Unique ready reference for all complementary medicine, massage, therapy and manual therapy practitioners and students alerting them to 'red flag' symptoms which should be referred for Western medical investigation or emergency medical treatment.

When can a patient be safely reassured and when do they need further investigation or treatment? 'Red flags' are clinical signs that suggest a patient needs prompt investigation and treatment for a potentially dangerous situation. Therapists increasingly find themselves working alongside conventionally trained doctors and nurses and it is vital for them to understand conventional medical diagnoses, symptoms and treatments and, crucially, to recognise warning signs of serious disease. This is essential in order to be a safe practitioner.

Clare Stephenson's "The Complementary Therapist's Guide to Red Flags and Referrals "meets this need by providing an easily accessible reference to 'red flag'symptoms, designed especially for therapists. It offers guidance on how best to respond to those symptoms and signs of disease which can be readily discerned through routine history taking and basic examination of the body. The guidance is in language which is accessible to therapists, and clear advice is offered on when to refer patients to conventional medicine practitioners and how to communicate with doctors when making a referral. Clinical syndromes which merit rapid response are summarised for ease of reference.

Current research lays emphasis on exploring natural products for use in nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals to overcome various side effects of synthetic drugs. Fungi occupy an eminent position among natural sources of food and medicinal importance since ancient times. Many fungal species have been eaten as food and used in folk medicine for the treatment of many human ailments as mentioned in traditional medical literature. However, scanty information is available pertaining to the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical importance of fungi which merits an extensive review. This book spotlights the use value macrofungi in human health. Macrofungi with health benefitting properties largely belong to Basidiomycota followed by Ascomycota growing indoor (cultivated) and outdoor (wild). We endeavoured to throw light on the benefits of macrofungal taxa in relation to their food and medicinal significance in human life. We provided knowledge pertaining to the ethnomycological significance of macrofungi with respect to their uses as food and medicine by the people inhabiting different parts of the world. This book highlights the nutritional composition and bioactive compounds present in macrofungi. We also focused on the pharmacological activities of macrofungi contributing towards their medicinal value against several human disorders. We cited many commercially available nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products of macrofungal origin. This work will hopefully serve as a basic reference for general public, mycologists, researches and industry men, interested in consumption, research and marketing of macrofungi.

From meditation to reciting mantras or praying, spirituality is more and more often being recognized for its beneficial effects on health. In this volume, a team of experts from across disciplines including psychology, medicine, nursing, public health, and pastoral care offer reader-friendly chapters showing the state of the art in understanding this connection. Chapters include attention to special populations such as youth, HIV/AIDS patients, cancer patients, and those in hospice care. Contributors, all members of the Spirituality and Health Institute at Santa Clara University, aim to use the scientific understanding of the spirituality/health connection to promote better health for the general public. From meditation to reciting mantras or praying, spirituality is more and more often being recognized for its beneficial effects on health. In this volume, a team of experts from across disciplines including psychology, medicine, nursing, public health, and pastoral care offer reader-friendly chapters showing the state of the art in understanding this connection. Chapters include attention to special populations such as youth, HIV/AIDS patients, cancer patients, and those in hospice care. Contributors, all members of the Spirituality and Health Institute at Santa Clara University, aim to use the scientific understanding of the spirituality/health connection to promote better health for the general public. One focus of this volume is to show easy ways to incorporate spiritual practices in an environment that is often multicultural, multi-religious, stressful, hurried, and secular.

Bronze Winner - 2010 IP's Living Now AwardFinalist - 2010 USA Best Book Award Written for those new to natural healing, Simple Chinese Medicine gives you tools that you can use today to improve your quality of life and begin your healing journey. Based upon centuries old practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), readers are provided simple-to-do exercises for stress relief, health maintenance, and cancer prevention. Additional sections include guidance on using food for healing and for weight control. Careful attention is given to explaining the differences between Eastern healing methods and Western treatment methods, as well as an insightful discussion of TCM's concept of 'prevention' for health maintenance. A final section shares the personal experiences of some of Dr. Kuhn's patients. Contents include:* Healing in Traditional Chinese Medicine* Differences in Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine* TCM Diagnostic Method* Seeking the Right Medical Care* Food Healing in Chinese Medicine* Food Balance* Healthy Balanced Diet and Weight Reduction* Weight Control ProgramFood and Exercise Log* Exercises for Healing, Disease Prevention, and Good Health* Cancer Prevention and Healing* Exercise Routines for Healing Cancer* Chinese Medicine's Secrets of Good Health and Longevity* Trends in Longevity

