Medicinal Herbs for Immune Defense

February 15, 2021
Pursell, a naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturist, offers two volumes of basic information about medicinal plants and their uses: Medicinal Herbs for Family Health and Wellness and Medicinal Herbs for Immune Defense. Each book begins with an introduction explaining the benefits of herbal medicine while noting the importance of consulting a physician when necessary. Master recipes for a variety of preparations, such as teas, salves, and washes--as well a list of necessary kitchen equipment--follow, including dosing information. A section on key ingredients features an alphabetical list of herbs with color pictures and information about medicinal properties and uses. The final sections cover ailments and appropriate herbal remedies. This volume concentrates on boosting the immune system and dealing with allergies, flu, and digestive issues. A table of metric conversions, lists of herbal suppliers, botanical names, and sources for further reading conclude the books. None of the sources listed are evidence-based, so readers who want more scientific information should visit the National Institute of Complementary and Integral Health at the National Institutes of Health online. However, Pursell's books are both good resources for an introduction to herbal medicine.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.