IF YOU TAKE NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS, HERBS, VITAMINS, AND OTHER NATURAL PRODUCTS, YOU NEED THIS BOOK!Compiled by one of America’s leading authorities on natural medicine, The Pill Book Guide to Natural Medicines answers vital questions about the effectiveness and safety of more than 250 of today’s most popular natural remedies. Dr. Murray's unique A-to-F rating system tells you at a glance whether the product has been scientifically proven to work and if there are risks in taking it. Written in clear, accessible language, here is important information on:• What the product is for, and how it works• Safety and effectiveness rating • Possible side effects• Drug and food interactions• Usual dosage• Cautions and warnings• Special concerns for seniors, children, and pregnant womenUp-to-date and authoritative, The Pill Book Guide to Natural Medicines also contains Dr. Murray's recommendations for the prevention and treatment of over 70 common conditions, from acne and atherosclerosis to ulcers and varicose veins. Remember, just because a product is “natural” does not mean it is safe. This important reference can help you make wise choices–or even save your health.
Amazon Sales Rank: #187349 in Books Published on: 2002-03-26 Released on: 2002-03-26 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 1.65" h x 4.22" w x 6.88" l, .99 pounds Binding: Mass Market Paperback 1088 pages
From the Inside Flap IF YOU TAKE NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS, HERBS, VITAMINS, AND OTHER NATURAL PRODUCTS, YOU NEED THIS BOOK!Compiled by one of America?s leading authorities on natural medicine, The Pill Book Guide to Natural Medicines answers vital questions about the effectiveness and safety of more than 250 of today?s most popular natural remedies. Dr. Murray's unique A-to-F rating system tells you at a glance whether the product has been scientifically proven to work and if there are risks in taking it. Written in clear, accessible language, here is important information on:? What the product is for, and how it works? Safety and effectiveness rating ? Possible side effects? Drug and food interactions? Usual dosage? Cautions and warnings? Special concerns for seniors, children, and pregnant womenUp-to-date and authoritative, The Pill Book Guide to Natural Medicines also contains Dr. Murray's recommendations for the prevention and treatment of over 70 common conditions, from acne and atherosclerosis to ulcers and varicose veins. Remember, just because a product is ?natural? does not mean it is safe. This important reference can help you make wise choices?or even save your health. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. How to Use This BookThe Pill Book Guide to Natural Medicines profiles more than 275 of the most commonly used natural products available today. The entries are listed alphabetically within each of the following categories: vitamins, minerals, accessory nutrients and other natural products, herbal products, and topical preparations. If you are interested in a particular supplement and do not know to which category it belongs, please consult the Index of Natural Products at the front of the book.Here is a brief description of each category. Particular issues related to each category are discussed in more depth at the beginning of each part. You will find it useful to read these overviews as well as the profile of the individual supplement that interests you.Part I: Vitamins. Vitamins are essential nutrients that function along with enzymes in chemical reactions necessary for human bodily function, including energy production. Together, vitamins and enzymes work to act as catalysts in speeding up the making or breaking of chemical bonds that join molecules together.Part II: Minerals. Minerals function, along with vitamins, as components of the body's enzymes. Minerals are also needed for proper composition of bone and blood and for the maintenance of normal cell function.Part III: Accessory Nutrients and Other Natural Products. Accessory nutrients are food components and substances naturally produced in the body that are required for normal physiology. Other natural products include supplementary hormones, glandular preparations, amino acids, and helpful bacterial preparations such as Lactobacillus acidophilus.Part IV: Herbal Products. These include not only crude herb preparations but also compounds composed of or derived from herbs and other medicinal plants.Part V: Natural Ingredients Used in Topical Preparations. While Parts I-IV cover products for oral use, this part provides information on natural substances used in skin care products and topical medications.You can also use this book to discover alternative medicines that may be helpful in treating a specific health condition. This information is contained in Part VI: Common Health Conditions. This part provides an alphabetical guide to more than sixty-five common health conditions; each entry includes both the prescription drugs and the natural medicines most often used for each condition.Organization of the Natural Product EntriesParts I-IV include natural products taken orally. Each product entry is organized according to the following