The Complete Idiot's Guide to Herbal Remedies
by Avalon Wolfe, Ph.D., FrankieFormat: Paperback
Pub. Date: 1999-09-01
Publisher(s): DK Publishing, Inc.
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Summary
You're no idiot, of course. You've heard it's possible to stave off a cold with echinacea, and St. John's wort is said to help lift you out of a funk. But when it comes to knowing which of the hundreds of herbal remedies are effective, you feel like you might as well go eat the daisies. Don't graze in your garden just yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Herbal Remedies is a comprehensive guide to the vast and varied herbs and natural agents that are purported to prevent everything from the sniffles to cancer. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, you get:
Author Biography
Frankie Avalon Wolfe, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Reflexology, holds a Doctorate in holistic nutrition and a Masters in holistic healing. A member of the American Holistic Health Association, she lives in Boise, Idaho.
Table of Contents
| A Walk Through the Herbal Field | p. 1 |
| What Are Herbs and Why Should I Use Them? | p. 3 |
| What Is an Herb? | p. 4 |
| Tea for Two? The Different Applications of Herbs | p. 5 |
| The Essence of It All | p. 8 |
| Quality: Being Picky | p. 9 |
| The Monotony of Botany | p. 9 |
| Herbs as Nutrition | p. 12 |
| Herbs or Vitamins: What's the Difference? | p. 14 |
| You Are What You Graze Upon: The Right Diet Helps | p. 15 |
| Don't Eat That! | p. 15 |
| Water, How Dry I Am | p. 16 |
| A Little Herb Lore | p. 19 |
| Unmasking Nature's Secret Codes | p. 19 |
| The History of Herbs and Medicine Around the World | p. 21 |
| Herbs Around the Globe | p. 22 |
| People of the Herb in the West | p. 23 |
| The Philosophy of Herbs and Medicines | p. 24 |
| The Difference Between Herbs and Medicines | p. 27 |
| Herbs with Medicine: Making It Complementary | p. 29 |
| Herbs Are Popular Again--It's About Thyme! | p. 30 |
| What to Expect with Herbs | p. 33 |
| How Herbs Work | p. 33 |
| Activating Properties | p. 34 |
| Building: We're Going to Pump You Up! | p. 34 |
| Cleansing: The Process of Elimination | p. 35 |
| An Energetic and Synergistic Look at Herbs | p. 37 |
| An Energetic Approach | p. 37 |
| Synergy | p. 38 |
| Adjusting Herbal Remedies to Your Needs | p. 38 |
| Hot, Cold, Wet, or Dry: Which Do I Apply? | p. 39 |
| Choosing the Right Combinations | p. 40 |
| Herbs Are Not Just for Hippies Anymore | p. 43 |
| Pregnancy and Herbs | p. 44 |
| Before Planting the Seed | p. 44 |
| Herbs for Soon-to-Be Moms | p. 46 |
| Push, Push--Herbs for a Smoother Delivery | p. 48 |
| Nursing for Health: Mutual Benefits | p. 49 |
| Shaping Up with Herbs | p. 50 |
| A Childish Look at Herbs for Kids | p. 53 |
| Here Kitty, Kitty: Herbs for Pets | p. 54 |
| Age-Old Herbs to Help Old Age | p. 56 |
| When You're Bugged by Illnesses A-G | p. 61 |
| A Is for Ailment | p. 63 |
| Acne: Squeezing Out a Cure | p. 63 |
| Adolescent Acne: An Herbal Cure Is Zit! | p. 64 |
| Burdock Root: Cleaning the Blood | p. 64 |
| On the Surface | p. 65 |
| You've Heard This Before | p. 65 |
| Adult Acne: A More Mature Approach | p. 65 |
| Burdock and Red Clover: Your Pimple Problems Are Over | p. 66 |
| Inside and Outside | p. 67 |
| Allergies Bee Gone | p. 67 |
| Bee Pollen: Bumbling to Get Some | p. 68 |
| More Supplements Not to Sneeze At | p. 69 |
| Food Allergies | p. 71 |
