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 search for spiritual enlightenment has become a major force in the modern world, as people seek a sense of being that goes beyond their need for material goods. With The Fragrant Heavens Valerie Ann Worwood breaks new ground by examining the use of fragrance in spirituality. Drawing on the pioneering research of eminent scientists and leading spiritual teachers, The Fragrant Heavens provides comprehensive advice on the use of fragrance in many fields of spiritual practice being used today. It describes how plant energies can effect a positive connection between the physical and spiritual self, and how fragrance is associated with the human aura. Extensive exercises and formulas demonstrate how aroma can be used in healing, prayer and meditation. Finally, The Fragrant Heavens provides a definitive reference to over seventy oils, explaining their uses with regard to spiritual and vibrational medicine. Valerie Ann Worwood began her study of how the body, mind and spirit are enhanced through the use of essential oils and aromatherapy treatments in her bestselling books The Fragrant Pharmacy and The Fragrant Mind. Now, in The Fragrant Heavens, she concludes her exploration, providing a truly revelatory and comprehensive study that will guide you in your search for spiritual awareness.

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.

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.

The provision and use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been growing globally over the last 40 years. As CAM develops alongside - and sometimes integrates with - conventional medicine, this handbook provides the first major overview of its regulation and professionalization from social science and legal perspectives. The Routledge Handbook of Complementary and Alternative Medicine draws on historical and international comparative research to provide a rigorous and thematic examination of the field. It argues that many popular and policy debates are stuck in a polarized and largely asocial discourse, and that interdisciplinary social science perspectives, theorising diversity in the field, provide a much more robust evidence base for policy and practice in the field. Divided into four sections, the handbook covers: analytical frameworks power, professions and health spaces risk and regulation perspectives for the future. This important volume will interest social science and legal scholars researching complementary and alternative medicine, professional identify and health care regulation, as well as historians and health policymakers and regulators.

Chinese and Botanical Medicines: Traditional Uses and Modern Scientific Approaches is a classroom-tested book that contains a balance of chemistry, the history of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and the theory and practice of a modern TCM practitioner. This distinct book reviews the scientific methods for collecting data and supporting evidence for the efficacy and safety of Chinese drugs and medicines. It also reflects on the different views on health, disease and therapy, and their impacts on the relationships between man and nature.

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.

Master herbalist Demetria Clark gives parents safe and effective alternatives to powerful medicines whose side effects can make their children feel worse. This easy-to-follow, hands-on, practical guide provides information on how to make alternative medications to resolve common childhood health issues.

Aromatherapy is a method of employing essential oils to protect, heal and beautify.

Essential oils are described as the "life force" or "essence" of plants. The most wonderful thing about essential oils is that they are available to everyone, and they are very simple to use once the basic concepts are understood and the appropriate methods and procedures are observed.

The best known way to use essential oils is through massage. In this comprehensive book there are many, many more ways to use the oils for everything from arthritis and asthma to high blood pressure and constipation. Essential oils are now emerging as scientifically proven and accepted remedies for a variety of common conditions. The why and how certain oils heal still remains somewhat mysterious. Oils can help to treat everyday ailments, whether it be strengthening the immune system, fighting bacteria and viruses, and lowering stress levels to toning, relaxing and strengthening muscles. These oils help the body heal itself.

This book features 109 oils and 450 remedies. The recipes are easy to follow, do not take a long time to make, and are quite inexpensive -- the biggest cost is the oils. The oils are organized in an A to Z format, and each entry features the botanical name, a full description of how and why the oil is extracted as well as its therapeutic uses.

Angelica for example has a sweet, rich smell, is excellent in all skin care preparations both as a tonic and to soften and smooth rough, dry skin. It reduces inflammation and can be useful when applied to irritated skin. As a massage oil it purifies the body and acts as a lymphatic stimulator, draining the body of excess fluid, increasing energy and generally quickening the functioning of glands. It's also an excellent tonic for the entire digestive system as it strengthens the liver, stimulates appetite, aids digestion and generally boosts the whole digestive system.

Nerys Purchon was one of Australia's leading experts on herbs, aromatherapy and essential oils. Her books have sold more than 300,000 copies worldwide.

