The Complete Idiot's Guide to Natural Remedies Book

Part 1 The Wonderful World of Natural Remedies 1

1 What Exactly Are Natural Remedies? 3

Why All the Interest in Natural Remedies Now? 4

Paying Your Own Way 4

Saving Money 4

What Science Tells Us Today 5

Natural Remedies Through the Ages 5

How Natural Remedies Improve Health 6

How Natural Remedies Differ from Conventional Medicine 6

Don't Prescription and OTC Drugs Come from Nature, Too? 7

Are Natural Remedies Safe? 8

The Best Way to Use Natural Remedies 9

2 You Are What You Eat 11

Harvard's Healthy Eating Pyramid 12

Functional Foods: Putting Foods to Work for You 13

The Role of Vitamins and Minerals 13

The Power of Antioxidants 14

The Role of Inflammation and Anti-Inflammatory Foods 15

Functional Foods 16

Tried-and-True Functional Foods 16

Broccoli and the Entire Cabbage Family 16

Whole Grains 17

Coldwater Fish 18

Tea 18

Tomatoes 18

Citrus Fruits 19

Sweet Potatoes 19

Flaxseed and Soybeans 19

Kiwi 19

Walnuts 20

New Functional Foods 20

Blood Oranges 20

Goji Berries 21

Seabuckthorn 21

Mangosteens 21

Garbanzo Beans 21

Specialty Mushrooms 22

3 Filling in the Gaps with Supplements 23

What Is a Supplement, Anyway? 24

Nutrients You Need Now 25

4 The Healing Power of Herbs 33

Popular Herbs and Their Characteristics 34

The Different Ways to Use Herbs 40

5 Alternative Therapies 43

Acupuncture 44

Aromatherapy 45

Using Aromatherapy 45

Essential Oils Medicine Cabinet 46

Ayurvedic Medicine 48

Chiropractic Treatments 49

Craniosacral Therapy 50

Flower Essences 50

Homeopathy 52

Massage Therapy 53

Reflexology 54

Meditation 55

Qigong 57

Yoga 58

Part 2 Directory of Conditions and NaturalRemedies 61

Acne 63

ADD/ADHD 68

Allergies 75

Alzheimer's Disease 82

Anemia 91

Anxiety 93

Arthritis 101

Asthma 110

Autism 122

Backache 128

Bad Breath (Halitosis) 137

Bladder Infection (Cystitis) 140

Bronchitis 144

Cancer Prevention 149

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) 167

Cataracts 171

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia 176

Colds 182

Constipation 188

Depression 194

Diabetes 204

Diarrhea 212

Ear Infections 215

Eczema 218

Endometriosis 224

First Aid 230

Flu 236

Food Poisoning 245

Healthy Aging 250

Heart Disease 264

Heartburn 276

Hemorrhoids 280

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) 284

Hypoglycemia 292

Insomnia 297

Irritable Bowel Syndrome 306

Jet Lag 312

Menopause 317

Migraines 326

Nausea 336

Osteoporosis 340

Peptic Ulcer 347

Poison Ivy and Poison Oak 352

Premenstrual Syndrome 355

Sinusitis 362

Sprains and Strains 370

Sunburn 374

Thyroid Disorders 379

Tinnitus 387

Varicose Veins 390

Weight Loss 394

Appendixes

A Glossary 403

B Resources 409

C Practitioners 419

Index 429