| Can You Stomach It? | p. 72 |
| Mamma Mia: It's Papaya | p. 73 |
| More to Digest | p. 73 |
| Environmental Allergies | p. 74 |
| Milk Thistle: This-tle Do | p. 74 |
| Other Helpful Supplements | p. 74 |
| Alzheimer's: Don't Forget to Take Your Herbs | p. 76 |
| Ginko Biloba: Did I Mention That Already? | p. 77 |
| Food for Thought | p. 77 |
| Just a Reminder | p. 78 |
| Give Me Another A! | p. 81 |
| Anxiety: Panic Not--Herbs to the Rescue | p. 81 |
| Valerian: Nature's Valium | p. 82 |
| Don't Worry--Be Hoppy | p. 83 |
| Lettuce Relax with Some Herbal Combinations | p. 83 |
| Asthma: It's So Wheezy to Fix | p. 84 |
| Ephedra: A Remedy That Won't Take Your Breath Away | p. 84 |
| Getting All Choked Up over Lobelia | p. 85 |
| A Combination to Offer a Breath of Fresh Air | p. 85 |
| Arthritis: A Flexible Treatment Plan | p. 86 |
| Alfalfa: Good for Darla | p. 86 |
| Herbal Combinations: A Joint Effort | p. 87 |
| B Well | p. 91 |
| Bad Breath (Halitosis): A Refreshing Remedy | p. 92 |
| Chlorophyll: Nature's Deodorizer | p. 92 |
| Gee, Your Breath Smells Terrific | p. 93 |
| Bites and Stings: Those Nasties with Wings | p. 93 |
| Shoo Fly, Why Are You Bothering Me? | p. 93 |
| Black Cohosh: De-Bugging the Simple Cure | p. 94 |
| Compressing the Situation | p. 94 |
| Bladder Infection Correction | p. 94 |
| Cranberries to Make You Feel Bladder | p. 95 |
| Unmentionable Mentionables | p. 96 |
| Blood Pressure: Easier to Deal with Than Peer Pressure | p. 96 |
| How High I Am--and Why | p. 97 |
| Garlic: Help from a Bulbous Friend | p. 97 |
| More Pressure, More Supplements | p. 98 |
| How Low Can You Go?: Low Blood Pressure | p. 98 |
| Please Kelp Me--I'm Fallin' | p. 98 |
| Other Things You Probably Already Knew | p. 99 |
| Bronchitis: Coughing Up a Solution | p. 99 |
| Fenugreek: Nothing to Get Choked Up About | p. 100 |
| Foods That Can Help or Hinder | p. 101 |
| Burns: Now You're Cookin' | p. 101 |
| Aloe Vera: Nice to See You! | p. 101 |
| Other Great Home Remedies for Your Skin | p. 101 |
| C's for a Common Cure | p. 105 |
| Cancer Answer: Some Philosophical Support | p. 106 |
| Eliminating the Opportunity with Red Clover | p. 109 |
| Combinations for Feeding Your Body's Army | p. 109 |
| Coping with Chemo | p. 110 |
| Recovery: Pumping You Up for Prevention | p. 111 |
| High Cholesterol: Cutting Through the Fat | p. 111 |
| The Guggul Advantage | p. 112 |
| Herbs for a Sticky Situation | p. 112 |
| Colds: A Cure for All Seasons | p. 112 |
| Echinacea: The Cold Remedy | p. 113 |
| Cold Combinations | p. 113 |
| Cold Sore No MOre (Herpes Simplex) | p. 114 |
| Evening Primrose Oil: Fighting from Within | p. 114 |
| Combinations Sore to Help | p. 114 |
| Constipation: All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go | p. 115 |
| Cascara Sagrada: Make Like a Tree and Bark! | p. 116 |
| Fiber: Moving Right Along | p. 116 |
| Cysts--No, I Insist | p. 117 |
| Pau D'Arco to Dissolve the Problem | p. 117 |
| In-Cyst on Blood Cleansers | p. 117 |
| D Best Herbal Solutions | p. 121 |
| Dandruff: Not Too Tough | p. 121 |
| Rosemary: Dealing with Flakes | p. 122 |
| Jojoba's Witness to Cleaning Up Dandruff | p. 122 |
| Depression Suppression | p. 123 |
| St. John's Wort: A Saint for the Depressed | p. 123 |
| Other Things to Cheer You Up | p. 124 |
| Diabetes: How Sweet It Isn't | p. 125 |
| Golden Seal: The Golden Healer | p. 126 |
| Take a Hike | p. 127 |
| Diarrhea: Some Gripping Advice | p. 128 |
