This volume provides reviews and details of the quality, safety and efficacy for some of the top-selling botanicals worldwide, including black cohosh, chamomile, comfrey, echinacea, garlic, ginkgo, ginseng, kava, milk thistle, St John's wort and valerian. The work was written based on a systematic review of the scientific literature from 1975-2000.;Each review includes a brief introduction, a section on quality including a definition of the crude drug, geographical distribution, and a listing of the major chemical constituents. The safety and efficacy sections summarize the medical uses, pharmacology, contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse reactions, dose and dosage forms. The safety and efficacy sections were written for a busy health-care professional, and should enable one to ascertain which clinical uses are supported by clinical data, without having to read through all the pharmacology. Each chapter is fully referenced, enabling the reader to access further information when necessary.

The rapid growth of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) demands that the public, the medical world, social scientists, the media, and governments pay attention. People are questioning the limits of what modern medicine can accomplish and seeking additional ways to manage their health. While many are enthusiastically adopting complementary and alternative forms of medicine, others are more sceptical. Physicians' attitudes are in transition, and governments are pondering where this increasingly important phenomenon fits into the health care system. The challenge is to keep pace with the changing ways that people view health and illness, take reposibility for themselves, and incorporate CAM into their health care.
This text brings together for the first time a wide range of leading North American and European social scientists to identify who uses CAM, why they use it, and how they find out about it. Presenting research from psychology, sociology, anthropology and public health, they alert us to the current context of CAM use and provide new models and techniques for understanding its future place in health care.

This book provides a step-by-step introduction and practical guide to palpation as a method of assessment, diagnosis and treatment within the context of Oriental medicine, and in particular Japanese acupuncture practice. Leading the reader through the how and what of touch, around the abdomen (or hara) and other key areas of the body, the author also explores key acupuncture points for clearing these areas, as well as Japanese needle techniques. The aim of the book is to allow the reader to have a more vivid and sensitive feel for what lies below acupuncture meridians and points, and to be able to assess and treat a very wide variety of clinical conditions with an understanding of the individual patient - successfully.Powerfully illustratedwith line drawings and photographs to give the reader as vivid and accurate a sense as possible of what it being seen and felt Palpation is the heart of Japanese acupuncture diagnosis and treatment. With a clear understanding of principles and techniques, all acupuncturists will be able to add another dimension to their practice, over a very wide range of conditionsAn emphasis is placed on the integration of Chinese and Japanese medical thought, helping the reader to see them as interrelated, classically based systems The chapters take a building blocks approach whereby concepts are explored gradually and new terms introduced and reiterated at the end of every chapter. A question section is included at the end of every chapter.Cases from the authors 15 years of clinical experience are integrated whenever the concepts covered need further elaboration, helping the reader to study patient progress and get a sense of how to use the material Forms outlining procedures, diagnoses and possible treatment strategies supplement the theoretical material in each chapter so that the practitioner is assisted in organising and performing palpatory examinations.

This set of six volumes provides a systematic and standardized description of 23,033 chemical components isolated from 6,734 medicinal plants, collected from 5,507 books/articles published in Chinese and international journals. A chemical structure with stereo-chemistry bonds is provided for each chemical component, in addition to conventional information, such as Chinese and English names, physical and chemical properties. It includes a name list of medicinal plants from which the chemical component was isolated. Furthermore, abundant pharmacological data for nearly 8,000 chemical components are presented, including experimental method, experimental animal, cell type, quantitative data, as well as control compound data. The seven indexes allow for complete cross-indexing. Regardless whether one searches for the molecular formula of a compound, the pharmacological activity of a compound, or the English name of a plant, the information in the book can be retrieved in multiple ways.

This handbook is filled with over 50 illustrations and descriptions of approximately 250 plants which are used for herbal medicine. It includes information on medicinal plants ranging from Abies spectabilis to Zizyphus vulgaris. The purpose of this handbook is to make available a reference for easy, accurate identification of these herbs. Derived from India, "Ayurveda" is the foundation stone of their ancient medical science. Approximately 80 percent of the population of India and other countries in the East continue to utilize this system of medicinal treatment. It is believed that the key to successful medication is the use of the correct herb. This is an indispensable resource for all physicians, pharmacists, drug collectors, and those interested in the healing arts.

