National Geographic Complete Guide to Natural Home Remedies: 1,025 Easy Ways to Live Longer, Feel Better, and Enrich Your Life

by National Geographic Society, Joe Graedon (Foreword), Terry Graedon (Foreword)

Combining science and folklore for health, this book features practical cures, medicinal herbs, healing foods, green housecleaning, sustainable cosmetics, alternative therapies, and lifestyle changes--hundreds of ways to boost your health naturally. Created with a nationally recognized advisory board of medical professionals and leading figures in natural healing fields, National Geographic Complete Guide to Natural Home Remedies covers topics ranging from the familiar to the new and promising: from mint tea for a stomachache to onion juice for a bee sting, from using baking soda as a kitchen cleanser to finding quiet in a crowded world, from adding turmeric to fight arthritis to practicing aromatherapy at home. Sections on healing traditions and best life practices from around the world offer readers all-around guidance on the path to optimal health. Photographs, recipes, cautions, and quick tips on page after page make this both a handy look-up reference and a fascinating browse to keep close at hand for years to come.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Science

384 pages, Paperback

First published May 6, 2014

About the author

The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical conservation, and the study of world culture and history. The National Geographic Society's logo is a yellow portrait frame—rectangular in shape—which appears on the margins surrounding the front covers of its magazines and as its television channel logo. Through National Geographic Partners (a joint venture with The Walt Disney Company), the Society operates the magazine, TV channels, a website, worldwide events, and other media operations.

Reviews

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great handbook for all things natural. It doesn't take sides with philosophies, but lets the reader decide just how "natural" they want to be. Not all of this book is applicable to me, and I don't have the funds to have a closet full of natural oils, etc. to make my own remedies and lotions, but the recipes are there and what I have used and tried has been good.

[Atratzu Talgala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I wanted this book:
I wanted this book because I've always liked the idea of identifying natural medicinal herbs... but wasn't quite sure where to start... So rather than buying an insect guide or book specifically covering medicinal herbs I picked up a book on "Natural Home Remedies".

I wanted to cross reference the "aged old wisdom" I've picked up from my mother and other friends, with what is available in this book. Most of it seems to checkout. But as you might guess 1,025 is a lot of remedies... So I only took note of the ones I already knew.

Chapter by Chapter Topics:
National Geographic Complete Guide to Natural Home Remedies has 6 chapters, each chapter focusing on a different topic (however there's a lot of overlap) But you can think of each chapter as a different approach to seeking out a solution to a problem.

-Chapter 1 is titled "Home Remedies on Hand", and the chapter is further organized by "what hurts?", this chapter has the classic "drink water, eat chicken noodle soup, gargle salt water" type remedies.
-Chapter 2 is titled "Herbs for Healing", this is the chapter I picked up the book for actually... This chapter covers Echinacea, Ginger, Lavender, Sage etc. ...Basically I wanted this to know what my goals should be for an herb garden.
-Chapter 3 is titled "Foods for Health", this revealed to me just how much work it is to prepare food for myself and while I might eat enough food I'm so very far away from actually "eating properly". There's a lot of meal suggestions and ideas which I'll be going back to as I make small changes to my lifestyle. (Pro tip there... try to make small changes and small improvements at a time)
-Chapter 4 is titled "Clean, Safe & Beautiful", this chapter is about how to make your own cleaners, and different suggestions for cleaning... Think "Baking soda can basically be used for anything"... only more options then just baking soda... But seriously, baking soda can be used for just about everything... cleaning, baking, volcanos.
-Chapter 5 is titled "Healing Traditions", this is one of the most "controversial" chapters in the book because some people swear by various healing traditions others say it's just pseudoscience. For example this chapter covers Chiropractors, acupuncture, yoga, traditional Chinese medicine, etc.
-Chapter 6 is titled "A Healthy Lifestyle", this chapter is a good reminder for the end of the book that most of us can live a better healthier lifestyle just by making good decisions... a night playing games with friends, going for a walk, learning something new, taking time to reflect on life, get more/better sleep, get a pet.

Conclusion:
I think this book accomplished what I had hoped when I picked it up. It gave me a list of a lot of the common herbs most people use for basic aliments, and it even gave me some new things to try next time I'm sick or I'm minorly injured...

Naturally each chapter (and the whole book) starts with a disclaimer saying "Hey, if you're hurt bad or allergic to something... get professional medical assistance!". The publishers need to say that or else someone who's allergic to Aloe Vera will apply it their skin and break out in hives ...or you know... something worse could happen but I don't want to be morbid. The point is: be careful, use common sense, if you're gushing blood don't have a boy scout slap a band aid on your arm and call it good, go to the doctor and get it treated properly!

The Complete Guide to Natural Home Remedies does a good job covering anything I could think of... it even has different ways of organizing it's information. You could flip to the index and look up the herb you want. Or you can flip through the first chapter and start from "what hurts".

[Marathon County Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a plethora of information! This guide includes remedies for all the common ailments, including skin, digestive, muscle, and breathing problems. Each ailment is broken down into more specific problems and multiple home remedies are given as well as information on when further medical attention is needed. Also included in this easy to follow and welcoming guide is information on the many uses of different herbs. Following that, nutrition and meal ideas for most fruits, vegetables, fish, oils, and even coffee, tea, and chocolate are included. This National Geographic Guide also has natural home and body care, cleaners, and scrubs, as well as ideas for a healthy lifestyle and a guide to many of the healing arts, such as yoga and Chinese medicine. This is a wealth of resources!

Sarah M. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.

[Kaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference book - that reads surprisingly well. Encourages readers to consult medical professionals when necessary, while providing practical solutions to everyday problems. If grandmas could successfully deal with it a hundred years ago, we can do it now.