me.Of all the herb books i've read, this one is time and again the most useful.

Superb Comprehensive Book
This book is very comprehensive.It is fairly easy to use with both Latin and English names.There are many photographs to support herb descriptions.The book doesn't does not have a botanical key to support identification of more unusual specimens (I don't miss this, others may).
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Subjects:  1. Encyclopedias    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health/Fitness    5. Herb gardening    6. Herbal Medications    7. Herbs    8. Pictorial works    9. Reference    10. Gardening / Herbs    11. Gardening   

Reviews (11)

Pretty good ...
... if you like your herbs from the herb store, that is. And if you like the TCM view of things. Excellent but not the most recent version....
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MEDICINAL PLANTS by Andrew Chevallier is a relatively comprehensive source of information about herbal uses for healing.This is not the most recent volume by this author, however.The 2000 version is more comprehensive and includes the most current information about research associated with herbal medicinal uses. Best Source there is for medicinal plant information!!
From its detailed descriptions of almost all medicinal plants, to its step by step instructions for different preparations, this bookhas it all!!It tells you where the plant is from even the history behind todays uses.If your interested in healing with plants... this book is for you! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dictionaries    2. Diet / Health / Fitness    3. Encyclopedias    4. Health/Fitness    5. Herbal Medications    6. Materia Medica    7. Materia medica, Vegetable    8. Medical    9. Medicinal plants    10. Pharmacology    11. Complementary Medicine    12. Gardening / Reference    13. Reference works   

Reviews (4)

Very Good
Dont own previous books by Paul Stamets, but have read through a bunch. THis book is a really fine addition to the library. Lots of information, lots of color photos, and an enjoyable read. Get it.

this is an incredibly interesting + informative book
This is a well written, interesting book. And mycelium running has more relevance than I ever imagined (if I thought about it at all). In general, I'd ditch science books for literature in 2 seconds. But I just can't put this book down. It's definitely worth your $$$.

The most comprehensive mushroom/fungi book out there
Paul Stamets truly knows the material and has some great insights into the world of growing mushrooms. He succinctly describes how the science of the relatively unknown 5th kingdom (fungi) can be applied to mycoremediation to help unpollute the planet.Even though this sounds like a heavy subject, the material is understandable for people with little scientific or fungal knowledge and helps anybody understand hwo they too can get closer to mushrooms. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ecology    2. Environmental Science    3. Fungi    4. Gardening    5. Gardening / Horticulture    6. Gardening/Plants    7. Life Sciences - Ecology    8. Medical Botany    9. Mushroom culture    10. Mycelium    11. Organic    12. Pharmacy    13. Reference    14. Specific Ingredients - Vegetables    15. Applied ecology   

Reviews (10)

I was impressed!
While this book only deals with a limited number of herbs (and one fungus!) the techniques Mr. Green describes are easily adapted to almost any plant. I was expecting mostly a book of recipes for various oils, balms, creams and so forth, but there are surprisingly few of those, usually only 2 or 3 per chapter. Instead, the author describes the method for making the desired concoction, lists suggestions for which herbs work particularly well in the given medium, and leaves the reader to decide what will suit his or her needs. Mr. Green has a great sense of humor, and applies it liberally throughout his work. What could have been a dry book is actually a fun and interesting (and informative) read.

Wonderful Resource and Reference
I found the answers to many questions in the homemade remedies realm when I found this book.He tells what pitfalls are involved before you start.Great book.

Excellent Reference book
There is so much information presented in this book which is excellent for those who are just beginning in their herbal adventure or as a reference for those who are more advanced.It discusses several methods of using herbs from tinctures to percolation.You'll never go wrong with this book in your library. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Medicine    2. Consumer Health    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Health & Fitness    5. Health/Fitness    6. Herbal Medications    7. Herbals    8. Materia medica, Vegetable    9. Traditional medicine    10. Miscellaneous Items   

Reviews (6)

Useful, important book. Highly recommend it.
This book is turning out to be a valuable tool for me in practice and teaching. I recommend it for students, teachers and health practitioners who want to use essential oils to enhance patient care. It is well-written, objective, practical and has extensive references, summary tables, appendices and index. As a physician, I appreciate its integrative approach. It is a good synthesis of history, chemistry, safety issues, experience, basic science, some of the most current clinical research, clinical applications and more. I especially liked the section on infection. In my opinion, it is an important work, which could well influence future research and clinical use of essential oils in the United States.

Outstanding Resource
This is a great book for any health professional wishing to enhance patient care with aromatherapy.As a nurse, Ifind it to be an outstanding resource full of scientifically based information related to essential oils and their uses. Dr Buckle has included an easy to use index to guide the reader to information on a variety of diseases and conditions which respond to aromatherapyintervention. This is a "must read" for anyone incorporating aromatherapy into a clinical or community setting.

Excellent choice
Sick of all those superficial and almost identical books about aromatherapy? Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Medicine    2. Aromatherapy    3. Consumer Health    4. Herbal Medications    5. Holistic Medicine    6. Medical    7. Nursing    8. Nursing - Pharmacology    9. methods    10. Medical / Alternative Medicine   

Reviews (19)

It is often the lone voices that are the right ones to listen to...
I was angered by this book.That is, at the soybean and vegetable oil industry, pharmaceutical companies and the medical establishment.I've never been big into conspiracy theories, but after reading this I was shocked. I went out and bought 2 tubs of coconut oil and I've been telling everyone I can about it and this book.I know and am close to people with heart disease, diabetes, lupus, IBS, and cancer.Even if you are not sick, coconut oil is beneficial in preventing disease and promoting overall wellness.I have started reading ingredient labels at the grocery store and it's amazing how prevalent vegetable and soybean oil is in the foods people eat.It doesn't make sense to me why the big businesses say that something Nature put on this earth for us to use would be so bad for us, while the over-processed, refined and rancid veg and soy oils are so much better.Oh, wait, I know the reason: money.

Great Book!
This book is a must for you, if you are interested in what you eat.
Truly a miracle
If you are having trouble losing weight or if you have had your gallbladder removed, or know someone who has, then you must read this book or buy it for them for a gift.
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Subjects:  1. Coconut oil    2. Consumer Health    3. Essential fatty acids in human    4. Essential fatty acids in human nutrition    5. General    6. Health & Fitness    7. Health aspects    8. Health/Fitness    9. Herbal Medications    10. Therapeutic use    11. Fitness & diet    12. Health & Fitness / Healing    13. Healing