This work examines the counseling approaches and techniques used by Yoruba traditional healers of Nigeria. It also describes the functions performed by Yoruba traditional healers when they work within the Yoruba cultural milieu. The information elicited from Yoruba traditional healers through videotape and interviews was analyzed by a Nigerian woman from the Yoruba ethnic group. The results of the volume support the premise that culture plays a significant role in the kind of healing methods and counseling techniques used by professionals and traditional healers, as well as in the type of professionals chosen by clients for consultation concerning their problems.

This concise reference book on Traditional Chinese Medicine provides a comprehensive introduction to the concept of TCM, its basic principles, therapy and medication. More than 5000 well structured entries are arranged in alphabetical order and cover a wide spectrum. From symptoms and diseases to acupuncture points, to herbal and other drugs used in chinese medicine the reader can get information on relevant issues. Also included are four-colour images of the most important herbs and medicinal plants that are mentioned in the reference book. This is an indispensible guide not only for medical practitioners interested in TCM but also for pharmacists and interested laypersons.

Why has the history of Western herbal medicine received such little research coverage in any systematic and authoritative way, even though it has figured large in both lay and learned healthcare of the past? What methods and sources are most appropriate for the study of medicinal herbs and herbal practices of the past? This collection provides historians with a coherent guide to a variety of sources in relation to medicinal plants that they have thus far lacked."Critical Approaches to the History of Western Herbal Medicine" encourages a serious re-assessment of research in the history of herbal medicine and provides examples of appropriate methodologies and critical examinations of relevant sources. In this innovative collection, historians and researchers from a range of disciplines come together to share material on the identification and use of medicinal plants, the activities of people involved with herbal medicine and the investigation of past herbal therapeutic beliefs and practice. Classical and medieval scholars, social and literary historians, archaeologists and ethnobotanists all contribute to this exploration of the history of Western herbal medicine.

In an easy to use dictionary style of A-Z presentation, this volume lists the taxonomy and medicinal usage of Indian plants. Also given are both traditional Indian and international synonyms along with details of the habitats of the plants. This book, illustrated by over 200 full-color figures, is aimed at bringing out an updated Acute Study Dictionary of plant sources of Indian medicine. The text is based on authentic treatises which are the outcome of scientific screening and critical evaluation by eminent scholars. The Dictionary is presented in a user-friendly format, as a compact, handy, easy to use and one-volume reference work.

Jurgen Schulte and Christian Endler met in 1990 at an international conference on the Structure of Water held in the Lecture Halls of the University of Graz (Austria). Disappointed by the lack of a systematic strategy of research into the physics of homoeopathy Jurgen Schulte started to work on the establishment of scientifically acceptable research standards in physics of homoeopathy and encouraged academic researchers to establish a coordinated and focused research strategy. In 1994, with the help of major representatives of the international research community, they edited one of the fIrst academic interdisciplinary books on Ultra High Dilution and homoeopathy that underwent a rigorous scientific international referee process before publishing. Due to the dedicated help of the prominent referees (BD Josephson, Nobel Laureate, Cavendish Lab. , Cambridge; M Bastide, Fac de Pharmacy, University Montpellier; RG Jahn, Aerospace Science, Princeton University), the book 1994 was quickly considered a mile stone and turning point for the scientific approach of research into Ultra High Dilution and homoeopathy. Since then the academic research community has grown considerably and many international conferences have been held. Today, research into homoeopathy is to be accepted by the European Union as part of the academic sciences, worthy to be funded at European Union level; an effort that took many years of research coordination and research strategy development. Excerpts of the Research Strategy of the European Committee for Homoeopathy (ECH) have been included in this book.

This book is written for researchers, undergraduate students and postgraduate students, physicians and traditional medicine practitioners who develop research in the field of neurosciences, phytochemistry and ethnopharmacology or can be useful for their practice. Topics discussed include the description of depression, its biochemical causes, the targets of antidepressant drugs, animal and cell models commonly used in the research of this pathology, medicinal plants and bioactive compounds with antidepressant activity used in traditional medicine, advances in nanotechnology for drug delivery to the brain and finally the future challenges for researchers studying this pathology.

Written by teachers for teachers, "Sand to Sky" provides practical and experiential insights to challenge tradition and to focus on creative and diverse approaches to education. For anyone interested in Complementary Medicine, these texts offer a lively question-and-answer format to highlight the personalities and methodologies of international teachers of Acupuncture, Asian Bodywork Therapy, Chinese Herbs, Biomedicine, therapist/patient interaction skills, and the psychosocial aspects of clinical training.

Journey with teachers who use theatrical methods such as blue wigs, music, rhymes, dance steps, and tongue dyes to bring abstract Chinese Medical theory to life, or who take students into the Alaskan wilderness for a crash course in the Five Elements. Listen to a range of creative voices, from those who documented the medical discoveries of early Chinese physicians to those who pioneered emergency treatments for rescue workers in New York City post-9/11.

Their stories form a colorfully inventive mosaic spanning the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, China, and Japan. "Sand to Sky" offers a prompt for future discussions to train the next generation of practitioners and teachers.