| Bayberry: Berry Good for Diarrhea | p. 128 |
| Other Herbs on the Run | p. 129 |
| E: Everywhere an Herb, Herb | p. 131 |
| Earaches | p. 131 |
| Echinacea: 'Ears to Its Infection-Fighting Ability | p. 132 |
| Herbal Synergy and Supplemental Support | p. 132 |
| Herbal Ear Drops and Other Home Remedies | p. 132 |
| Eczema: Getting Under Your Skin | p. 133 |
| Oregon Grape: A Grape Remedy for Eczema | p. 134 |
| The Beauty of Herbs: Not Just Skin-Deep | p. 135 |
| Endometriosis: A Growing Concern | p. 135 |
| Pau D'Arco Power to the Rescue (Again) | p. 136 |
| Other Things to Do (or Not to Do) | p. 136 |
| Eyes Got an Herb for You | p. 137 |
| Eyebright: A Sight for Sore Eyes | p. 137 |
| Bilberry: Focusing on the Problem | p. 138 |
| I Can See! A Testimonial to Herbs and Eyesight | p. 139 |
| F: Fantastic Healing Flora | p. 143 |
| Fever Reliever | p. 143 |
| Me and My Yarrow | p. 144 |
| Bathing: Now You're Not So Hot! | p. 145 |
| Flu (Influenza): A Flu Good Herbs | p. 146 |
| Elderberry: Influencing Influenza | p. 146 |
| Other Unpronounceables | p. 146 |
| Fibromyalgia: What a Pain! | p. 147 |
| Una de Gato: Clawing Your Way to Health | p. 148 |
| Supplements to Ease Your Pain | p. 148 |
| Food Poisoning: On the Road Again | p. 150 |
| Lobelia: Helping You Spit It Out | p. 151 |
| Charcoal and Other Supplements to the Rescue | p. 152 |
| Fungus Among Us? | p. 152 |
| Black Walnut, Cracking Open the Cure | p. 153 |
| What a Fungi Can Do | p. 153 |
| G: Great Remedies | p. 157 |
| Got Gas? | p. 157 |
| Eat Here, Get Gas, Take Fennel | p. 158 |
| Gas: Dispelling the Myths with the Right Herbs | p. 159 |
| The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowin' in the Wind | p. 159 |
| Are You Masticating at the Dinner Table? | p. 160 |
| Gingivitis to Your Party? | p. 160 |
| Myrrh: Something to Chew On | p. 160 |
| Just a Pinch Between the Cheek and Gums | p. 161 |
| Gland to Know You, It's Been Swell | p. 161 |
| Tightening Up with White Oak Bark | p. 162 |
| Fighting the Infection with Herbs and Other Nutrients | p. 162 |
| A Poultice for a Swell Time | p. 163 |
| Gout of Your Mind with Acid Build-Up | p. 163 |
| She Wore Safflowers in Her Hair | p. 164 |
| Gout to Get More Herbs | p. 164 |
| Sickness from H to N | p. 167 |
| H: Happy Healing with Herbs | p. 169 |
| Headaches: It's All in Your Head | p. 169 |
| Oh, My Aching Head | p. 170 |
| White Willow Bark: Worse Than Its Bite | p. 171 |
| Heartburn: Putting Out the Fire with Marshmallow | p. 172 |
| Hepatitis: Not in the Slightest | p. 174 |
| The ABCs of Hepatitis Prevention | p. 174 |
| Dandelion: Just Dandy for Your Liver | p. 175 |
| Olive Leaf, for Olive Your Liver Problems | p. 176 |
| Hemorrhoids: A Swell Solution | p. 176 |
| A Remedy Amongst Piles of Herbs | p. 176 |
| Sweep Away Hemorrhoids with Butcher's Broom | p. 177 |
| Hyperactivity | p. 177 |
| Hurry Up and Find a Cure | p. 177 |
| Kava Kava: A Quick Fix | p. 178 |
| Hypoglycemia: A Sweet Solution | p. 178 |
| Dieting for the Hypoglycemic | p. 179 |
| Licorice Root: A Sweet Choice | p. 180 |
| I: Interesting Illnesses | p. 183 |
| Impotence: A Very Impotent Subject | p. 183 |
| Yohimbe for Men: Hard to Find | p. 184 |
| Damiana, for Cold Dames | p. 185 |
| Infertility: From Humility to Virility | p. 186 |
| Ginseng: A Manly Solution | p. 186 |
| Dong Quai for Wannabe Moms | p. 187 |
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome | p. 188 |
| Irritating Causes | p. 188 |