This book offers an array of yoga, mind-body and attachment-based skills for therapists to use with, and teach their clients. The skills are organised around key trauma issues and symptoms, such as how to introduce somatic work for safe and secure therapy, working with dissociation, understanding trauma triggers and developing boundaries.

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.

Natural Products in Vector-Borne Disease Management explores the potential application of natural products in vector control and disease management. The chapters discuss the global impact of specific vector-borne diseases, gaps in management, and natural products in specific stages of development - discovery, optimization, validation, and preclinical/clinical development. Toxic effects and mechanisms of action are also discussed. This book also explores how therapeutic plant derivatives can be used to combat the vectors of infection and how natural products can be used to manage and treat vector-borne diseases like malaria, leishmaniasis, dengue, and trypanosomiasis. With the inclusion of case studies on field and clinical applications and the contributions from experts in the field, Natural Products in Vector-Borne Disease Management is an essential resource to researchers, academics, and clinicians in parasitology, virology, microbiology, biotechnology, pharmacology, and pharmacognosy working in the field of vector-borne diseases.

Provides details on a broad range of diseases and conditions prevalent throughout the world. Includes information on how plant bioactives can aid in the prevention, treatment, and management of diseases and conditions including cancer, tuberculosis and anti-coagulants, acne, wrinkle formation, and eczema. Each chapter provides a list of plants and plant-based compounds found globally demonstrating their potential in treating various diseases and conditions.

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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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.

Despite the recent upsurge in interest in alternative medicine and unorthodox healers, "Illness and Healing Alternatives in Western Europe" is the first book to focus closely on the relationship between belief, culture, and healing in the past. In essays on France, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and England, from the sixteenth century to the present day, the contributors draw on a broad range of material, from studies of demonologists and reports of asylum doctors to church archives and oral evidence.

Gestalt in Pastoral Care and Counseling is the only book to provide you with an integrated model of pastoral care and counseling from the perspective of Gestalt theory. Covering all aspects of ministry, including visitation, counseling, worship, and administration, it is a valuable text for advanced undergraduate or graduate classes and small group or individual study for seminaries, church ministries, pastoral counseling training programs, and lay pastoral ministry programs. This book will increase your confidence in your work, help you understand blockages as well as avenues of change, and lead you to a more creative, yet consistent, stance in your ministry.Gestalt in Pastoral Care and Counseling makes clear that all of ministry is, in fact, pastoral in nature. It demonstrates the principles of Gestalt in pastoral ministry in a gradual manner, true to both Gestalt principles and your needs. Some of the topics you learn about include: key elements of Gestalt theory, from the early developers through more recent practices the cycle of experience--a model that provides an understanding of the various steps involved in change on all levels Gestalt applications in pastoral counseling, worship, and administration a theology of pastoral caring--a model for pastoral ministry based on the relational aspects of the Biblical narrative and its application in ministry ideas for continued growth based on daily life experienceWith well-developed presentations of Gestalt principles and pastoral ministry, Gestalt in Pastoral Care and Counseling provides you with a new perspective on the meaning of pastoral ministry. Not only will you learn new skills, you will also develop a new appreciation for what can occur within pastoral relationships. The theoretical basis of Gestalt embraces the whole of life experience as part of the process of change and growth and holds sacred the relationship that exists between persons. As your understanding and use of these principles increases, the quality of care and counseling you provide in your ministry will continue to improve.

Given current trends toward obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and poor diets, hypertension is increasingly becoming a disease of the young as well as the elderly, affecting about 1 billion people worldwide. Many patients, especially the younger ones, would prefer alternative treatments. While natural remedies have been used for much longer than pharmaceutical-based treatments, few Western physicians are trained in alternative treatments of hypertension. Written by a dual board-certified nephrologist and internist as well as a Harvard-trained doctor of chemistry, Integrative Treatment of Hypertension: A Clinical and Mechanistic Approach offers an alternative approach to treating hypertension, providing sound mechanisms of action and practical implementation advice. The author meticulously analyzes the efficacy of treatments based on data from respected medical journals. The book begins with an introduction to the subject and explains the mechanisms of blood pressure and hypertension, describes common causes of hypertension, and reviews standard medications and their side effects. The author examines alternative methods of treatment, emphasizing mechanisms of action, similarities to standard medications, and practical recommendations for employing these methods. Chapters cover dietary factors in treating hypertension, alternative yet common diets, the efficacy of nonconsumptive methods of treatment, and descriptions of natural supplements in treating hypertension. The book also addresses blood pressure goals and categorizes each standard and alternative method of treatment, suggesting ways of implementing an integrative approach to hypertension treatment. A useful companion to any health care provider, this book presents a unique work that fills a niche within the medical community.

