Prescription for Herbal Healing: An Easy-to-Use A-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders andTheir Herbal Remedies

by Phyllis A. Balch

The popularity of herbal medicine has exploded during the past decade, with herbal remedies becoming increasingly available in such conventional outlets as drugstores and even supermarkets. Prescription for Herbal Healing brings to herbal medicine the same in-depth, easy-to-understand information and accessible style that Prescription for Nutritional Healing successfully brought to diet and nutritional supplements. This book is divided into three parts for easy reference. Part I discusses the basic principles of herbal medicine and outlines the properties and characteristics of some one hundred sixty single herbs and sixty herbal combination formulas. Part II describes more than one hundred fifty common disorders, conveniently arranged in alphabetical order from acne to yeast infection, and names the herbal therapies that can be used in the treatment of those conditions. Part III is a guide to using various kinds of herbal and other alternative therapies. In addition, it includes self-diagnostic tests and boxed insets throughout, which offer detailed information on a wide variety of topics. Complete coverage of Chinese and Ayurvedic herbs make this volume entirely comprehensive, and thorough scientific references lend it an authority not found in any other herbal book. Prescription for Herbal Healing is the definitive herbal resource and is a necessity for any health-conscious consumer.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Reference, Herbs, Survival, Gardening, Food

543 pages, Paperback

First published January 14, 2002

About the author

Phyllis Balch, a certified nutritional consultant, was a leading nutritional counselor for more than two decades, and came to the field from after experiencing in her own life the health benefits of diet and nutrition.
Convinced that nutrition was, in many cases, the answer to regaining and maintaining health, Ms. Balch opened a health food store called Good Things Naturally, testified before Congress on the efficacy of natural healing, and in 1983 she published what is now known as Prescription for Nutritional Healing. Through four editions, this book has had millions of readers in many different countries, and has been translated into six foreign languages.

Ms. Balch died in December 2004.

Reviews

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is hit and miss.

The strongest point of this book is that it is organized by disease.
It also has some very useful points that I hadn't learned elsewhere. On the other hand, some herbs that I've heard as dangerous (I don't remember which perhaps sasparilla) didn't mention that information here. Additionally, many things I've learned through my searches don't show up here.

I might use this with other reference books; finding a herb/vitamin for a specific illness in this book and then getting more information from another book.

That being said, most of the book's content isn't useful to me and I will continue to search for a better resource before settling on this one.

I am giving this 4 stars, because relative to the other options I've seen this far it is pretty great, it's just not as good as I think it should be.

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book. It is very helpful, and is based on science instead of tradition (a semi-rare thing for herbal books). I would recommend this book to mothers, sisters, doctors, grandmas, aunts... anyone who is going to be helping people with health and healing. :-)

[Maja Haloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent reference book for herbal practitioner. The first half of the book covers common medicinal plants with very useful information about usage and considerations. The second half of the book is organized alphabetically by common physical conditions, recommendations and considerations.

[LInda L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have not read ALL of this huge book, but seems as if she researched a lot of the things I read. Of course, any doctor would pooh pooh the very idea, but I am somewhat accepting of a lot of it. Good for you, Phyllis.

[Allison Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always using this book. Great desk reference for every day! I have been referring to it or an earlier publishing of it since I went through treatments for Hodgkins Lymphoma.

[Blanca Estrella]

Informative and really helps us to know and use the type of natural herbs and supplements for healing. This book also tells us the potential dangers of some herbs, the proper dosage, and the expected time frame in which we can expect to see the positive effects from using them.

[Breakfast & Bookmarks · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for in-depth information on different herbs, this is a great book! You will learn the history of certain herbs, their different benefits, as well as what herbs to mix and not mix together. Any practicing herbalist will enjoy this reference!

[Patricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well-organized.

[Rexanna Ipock-Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I use this book anytime I want information on staying healthy.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Massive.

[Tinae Goodell, Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the newest one, and it is VERY good.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Easy to read format, with all the details you need. I'm always picking it up to look at something.

[Ariadna73 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have it for reference; and ever copied some ideas to my blog. Visit it to see some of its pages: http://bit.ly/VXJCMa

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good big book for those starting out with herbal healing

[Jenny K · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gives lots of names of remedies but no guidance on where to find them or how to make them.

[Jkl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Information to common disorders fairly good. Remedies not so much. Some descriptive help but remedies primarily focused on professionally created "capsules." Focus is on personal health and does not include other home remedies This may be good for some; not what I was seeking.