RM666.H33P478

Includes bibliographical references (p. [427]-453)

Table of Contents Introduction Why Should You Care About What Herbs Really Do? The Herbs: Aloe Arnica Artichoke Astragalus Bilberry Black cohosh Borage Cascara Catnip Cat?s claw Chamomile Chaste Tree Cinnamon Cranberry Dandelion Echinacea Eleuthero Evening primrose Feverfew Flax Garlic Ginger Ginkgo Ginseng Gotu kola Grape Guarana, Hawthorn Hoodia Horse chestnut Kava Lavender Lemon Balm Licorice Marsh mallow Milk thistle Nettle Parsley Peppermint Red clover Red pepper Sage Saw palmetto Senna Soy St. John?s wort Tea tree Tea Turmeric Uva ursi Valerian Wild yam Wintergreen Witch hazel Yerba mate? Yohimbe Appendix What Does it Mean to be Natural? Introducing the Players: Cells, Molecules, and other Very Small Things Nonfatal Attractions: Receptors and Enzymes Preventive Medicine Carcinogens Free Radicals Oxygen and Oxidizing agents Inflammation How to Avoid Getting Conned Warning Labels for Certain Herbs Endnotes Acknowledgments (TK) Index (TK)

The scores of books on herbs already available generally restate old, often outdated lore about herbs. Now, Herbs Demystified does something entirely different: It is the first book to explain exactly what herbs actually do inside our bodies and how they achieve their effects. Biochemist Holly Phaneuf covers 100 of the most popular herbs-astragalus, black cohosh, chamomile, echinacea, garlic, gingko, ginseng, milk thistle, pine bark extract, saw palmetto, valerian, and many others. Phaneuf's introductory overview lays out the basic chemical principles that underlie the journey herbal molecules make in our bodies. Then, for each of the herbs, she covers its history and folklore; explains what the herb really does-its evidence of action; its good uses and not so good uses, including the forms in which it is typically available and commonly reported dosages; interesting facts and the bottom line. Like no other herb book before, Herbs Demystified allows readers to custom-fit an herb to one's own particular concern, therefore minimizing trial and error