Discover herbal alternatives for the treatment of psychological disorders!Reliable and fact-filled, the Handbook of Psychotropic Herbs: A Scientific Analysis of Natural Treatments for Psychiatric Conditions offers psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, physicians, and students in these fields a comprehensive review of the history, pharmacology, chemistry, and uses of medicinal herbs. A valuable resource for understanding today's unregulated herbal marketplace, this essential guide examines such herbs as ginkgo, ginseng, kava kava, linden, German chamomile, St. John's wort, and valerian, among others. The Handbook of Psychotropic Herbs will help you make a well-informed decision on what herbal treatments may be effective and safe for patients, or for you!Figures show that 30 percent of American adults use herbs. The Handbook of Psychotropic Herbs investigates the medical value of over 30 well-known herbs through in-depth evaluations that will give you a fuller understanding of the uses and misuses of these natural remedies. This invaluable guide examines the history, use, and research findings of each herb. The Handbook of Psychotropic Herbs lists the effectiveness of each herb, guidelines for its use, and any precautions you need to be aware of, and also includes the author's recommendations on approved dosages. Containing cutting-edge information about herbal medicine, the Handbook of Psychotropic Herbs will assist readers in making intelligent choices about buying and using herbs.Some of the herbs discussed in this reliable and fact-filled book include: California poppy Chinese and American ginseng kava linden German and Roman chamomile St. John's wort lavender damiana passion flower plus many more! The Handbook of Psychotropic Herbs contains the history, use, phytochemistry, laboratory and clinical studies, and consumer and physician information for each of these widely-used herbs. This important book will help you better understand the role of plants in human psychopathophysiology and its treatment, enlightening you about alternative and proven herbal options for medical care. A Behavioral Science Book Club Main Selection!

Prescribing Health: Transcendental Meditation in Contemporary Medical Care includes important contributions from leading experts on Transcendental Meditation and health, and provides the reader with the most important, cutting edge health research on the effects of Transcendental Meditation (TM) on serious mental health problems and medical disorders. It features practical, proven programs to improve health outcomes, decrease morbidity/mortality, and reduce health care costs with a wide range of patient populations. The authors explore advances in neuroscience and the brain changes associated with not only the impact of TM on health recovery, but also the effects of meditation in daily activity and permanent changes in neuropsychological functioning resulting from the purification of consciousness through meditation. Included is coverage of an ancient yet newly introduced approach to therapy, Vedic Psychotherapy, and methods for integrating Transcendental Meditation and other Vedic health approaches into primary medical care.

At the 1998 Annual Representative Meeting of the BMA a resolution was passed that the Board of Science and Education should investigate th e scientific basis and efficacy of acupuncture and the quality of trai ning and standards of competence in its practitioners'' This report su mmarizes literature sources and research on acupuncture, looks at safe ty aspects including the treatment's adverse effects, discusses educat ion and training guidelines, presents results from a survey of UK GPs and suggests future developments for acupuncture, particularly its inc reased incorporation into the NHS It will provide doctors, patients, r esearchers and purchasers of healthcare with information on this most widely used therapy of complementary and alternative medicine, enablin g them to become more informed on the value of acupuncture and its lik ely place within the NHS.

Panax Ginseng has been commonly used in indigenous medicine in the Far East for over 5,000 years. Its man-like appearance ensured that it was quickly accepted as a tonic maintaining the body in good health, inducing rejuvenation and retarding ageing. The vast output of modern research suggests uses for this ancient drug in today's medicine.
This volume endeavours to present a well referenced review of many aspects of ginseng literature including history, botany, horticulture, tissue culture, chemistry, pharmacology, therapeutics, side effects, quality control, patents and related or substituted species.

Written by many scientists and clinicians from China, USA, Canada and other countries, this monograph discusses translational research on acupuncture. Besides general topics on acupuncture practice (e.g., different styles and techniques of acupuncture), topics include some refractory diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson's disease, cardiovascular dysfunction, chronic pain, post-concussion syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder and cancer-related symptoms. The factors influencing acupuncture research are comprehensively addressed in the final chapter. This unique book provides a translational perspective on modern acupuncture for not only acupuncturists, but also neuroscientists, neurologists, and other clinicians. For medical students and undergraduate and graduate students majoring in biology, this book is an advanced course for learning the progress in alternative and complementary Medicine.

