Herbal Remedies Handbook

The last decade has seen a rapid increase in the publication of books on herbal medicine. However, it is rare to find one, such as this, that incorporates details of over-the-counter remedies, written for the general public by a practicing herbal practitioner. Andrew Chevallier brings to this book years of experience in clinical practice and book authorship (he is the author of the Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine—also published by Dorling Kindersley). Andrew is a well-known and respected member of the herbal fraternity in the UK and former president of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists. The origins of the use of herbs dates back to prehistoric times, and their traditional medicinal use continues in all cultural groups throughout the world. Many modern medicines were inspired by constituents found in traditional medicinal plants, and some modern drugs are still isolated from plant materials. However, the big difference between herbal and modern medicine is that while modern medicines comprise single chemicals, nature has endowed each herb with a spectrum of active components, which work synergistically to produce a healing effect that cannot be replicated from single components. Over the last 20 years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the use of herbal medicine. There are several reasons for this, but the main ones are an increasing realization of the limits