A classic in the literature of herbal medicine, this book explains in simple terms the commonly occurring chemical constituents of medicinal plants, and how these react with the human body. The major classes of plant constituents, such as phenols, terpenes and polysaccharides, are described both in terms of their chemical structures and their pharmacological activities. The last 20 years has seen huge growth in research output in phytochemistry, and this edition has been thoroughly revised to incorporate up-to-date research. It contains a new chapter on resins and cannabinoids, and additional content on macrocarpals, essential oil chemotypes, mushroom polysaccharides, phytochemical synergy, and toxicology of phytochemicals. Features include: * Over 200 diagrams of chemical structures * Coverage of energetics, synergism and the emerging field of network pharmacology * New content on seaweeds and fungi, and polyphenol-rich foods * References to primary research literature in pharmacy, pharmacology, chemistry, plant biology, molecular biology, integrative medicine and many other disciplines Written by an experienced herbal practitioner, The Constituents of Medicinal Plants has become a standard textbook for courses on plant-based medicine. It is also an essential desktop reference for health practitioners, lecturers, researchers, producers, and anyone with an interest in how medicinal herbs work.

The Dragon Dao-Yin exercises are a set of four short sequences designed to work with the subtle energies of the spine. Damo Mitchell teaches and explains the exercises in detail, within the context of a larger discussion of Dao Yin. He covers the theory, history and development of Dao Yin exercises in general, and the effects of the process which a student can go through if they practise them. He also explains the difference between Qi Gong and Dao Yin, including the qualitative differences, and their effects upon the body, as well as the concept of purging as opposed to nourishing or regulating, and how Chinese medical theory relates to Dao Yin training. One chapter is devoted to problems related to stagnation and the the flow of Qi, and covers the different causes and forms of stagnation (including the location of stagnation along the meridian pathways, stagnation in the Qi Men, and in the psyche), and the Chinese medical theory of the process of damage caused by stagnation. Later chapters look at breathing patterns and the extension of Yi, opening the joints, and rotating the bones and spine.The author also discusses stillness as the source of movement, and the philosophical significance of the Dragon and the pearl, as well as the means of hardwiring Dao Yin exercises into the energetic body. Central to the discussion is the concept of the spine, and how to wake it up. The Dragon exercises - Awakening, Swimming, Soaring and Drunken - are described in detail, with photographs and step-by-step instructions on each of the exercises as individual therapeutic exercises and as a form.

Full-color photographs face detailed descriptions of 250 plant species in the western United States and Canada, covering field identification, habitat and range, edibility, medicinal uses, and more.

Features healing routines and illustrations to guide you

Ease your aches and find relief through the power of touch

Searching for alternative treatments for pain? This friendly, do-it-yourself guide introduces you to the basics and benefits of acupressure and reflexology, showing you step by step how to nurture your emotional and physical well-being and that of someone else. You'll see how to target specific body parts to address your ailments and improve your emotional as well as your physical well-being.

Understand basic healing principles

Relieve your specific aches and pains

Boost your immune system

Address age-related ailments

Find professional help

Evidence-Based Validation of Herbal Medicines: Translational Research on Botanicals brings together current thinking and practice in the characterization and validation of natural products. The book describes different approaches and techniques for evaluating the quality, safety and efficacy of herbal medicine, particularly methods to assess their activity and understand compounds responsible and their probable underlying mechanisms of action. This book brings together the views, expertise and experiences of scientific experts in the field of medicinal plant research, hence it will be useful for researcher who want to know more about the natural lead with their validation and also useful to exploit traditional medicines.