With chapters written by scientists from respected institutes and universities around the world, this book looks at the bioprospecting of medicinal plants for potential health uses and at the pharmacognosy of a selection of medicinal and aromatic plants. The book touches on a diverse selection of topics related to medicinal plants. Chapters look at the use of medicinal plants in healthcare and disease management, such as to treat inflammation, anti-hyperglycemia, and obesity and as immunity boosters. The authors also address the conservation, maintenance, and sustainable utilization of medicinal plants along with postharvest management issues. A chapter discusses the use of synthetic seeds in relation to cryopreservation, and a chapter is devoted to the use of microcomputed tomography and image processing tools in medicinal and aromatic plants. Other topics include consumption, supply chain, marketing, trade, and future directions of research. Some specific plants discussed include fennel, basil, clove, ginger, lavender, turmeric, ginsing, and asparagus in connection with their various therapeutic properties, including anti-rheumatic, anti-asthmatic, anti-diabetic, carminative, diuretic, fever-reducing, and hypotensive. Medicinal Plants: Bioprospecting and Pharmacognosy will prove informative for scientists and researchers in medicinal plants as well as for faculty and students, pharmaceutical researchers, and others.

A pracitcal guide to opening and strengthening your reiki channels. Since originating in Japan in 1922, Reiki has been adapted to cultural traditions across the world. Reiki practitioners use a technique called palm healing or hands-on healing through which a "universal energy" is transferred through the palms of the practitioner to the patient in order to encourage emotional or physical healing. Reiki is used for healing oneself and others and for spiritual development. It works by combining two things: initiations that awaken and open your energy channels and techniques for using your hands, eyes, and intention to direct this energy flow where needed. Anyone who wishes to do this work must prepare by following particular methods and steps, all wonderfully explained in this introductory guide. Discover why Reiki is so unique and learn about its origins, five precepts, attunements, basic hand positions, and special treatments created by Reiki's founder, Mikao Usui. All the spiritual practices here have been specifically chosen to guide readers on a path of love, light, healing, and self-knowledge.

This accessibly written book examines the most commonly taken dietary supplements, exploring what they are and what they're purported to do, and summarizing key research findings regarding their potential health benefits and risks. Today, more than 50 percent of Americans take at least one type of dietary supplement regularly. But do these products actually work? How are they regulated? Are there any potential health risks? Dietary Supplements: Fact versus Fiction examines the most commonly used non-nutrient supplements (those that are neither vitamins nor minerals and not essential for human health). Using a standardized structure, each entry discusses a particular supplement's origins, purported benefits, potential risks, and common dosage. Summaries of key research studies are included to help readers make informed decisions about supplements' usefulness. Introductory materials give readers a foundational understanding of how supplements are regulated and labeled and offer practical information about how to read a Supplement Facts panel. For those interested in supplements for a particular health complaint (such as fatigue or pain), a topic finder has also been included. Provides unbiased, evidence-based information to help readers make their own decisions about supplementation Summarizes and contextualizes key research findings in easy-to-understand language Uses a standardized structure and topic finder to make it easy for readers to find the exact information they're looking for Offers practical information on how to read and understand the Supplement Facts panel found on all dietary supplements

This book presents an in-depth analysis of issues in trade law and EU pharmaceutical law concerning market access for traditional Chinese medicinal products. It discusses these issues from the standpoints of fundamental law, international law and EU law, so to offer a comprehensive perspective. Specifically, it points out the core legislative issues for EU policymakers who deal with market access for traditional medicinal products; describes the relation between law and science; and offers essential information on herbal medicinal product registration in the EU. Further, it compares EU law and Chinese law in this regard, which can offer inspirations for readers from other counties that have similar medicinal products. The book uses straightforward, accessible language to break down the key issues involved.

