Herbal Remedies (Eyewitness Companions Series) Book

The Eyewitness Companions series from DK Publishing is a treasure. The subject of this entry in the series is "Herbal Remedies." I must confess that I am skeptical about extreme claims for herbal remedies; extremism here, in my view, becomes quackery. However, it is also clear that some herbs do, indeed, have value as remedies.

One of the herbs covered by this book is rosemary. I love rosemary on chicken on some grilled vegetables and so on. But, the book notes, it has long been said to have medicinal value, in terms of headache relief, enhanced energy levels, and helps with digestion. Research? The narrative on rosemary on page 190 notes that, of 5 stars (with 5 stars indicating strong research on positive effects), rosemary gets 3 (only so-so research support for claims, as I read it).

Or garlic. This gets 5 out of 5 stars in terms of research on its effects. Some medicinal benefits, according to the text: antibiotic, helps with circulatory problems, reduces cholesterol levels. And, as a side benefit, is has been claimed that it protects against vampires!

Other featurs of the book: a listing of conditions and the herb associated with addressing the conditions (and how to prepare the herb to best effect) (pages 258-275); a glossary (pages 276-277).

I'm not sure how sold I am on herbal remedies by themselves, but this book is a useful resource for those who want to learn more about herbal remedies.