This book presents a series of perspectives on the therapeutic potential of the ritual and clinical use of the Amazonian hallucinogenic brew ayahuasca in the treatment and management of various diseases and ailments, especially its role in psychological well-being and substance dependence. Biomedical and anthropological data on the use of ayahuasca for treating depression, PTSD, and substance dependence in different settings, such as indigenous contexts, neo-shamanic rituals, contemporary therapeutic circles, and in ayahuasca religions, in both South and North America, are presented and critiqued. Though multiple anecdotal reports on the therapeutic use of ayahuasca exist, there has been no systematic and dense reflection on the topic thus far. The book brings the therapeutic use of ayahuasca to a new level of public examination and academic debate. The texts in this volume stimulate discussion on methodological, ethical, and political aspects of research and will enhance the development of this emergent field of studies.

A practicing music thanatologist provides an insider's history of this remarkable profession, which combines music, medicine, and spirituality to help the terminally ill and their families face the end of life. Reflecting on the author's experiences as a music-thanatologist, Jennifer Hollis's Music at the End of Life: Easing the Pain and Preparing the Passage is an enlightening and emotional examination of the ways in which the experience of dying can be transformed with music. Music at the End of Life highlights the unique role music has come to play in hospice and palliative medicine. Jennifer Hollis interweaves narrative memoir, the personal experiences of fellow music-thanatologists and caregivers, and extensive research to demonstrate the transformative power of music when curing is no longer an option. Through story after unforgettable story, Hollis offers a new vision of end-of-life care, in which music creates a beautiful space for the work of letting go, grieving, and saying goodbye.

Fabric of the Soul, 8 Extraordinary Vessels guides and motivates a rich understanding of the relationships between mind and soul to physical ailments. This is the heart of extraordinary vessel theory - a tradition in Chinese medicine that yields knowledge about modern syndromes and illness affecting multiple body systems. Practitioners of both eastern and western traditions will benefit from this user - friendly resource guide. This is a resource book to enrich the study and practice of Chinese and Western medicine, Jin Shin Do, Shiatsu, Tai chi and Qigong. Fabric of the Soul is clearly written and illustrated with illuminating case studies that provide easy access to a complex theory. The author has over 25 years experience in the field and brings her broad experience to unravel the mystery of the extraordinary vessels. Fabric of the Soul also gives a clear presentation of a simple and powerful qigong practice. Cultivating a deep understanding of and insight into the extraordinary vessels provides a daily personal practice that empowers anyone to achieve optimum health of body mind, and spirit. This book is a valuable tool for practitioners, students and anyone interested in qi; life force energy.

Which oil will work for you? This beautifully illustrated 52-card deck + booklet will help you understand the benefits of a variety of essential oils and harness their healing powers. Essential oils have been used for therapeutic purposes for more than 6,000 years, and today many turn to these substances for their healing properties, whether they want to address a physical ailment or find emotional balance. Drawing from her expertise and hands-on experience with these powerful oils, Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook has created a colorful and user-friendly card deck and booklet. Each of the 52 cards outlines the properties of an essential oil, ranging from frankincense to lavender, while the booklet provides a comprehensive introduction to these oils with their history and applications. With a range of ideas for using the oils to strengthen physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, this essential reference helps readers take full advantage of their healing potential.

Acupuncture has been an important branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 3000 years and is the most popular practice among non-Chinese practitioners outside of China. In 1998, the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) held a consensus conference and endorsed the practice of acupuncture as an effective pain control agent - since then acupuncture has become even more popular. Clinical practice is always an inviting form of research. In the field of acupuncture, research concentrates on the neurological pathways of the meridians and acupoints, the neurological functional changes within the central nervous system, and innovative devices being invented, etc. It appears that there will be a long way before firm explanations can be acquired for the explanation of the physiological effects of acupuncture. The technique of acupuncture is easily acquired although the evidence of efficacy remains subjective. Before the evidence can be sorted out through scientific explorations, confidence on efficacy can rely only on literature search and sharing of expert experiences. This is a user-friendly book for all professionals practicing acupuncture. The contents consist of all the popular areas of clinical application viz. pain control and neuromuscular training. Each chapter is composed of two parts: clinical evidences as previously recorded in literature and personal experiences of the author. Acupuncture practice requires a thorough knowledge of the treatment choices relevant to particular conditions, as well as their modifications. This book offers quick references for this purpose.

This book intensively examines the efficacy of plant-derived products that have been used for over a thousand years by practitioners of so-called Traditional Chinese Medicine in the light of recent chemotherapeuticals. The chapters were written by renowned Chinese medical researchers and are supplemented by results obtained in German antiparasitic research projects. Parasites and emerging diseases are a major threat of our time, which is characterized by an enormous increase in the size of the human population and by an unbelievably rapid globalization that has led to the daily transport of millions of humans and containers with goods from one end of the earth to the other. Furthermore the slow but constant global warming offers new opportunities for many agents of diseases to become established in new areas. Therefore it is essential that we develop precautions in order to avoid epidemics or even pandemics in overcrowded megacities or at the large-scale farm animal confinements that are needed to secure a steady flow of food in the crowded regions of the world. Of course intensive research in the field of chemotherapy since 1900 has produced unbelievable breakthroughs in therapies for formerly untreatable and thus deadly diseases. However, a large number of untreatable diseases remain, as well as a constantly growing number of agents of disease that have developed resistances to standard chemical compounds. As such, it is not only worthwhile but also vital to consider the enormous amounts of information that have been obtained by human "high cultures" in the past. Examples from the past (like quinine) or present (like artemisinin, a modern antimalarial drug) show that plant extracts may hold tremendous potential in the fight against parasites and/or against vector-transmitted agents of diseases.