outline:Generic or Brand NameThe common name of the natural product is used for most entries (e.g., "vitamin C" instead of "ascorbic acid"). A supplement is listed by brand name only when a brand has established itself as a unique proprietary product.Used ForA listing of the popular uses for each entry is given. In an effort to provide information on the effectiveness and safety of the entries, a rating system was developed based upon currently available information. The rating is based upon the level of scientific support for a particular application. The fact that a substance has not been scientifically investigated does not mean that it is without benefit. Likewise, the fact that a substance has been used for hundreds of years does not necessarily mean that it is either effective or safe. The scientific investigation of natural products is an ongoing effort, and new information is constantly validating or refuting claims about the therapeutic value of these preparations.Here is an expanded explanation of the rating scales:EffectivenessA = Excellent results in multiple double-blind studiesIn order to receive an A rating, the substance must have undergone a clinical trial--a study in which human subjects receive treatment. The studies with the most scientific weight are double-blind, controlled trials. In a double-blind study, neither the researchers nor the subjects know what is being given; all information is coded, and the code is not broken until the end of the trial. Double-blinding is important because researchers can give unconscious signals to test subjects if they know what the subject is receiving, and this can affect the results. In a controlled trial, at least two groups are compared.In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, an inactive pill--the placebo--is given to a control group. Placebo is Latin for "I will please [you]." Placebos got their name because any treatment, even simple attention, tends to make people feel better. Overall, an average of one out of three subjects will report significant improvement from being given a placebo (usually a sugar pill), although this figure can be much lower or much higher depending upon the condition. Sometimes instead of a placebo, a substance will be compared to another active compound. For example, there have been several comparative studies of glucosamine sulfate and ibuprofen in the treatment of osteoarthritis.The double-blind study is thought of as the gold standard. However, a good double-blind study must also have a large enough sample size (the bigger the better) to produce statistically significant results. Often a probability value (p value) is given. A p value less than 0.1 means that the probability that the results occurred by chance is less than 1 out of 100 (1 percent). A p value of less than 0.5 is generally regarded as being statistically significant. The lower the p value, the more significant the results.When a number of small trials have provided conflicting or inconclusive results, a metanalysis can be performed in order to achieve a more statistically significant assessment.In order for a substance to receive an effectiveness rating of A, it must have shown consistent benefit in double-blind, controlled trials or in a metanalysis.B+ = Very good results in a small number of double-blind studiesThe difference between an A and a B+ is that although there are double-blind studies showing that the substance rated as B+ is effective, these preliminary studies need to be followed up with larger, better-designed studies. Also, a substance would be given a score of B+ rather than A if the studies were poorly designed or did not produce a high degree of statistical significance.B = Some clinical evidence of effectivenessThere are other types of clinical studies that are often conducted as preliminary studies. Sometimes, because of the lack of financing or other reasons, promising results are never followed up in better-designed studies. Examples of preliminary studies can range from a series of individual case histories to open clinical trials. In an open clinical trial, both the doctor and the subject know exactly what the subject is taking. Open trials are not as well respected in the scientific community because of the expectations of the patient and/or the physician.B- = Some clinical evidence of effectiveness, but also some studies showing no effectIt is not uncommon for even established drugs to have some studies showing no or little effect. If the majority of the studies have been positive, the substance was given a rating of A or B+ depending upon the weight of evidence. However, if a number of preliminary studies showed positive results and a double-blind study showed little or no effect, the substance was given an effectiveness rating of B-. In the future it may be proven to be effective, but at present there is simply not enough evidence that is convincing.C = Strong historical use or scientific rationale but no clinical trials to show effectiveness in humansThis rating is probably the most common in this book. There are numerous natural products that should be better evaluated in clinical trials but have not been. A rating of C does not indicate that a substance is any less