This is a concise guide to foot and hand massage for enhanced health and wellbeing, shown in over 200 photographs. It describes a complete healing session on the hands and feet with step-by-step routines. It is complete with detailed maps of the body's reflex points and zones. It includes specially devised sequences to energize or relax the body, alleviate stress, relieve pain and aid restful sleep. It recommends easy and effective treatments for common ailments, including colds, headaches, tension and nausea. Our hands have always been a means of caring and comforting, and using our hands to release tension in our bodies is something we do instinctively. In reflexology, you can use your fingers to apply pressure to certain points on the feet, or sometimes on the hands. The word 'reflex' means to reflect, and the pressure points on the hands and feet reflect all the parts of your body, both internal and external. This book explains how reflexology works, and includes step-by-step techniques. It contains sequences to boost energy levels, relieve different types of pain, relax muscles and improve immunity, making it the ideal guide to enhancing your physical and mental health.

Cancer is a leading cause of death among adults. Although about 250f Americans develop cancer in their lifetime, in some populations this rate has been reduced by lifestyle changes. Increasing numbers of people are turning to the use of dietary vegetables, medicinal herbs, and plant extracts to prevent or treat cancer. Their ready availability as "over the counter" supplements has contributed to an explosion in the use of herbal extracts and related compounds for health enhancement.

The spectacular growth of the multi-billion dollar functional food and nutraceutical business, touting health claims sometimes based upon limited research data, underscores the need for this up-to-date reference. "Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals in Cancer Prevention" brings together a leading group of experts on the different aspects of nutrient supplementation, foods, and plant extracts in cancer prevention and treatment. Their conclusions and recommendations present the most current knowledge from which to springboard future research and create a scientific database for accurate health claims.

. This up-to-date resource is a must-have for research professionals, both basic and applied, and marketers in the worldwide functional foods/nutritional supplements industry. It is an essential reference for hospital-based dietitians and nutritionists, physicians specializing in oncology, and cancer researchers. Food and drug officials who determine allowable health claims need this information as well, as do academics in all of these fields

Featured here is a modern translation of a medieval herbal, with a study showing how this technical treatise on herbs was turned into a literary curiosity in the nineteenth century. The contours of this second edition replicate the first; however, it has been revised and updated throughout to reflect new scholarship and new findings. New information is presented on Oswald Cockayne, the nineteenth-century philologist who first translated the Old English medical texts for the modern world. Here the medieval text is read as an example of technical writing (i.e., intended to convey instructions/information), not as literature. The audience it was originally aimed at would know how to diagnose and treat medical conditions and knew or was learning how to follow its instructions. For that reason, while working on the translation, specialists in relevant fields were asked to shed light on its terse wording, for example, herbalists and physicians. Unlike many current studies, this work discusses the Herbarium and other medical texts in Old English as part of a tradition developed throughout early-medieval Europe associated with monasteries and their libraries. The book is intended for scholars in cross-cultural fields; that is, with roots in one field and branches in several, such as nineteenth-century or medieval studies, for historians of herbalism, medicine, pharmacy, botany, and of the Western Middle Ages, broadly and inclusively defined, and for readers interested in the history of herbalism and medicine.

Essential oils possess hard-working properties that provide effective natural solutions to help with beauty care, housework, gardening, and - of course - our health. Better still, you don't even need a whole pharmacy cabinet full of them! Just six key oils will cover all your needs. This book presents the six oils you can't do without - tea tree, lemon, lavender, peppermint, rosemary cineole and damask rose - and reveals their multi-purpose powers. Discover effective remedies to alleviate common conditions from anxiety and insomnia to high blood pressure and arthritis, plus pamper treatments including massages, baths, lotions and face masks. There are also magic formulas and miracle solutions for keeping rooms clean and fragrant, banishing dog and cat fleas, ensuring your plants stay bug-free - and a whole host more!