| Slippery Elm: Soothing Solution | p. 189 |
| Insomnia: Waking Up to Herbal Possibilities | p. 189 |
| Scullcap: Good for a Night Cap | p. 190 |
| More Ways to Catch Your Z's | p. 191 |
| J and K: For Just the Right Kind of Cure | p. 195 |
| Jaundice: They Call It Mellow Yellow | p. 195 |
| Accused of Obstruction of Jaundice | p. 196 |
| Gentian, a Bitter Way to Treat Your Liver | p. 197 |
| Joint Injuries | p. 198 |
| Comfrey: Comfy for Them Joints | p. 198 |
| Healing Is a Joint Effort | p. 199 |
| Kidneys: Never Bean a Problem? | p. 201 |
| Hydrangea: Like a Rollin' Stone | p. 202 |
| Parsley: More Than a Plate Decoration | p. 203 |
| Peach Bark: When Your Kidneys Are Not Feeling Peachy | p. 203 |
| Down on Your Knees | p. 204 |
| Plantain Won't Make You Weak in the Knees | p. 204 |
| Help from the Devil's Claw for Swollen Knees | p. 205 |
| L: Let Me Heal Naturally | p. 209 |
| Laryngitis: Screaming for Attention | p. 209 |
| Wisdom of the Sages | p. 210 |
| Herbal Lozenges | p. 210 |
| Leg Cramps Cramping Your Style? | p. 211 |
| Do They Call You Thumper? | p. 212 |
| Loosening Up with Dulse | p. 213 |
| Lupus: Jumpin' Through Loops for Herbs | p. 213 |
| Elecampane | p. 214 |
| The Bigger Picture | p. 214 |
| Lyme Disease: Ticking You Off | p. 215 |
| A Brief History of Lyme | p. 215 |
| Suma: Wrestling with Lyme Disease | p. 216 |
| M for More Remedies | p. 219 |
| Measles: No Measly Solution | p. 219 |
| Were You Vaccinated? | p. 220 |
| Boneset, for Bone-Breaking Aches and Pains | p. 220 |
| Menstrual Problems, Balancing on Your Cycle | p. 221 |
| Pennyroyal for That Womanly Period | p. 223 |
| Hormonal Helpers | p. 224 |
| Migraines and Feverfew | p. 224 |
| Morning Sickness: Usurping the Problem Early | p. 226 |
| Red Raspberry: Come to Mama | p. 226 |
| Ginger: Not Just Found on Gilligan's Island | p. 227 |
| Mumps: One Mump or Two? | p. 227 |
| Mullein: Good to the Last Mump | p. 228 |
| Speed Mumps | p. 228 |
| Multiple Sclerosis, Multiple Herbs | p. 229 |
| Black Currant Oil | p. 229 |
| Other MS Considerations | p. 230 |
| N: Now You Have a Remedy | p. 235 |
| Nail Problems: Nailing Down a Cure | p. 235 |
| Horsetail for Biting Brittle Nails | p. 236 |
| Nail Readings | p. 237 |
| Nausea and Motion Sickness: Some Gingerly Advice | p. 238 |
| Neuritis: Numb to the Problem | p. 240 |
| The Devil's Claw Made Me Do It | p. 240 |
| Numb and Number | p. 240 |
| Nosebleeds: Herbs That Clot, Herbs That Do Not | p. 241 |
| Bugleweed for When Your Nose Hits the Grindstone | p. 242 |
| Nosy About Herbs | p. 242 |
| Yuckies from O to Z | p. 247 |
| O, P, and Q: Obvious Painful Questions and Answers | p. 249 |
| Osteoporosis: A Hole Cure | p. 250 |
| Nettle for the Holey | p. 250 |
| Other Herbs to Fill in the Gaps | p. 251 |
| Pancreas Trouble: A Cedar Berry Cure | p. 251 |
| Parasites: Dealing with Uninvited Guests | p. 252 |
| Wormwood, Would You? | p. 254 |
| Other Herbs to Evict Unwanted Tenants | p. 256 |
| Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) | p. 257 |
| Wild Yam to Tame a Wild Woman | p. 258 |
| A PMS Plan | p. 258 |
| Pneumonia: Clearing Up Quick with Horseradish | p. 259 |
| Prostate Trouble: The Pressure Is On | p. 260 |
| He Saw Palmetto and Was Cured | p. 260 |
| Herbs for Prostate Health | p. 260 |
| R and S: For Remarkable Recoveries and Super Solutions | p. 263 |
| Radiation Poisoning | p. 263 |
| Algin: You're Soaking in It | p. 264 |
| Other X-Rated Cures | p. 265 |