effective than one with a rating of A or B; it simply signifies that we really do not know how effective it is, but there is reasonable probability that it may offer benefit.D = No significant documentation of historical use or scientific rationale, or majority of clinical studies show no effectA rating of D is cause for concern. In general, unless instructed to do so because of some extenuating circumstance by a health care professional, substances receiving a rating of D should not be used.F = Documentation that it is not effectiveA rating of F is straightforward and reflects considerable evidence that the product is not effective for a particular application. Unless new, convincing evidence becomes available in the future, these products offer no value for the noted application.SafetyA = Excellent safety profileIn order to receive an A for safety, a substance must be generally regarded as safe by most authorities (e.g., the FDA or the National Academy of Sciences) or have been extensively evaluated in toxicology studies in animals or humans.B = Good safety profileClinical studies have been conducted on the product and no significant side effects have been reported, or there are preliminary toxicology studies on the product.C = Generally regarded as safe at recommended levelsMost often, products receiving this classification have a long history of use without any serious side effects at recommended levels.D = Generally regarded as safe at recommended levels, but must be used with cautionA rating of D for safety does not mean that the product is unsafe; it simply implies that there may be situations where it should not be used or that it should be used with caution or under the supervision of a health care professional.F = Potentially dangerous, should not be usedProducts with a rating of an F should not be used unless recommended and closely monitored by a health care professional because they pose a significant health risk.G...
Customers most helpful reviews 21 of 21 people found this review helpful. Highly recommended. By Tammy Pruyn This book is very informative and less popular herbs known. It provides useful and relevant information on natural medicines. Dr. Murray refers to real scientific studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of the book is more encyclopedic medicines.The course, his opinion is not indicated in all.This is excellent, as there are currently too many authors who give their simple belief '"or" feel "of herbs. The book is quite comprehensive, updated and well organized.I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn the facts about natural medicines, or even the expert who needs a source of reference, times. 17 of 17 people found this review helpful. Best natural reference on the market from popular brother Pill Book Guide is an extra shoutgrace compiled by a leading American experts in natural medicine, Dr. Michael Murray. 1074 pages, the book is an updated guide on the efficacy and safety of herbs, vitamins and other natural products, the book is just plain text with information about what each product is designed so as to safety and efficacy scores interactions, side effects of the work described, medicine and food, cans, cautions and warnings for the purpose of this book is to help the readers to use the natural products informed decisions about dietary supplements and of course to save his health. It also includes recommendations by Dr Murray in the prevention and treatment of common diseases of congestive heart failure and acne, diabetes and stress. The book answers some questions about that all the hype and what is science? What we really know about natural remedies? It answers questions such as: symptoms of menopause can be alleviated without hormone replacement therapy? Black cohosh (Remifemin) is better than the hormones and had an A (very good) for security. What is a safer way to stop macular degeneration vision Lasik sugery and save "the night? Bilberry has been shown in historical cases to avoid the formation of cataracts and improve night vision during the Second World War British Royal Air Force that gave their pilots had to fly missions at night! For the relief of insomnia without dangerous drugs make your choice from Valeriana (A rating for efficiency), melatonin (rating B +) or 5-HTP (Grade B +). One of the concerns, there are some herbs that have been omitted from the book I wish I had seen the list, for example, raspberry leaf. But if we consider the changing research and natural resources in the market over time. I'm sure the future will be more added. Other than that, I definitely think this is the best reference book out of natural market right now. June 6 people have found the following review helpful. The best guide André Gagnon, nd I have read many books and is the best for very good information and for the price of all the wonders of Pearson (specialists or not) have a natural interest medicine.C is the best option among several that I read. Much of the relevant information, but for the ridiculously low price. No one should do without this wonderful guide, both health professionals and anyone interested in a natural solution without sacrificing modern medicine. See all 11 reviews ....