Modern medicine has penetrated Bedouin tribes in the course of rapid urbanization and education, but when serious illnesses strike, particularly in the case of incurable diseases, even educated people turn to traditional medicine for a remedy. Over the course of 30 years, the author gathered data on traditional Bedouin medicine among pastoral-nomadic, semi-nomadic, and settled tribes. Based on interviews with healers, clients, and other active participants in treatments, this book will contribute to renewed thinking about a synthesis between traditional and modern medicine - to their reciprocal enrichment.

This book examines the use of herbal medicine in the treatment of intractable diseases as well as common health problems. Given the stringent quality control of herbal medicine such as Kampo and reproducibility of preclinical findings, together with overall fewer adverse events, its attractiveness continues to rise, and multi-component herbal medicine capable of targeting multiple sites can be useful for future drug discovery. Written for the Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology series, this collection features practical advice for hands-on work in this exciting and expansive field. Authoritative and easily applicable, Herbal Medicines: New Horizons summarizes the current state and translational aspect of herbal medicine in modern society in order to help establish a rational therapy for patients.

For centuries, Pacific Islanders have used Piper methysticum the Kava plant for healing, religious ritual, and relaxation. Now Westerners are discovering the calming, centering effects of the plant, and Kava potions are served at many health clubs and coffee-houses. Kava is rapidly becoming a healthy, natural alternative to alcohol and tranquilizers, and a welcome addition to social gatherings or spiritual circles. Kava-Kava is an in-depth look at the history, botany, chemistry, culture, and use of the Kava plant. Filled with rare illustrations and photographs, the book examines how the Pacific Islands' native peoples grew and processed the plant, how it's used in both traditional and contemporary beverages, and how its unique properties affect the human body and mind. Kava-Kava explores the increasing interest in its use as an alternative to alcohol. Users report that kava drinking reduces alcohol intake, resulting in weight loss, gains in strength, better sleep and health in general. Kava has anti-anxiety properties that help fight stress and promote sleep. Kava-Kava is built upon the Dutch botanist, Dr. E.F. Steinmetz's classic early pamphlet, Kava-Kava: Famous Drug Plant of the South Sea Islands with addition of considerable new information about health, social, and spiritual uses. A fact-filled look at this fascinating plant, Kava-Kava belongs in the library of anyone interested in intoxicants, herbal medicine, or shamanistic practices.

The number of individuals diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder has increased in the past decade, not only in the military and veteran population but within the civilian population as well. Traditional treatments such as pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy have provided less-than-ideal results proving to be less effective when used alone to treat the disorder. Complementary and Alternative Medicine for PTSD supplements these traditional treatments, using new and effective techniques to fill the therapeutic void. The alternative therapies covered include acceptance and commitment therapy, acupuncture, alternative pharmacology, canine assistive therapy, family focused interventions, internet and computer-based therapy, meditation techniques, mobile applications, recreational therapy, resilience training, transracial magnetic stimulation, virtual reality exposure therapy, and yoga. Each chapter delivers the most up-to-date understanding of neurobiology, best practices, and key points for clinicians and patients considering inclusion of these treatments in patient care. COL David Benedek and LTC Gary Wynn offer insight into the future of complementary and alternative medicine, shining a light onto how these techniques fit into clinical practice to create the most beneficial treatments for the patient. This book is both an essential resource and practical guide to everyday clinical interactions. It is a necessary addition to the medical library for students and senior clinicians alike.

'As a child, I just knew which plant to pick up and hold to my head for a headache to go away. Once I heard about the concept of a 'doctrine of signatures', I would just stand silently, in awe of nature talking to me, talking and talking in her silent, direct speech. The book of nature seemed so obviously spelled out, and in oddest contrast to what I learned in medical school. My professors seemed never to have heard of nature being vibrant and alive and brimming with patterns of energy that are right there for us to understand and use... This direct and primordial experience of being part of nature's omnipresent, cyclic course taught me more in the realm of no-words than any university ever could have.' -- Julia Graves During the Middle Ages, communicating with nature was called the 'doctrine of signatures', and it was an important part of the work of traditional healers and herbalists. The Language of Plants covers all aspects of the doctrine of signatures in an easily accessible format, so that everyone, whether nature lovers or healers, can learn to read the language of plants in connection with healing.