This dictionary provides an authoritative, up-to-date, international consensus on the definition or interpretation of concepts necessary to an understanding of the principles and practice of homeopathy. It is compiled through the help of a panel of international experts, and is written as a reference work for homeopaths, but it will also help integrate homeopathy into medical practice as a whole. It reconciles conceptual differences and inconsistencies and provides a unifying and progressive influence on the development of homeopathic medicine.Fully accessible to the modern-day practitioner and student, especially those from a medical background An international consensus view on the definition o both basic and contentious termsA fully realistic base for the student entering this field to gain a coherent view of terminology and concepts Destined to become a must buy alongside a materia medica and a repertory!

A present and up-to-date overview of this particular genus, the contents of this volume include a history of its use, biotechnology, extraction of ginkgo leaves and extensive coverage of the ginkolides; their discovery, biosynthesis, chemical analysis, clinical use and pharmacological activity. Other important constituents are also given attention.
This book gives a timely overview of this economically and medicinally highly important species and will be of interest to everyone involved in medicinal plant research and drug development.

This book introduces some of the most pharmacological research on traditional herbal medicines and examines potential and functional applications of these agents in modern healthcare systems. It describes state-of-the-art pharmacological methods of traditional herbal medicines.

This path-breaking book reinterprets Chinese medicine using the approach of the philosophy of science in a manner that strikes common ground with biomedical science. It strips Chinese medical theory of the mystique and metaphysical pretentions that too often plague the discipline, presenting this theory as being derived from empirical observations and clinical findings. Concepts like qi and phlegm and vital organs like the shen (kidney) are interpreted, not as physical entities with defined measurable properties, but as constructs to facilitate the application of models for diagnosis and therapy. The author evaluates the five-element model and the diagnostic-therapeutic paradigm of Chinese medical syndromes, and suggests how these heuristic models can be subjected to clinical trials. Principles governing the use of herbal, acupuncture, tuina and qigong therapies are elucidated and critically examined. Written for medical professionals, philosophers of medicine and discerning readers interested in alternative therapies, the book also has practical chapters on the placebo effect and Chinese medical treatment of chronic illnesses, and a useful compilation of common Chinese herbs and formulations.

In this comprehensive text, C.L. Miller chronicles the long history and many products of America's best known home delivery company. W.T. Rawleigh Company collectibles are presented here in over 590 photographs and advertising images. This vast array of packages, tins, bottles, and notions of all sorts begins with William T. Rawleigh's original 1889 products and continues up through the Rawleigh Company's late twentieth century product lines. Included are many old-time essentials for the home and farm, such as medicines "for man and beast," food products, spices and extracts, cosmetics, toiletries, brushes, cookbooks, calendars, and the Rawleigh Good Health Guides and Almanacs. Also provided in this colorful and informative guide are helpful hints on locating and evaluating Rawleigh products, the proper care of those collectibles, and prices for the items themselves. This book will be a delight for everyone interested in the home delivery products of days-gone-by.

Understanding Acupuncture offers a fully developed analysis of the practice of acupuncture and its theoretical bases. With clarity and insight, the book addresses: What is acupuncture, in all its diverse forms of practice? What are the key concepts, which underpin current practice? Exactly which historical and cultural factors have shaped the present and past development of acupuncture? What is the reliable evidence on acupuncture, and what scientific studies have yet to be done? When is acupuncture a realistic form of treatment? Built on a thorough review of historical and scientific material, Understanding Acupuncture offers analysis, examples, cases and issues for discussion, forming a unique bridge between science and tradition.Suitable for both the acupuncture student and practitioner and also the medical reader Provides the acupuncture student with the historical and theoretical basis of their professionIncludes what is reliably known about acupuncture Describes the breadth of practice approaches in the professionProvides the medical reader with enough information to know when to choose acupuncture as a referral option and what to tell their patients about it

There is currently no detailed and comprehensive source of direct information from Chinese sources on the full scope of Traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis. This meticulous translation offers, for the first time in English, an authoritative and detailedcompilation of the principles and practice of TCM diagnostic methods and approaches. This translation has been carefully prepared and polished by translators in both China and the west, and has been edited thoroughly to maximize its accessibility by Western practitioners.Provides a single source for the widest variety of applied approaches and methods to come out in one volume on the topic of diagnosis Covers commonly seen clinical symptoms in separate chapters, detailing possible approaches to diagnosis and lines of exploration

Complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) has become big business internationally, in particular with regards to a range of women's health issues. With this context in mind, Women's Health and Complementary and Integrative Medicine constitutes a valuable and timely resource for those looking to understand, initiate and expand CIM research and evidence-based debate with regards to a wide range of women's health care issues. The collection brings together leading international CIM researchers from Australia, the USA, the UK, Germany and Canada, with backgrounds and expertise in health social science, statistics, qualitative methodology, clinial trial design, clinical pharmacology, health services research and public health. Contributors draw upon their own CIM research work and experience to explain and review core research and practice issues pertinent to the contemporary field of CIM and its future development with regards to women's health. The book outlines the core issues, challenges and opportunities facing the CIM-women's health field and its study and will provide insight and inspiration for those practising, studying and/or researching the contemporary relations between CIM and women's health and health care.

Art therapy is one of the few psychotherapy services which people with learning difficulties are able to access. Drawing on Difference is an invaluable guide for students and professionals wishing to explore how art therapy can support and validate the emotional and mental health needs of people with learning difficulties. Particular emphasis is placed on service evaluation and standards, and on the client's personal experience. The case studies presented offer insight into the practical, professional and politial issues which are shaping the practice of art therapy today.

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The effective yet gentle 'Sukshma' technique, for working with the Marma points at the emotional as well as on the physical level, is fully described in this book. Marma Therapy - the art of treating specific vital points on the human body - is one of the greatest healing secrets of Ayurveda. It can be used to detoxify, strengthen and revitalize the body, for rejuvenation and relaxation or to release blocked energy. The authors explain the theoretical basis of Marma Therapy, and then provide a detailed, fully illustrated guide to its use. For each Marma point, the authors provide information about its significance, the Ayurvedic element it relates to, the most appropriate oils to use, and what it can be used to treat. Clear step-by-step instructions and photographs illustrate the techniques, and advice is also included for self-treatment. The authors explain how to strengthen the Marmas through yoga and use mudras to support and complement Marma treatment. Finally, they describe how to treat common physical and emotional conditions, from headache and back pain, to exam nerves and insomnia.

Chinese Materia Medica - Chemistry, Pharmacology and Applications provides comprehensive and up-to-date information on the chemistry and pharmacology of commonly-used Chinese herbs. It gives an in-depth profile of the traditional experience of Chinese materia medica with modern scientific explanations. It also features the theories and concepts of Chinese materia medica from the Western medical perspectives, and the sources, production and quality control of Chinese materia medica. This book can be used both as a reference book and a textbook for specialized university and on-the-job training courses. It is essential reading for all students and practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine. It should also be of interest to those in education and research in natural products, pharmaceutical sciences and medicine.

Lack of proper nutrition can severely impact the immune system, especially when it is already compromised. This book defines recent advances in understanding the nutritional deficiencies found in AIDS and HIV-positive patients. It explores the scientific knowledge of how nutritional and dietary changes and herbal medicines can benefit or potentially harm these patients. The text also discusses the negative effects of undernutrition that can lead to starvation, a potent immunosuppressant. Nutrients and Foods in AIDS is a much-needed scientific appraisal of current alternative strategies used in preventing or treating AIDS and its symptoms for improved quality of life.

This is an easy-to-follow guide to the ancient Indian system of health and diet by body type, with over 150 photographs. You can learn how to understand and use the ancient Indian healing system to promote spiritual harmony and physical health. You can discover your body type - Vata, Pitta or Kapha - and how to maintain complete well-being through diet, massage, herbs, crystals and exercise. It includes step-by-step sequences for crystal infusions, massage techniques, and tonics recommended to restore the body's balance. It is a fascinating introduction covers the origins of Ayurveda, its influence and the different branches of Ayurvedic medicine. It offers advice on Ayurvedic self-help in the home with treatments for common ailments, such as insomnia, headaches, colds and skin problems. The traditional healing system of India, Ayurveda is increasingly popular throughout the world. Literally translated, it means 'life knowing' or 'science of life', and is one of the oldest recorded health practices still used today. It is a complete health system for mind, body and spirit. Rather than treating symptoms, it treats the whole patient, working holistically to prevent and treat disease. This accessible book explains how you can discover your body type and how the elements express themselves within you. It then takes you through the dietary requirements, massage techniques and appropriate oils, herbs, crystals, gems, exercise and tonics recommended for each body type. Whether you are looking for a complete holistic healing system or simply need to regain a sense of balance and harmony, this is the ideal guide to using and understanding the powerful system of Ayurvedic medicine.