| Shingles: Better on Your Roof | p. 265 |
| Calendula: Scratching the Itch | p. 266 |
| Nervous System Support | p. 266 |
| Sinusitis: Sniffing Out a Cure | p. 267 |
| Thyme for a Solution | p. 267 |
| Sinus Up for More Herbs | p. 268 |
| Smoking--Quitting | p. 268 |
| Slaying the Fire-Breathing Dragon | p. 269 |
| Lobelia: Put That in Your Pipe and Smoke It | p. 270 |
| S-T-R-E-S-S: That's the Way We Spell Success | p. 270 |
| Chamomile for Soothing the Right Nerve | p. 271 |
| More De-Stressing Solutions | p. 272 |
| T: Terrific Solutions | p. 275 |
| A Toothful Solution | p. 275 |
| Numbing Tooth Pain with Cloves | p. 276 |
| More to Chew On | p. 276 |
| Tendonitis | p. 277 |
| A Tendency to Ease Pain with Lemongrass | p. 278 |
| Reducing Inflammation | p. 279 |
| Tinnitus (Ringing in Ears) | p. 279 |
| Gotu Kola: The Real Un-Cola | p. 280 |
| Help for Ringing in the New Ear | p. 281 |
| Thyroid Problems: Kelp Is on Its Way | p. 281 |
| Tonsillitis: Tea Tree for Two, and Two for Tea Tree | p. 282 |
| U: Understanding the Power of Herbs | p. 287 |
| Ulcers Eating Away at You | p. 287 |
| Irish Moss: Gift from the Sea | p. 288 |
| Soothing Ulcer Irritations | p. 288 |
| Are You Underweight or Under Control? | p. 290 |
| Spirulina: A Weighty Solution | p. 291 |
| He Ain't Heavy--but He's Trying | p. 292 |
| Urinary Problems: Urine for a Treat | p. 293 |
| Uva Ursi Is Good for U | p. 293 |
| And Don't Forget | p. 294 |
| Uterine Problems | p. 295 |
| Motherwort for the Weak Uterus | p. 295 |
| Squawvine Support | p. 296 |
| V, W, X, Y, Z, and Other Technical Words | p. 299 |
| Varicose Veins: Veinity Will Get You Nowhere | p. 299 |
| Witch Hazel Has Broken Blood Vessels? | p. 300 |
| More Witch Doctor Potions | p. 301 |
| Vertigo: Helping a Dizzy Blonde | p. 302 |
| Wood Betony for Grounding | p. 302 |
| Other Herbs for the Ride | p. 303 |
| Vomiting: Regurgitating an Old Remedy | p. 304 |
| Spearmint to Calm the Stomach | p. 304 |
| Other Things to Try | p. 305 |
| Warts: A Bumpy Road to Recovery | p. 305 |
| Reishi Mushroom | p. 306 |
| More Folk Remedies | p. 306 |
| Water Retention Prevention (Edema) | p. 307 |
| Juniper Berries: Please Release Me, Let Me Go | p. 308 |
| Dam, It Worked!--In the Flow with Herbs | p. 310 |
| Weight Loss: A Wide Range of Possibilities | p. 310 |
| Chickweed for the Hungry | p. 312 |
| A Lighter Solution | p. 313 |
| Now That You're Well, Let's Work on Prevention | p. 317 |
| Working with an Herbalist | p. 319 |
| The Weeding Process | p. 319 |
| Witch One Is Best for Me? | p. 321 |
| Branching Out | p. 322 |
| Herbs as a Lifestyle | p. 324 |
| A Daily Program | p. 325 |
| Other Uses of Herbs | p. 327 |
| Everyday Uses of Herbs | p. 327 |
| Decorations from Nature | p. 330 |
| Spicy Ways to Sprinkle Herbal Knowledge | p. 332 |
| Potpourri, Fragrance from Nature | p. 332 |
| Growing Your Own | p. 333 |
| The Need for Weeds | p. 336 |
| An Herbal First Aid Kit | p. 339 |
| Capsicum, Not Too Dumb to Keep on Hand | p. 339 |
| Activated Charcoal, for De-Activating Poisons | p. 342 |
| Clove Oil, Not a Snake Oil Remedy | p. 342 |
| Arnica You Glad You Use Herbs? | p. 343 |
| Ephedra, Help from China | p. 345 |
| Peppermint for an Uplifting Time | p. 345 |
| Appendixes | |
| Glossary | p. 349 |
| Bibliography | p. 355 |
| Herbal Cross Reference Chart | p. 359 |
| Index | p. 369 |
| Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved. |
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