The Everything Guide to Herbal Remedies

Dear Reader,

As a devotee of herbal medicine and a self-proclaimed amateur herbalist, I wa s delighted to take on the task of writing this book. At la st, I’d have a chance to talk about the remedies that had been a staple in my medicine cabinet for so many years. Finally, the rest of the world could know the secrets of herbalism.

But as a professional writer and journalist, I approached the subject with a decidedly different attitude: What are these things, really? Who’s using them, and why? Do they work? Are they safe? And can the average Joe or Jane find them in the average herb shop or health food store? I’m happy to report that I’ve achieved both goals: to get the word out about the many benefits of using herbs, and to explain the traditional uses, supporting research and other evidence, safety concerns, modern uses, and availability of each. I hope you’ll agree.

Welcome to the
Series!

These handy, accessible books give you all you need to tackle a difficult project, gain a new hobby, comprehend a fascinating topic, prepare for an exam, or even brush up on something you learned back in school but have since forgotten.

You can choose to read an
Everything®
book from cover to cover or just pick out the information you want from our four useful boxes: e-questions, e-facts, e-alerts, and e-ssentials.

We give you everything you need to know on the subject, but throw in a lot of fun stuff along the way, too.

We now have more than 400
Everything
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books in print, spanning such wide-ranging categories as weddings, pregnancy, cooking, music instruction, foreign language, crafts, pets, New Age, and so much more. When you’re done reading them all, you can finally say you know
Everything
^®
!

Answers to common questions

Important snippets of information

Urgent warnings

Quick handy tips

PUBLISHER
Karen Cooper
DIRECTOR OF ACQUISITIONS AND INNOVATION
Paula Munier
MANAGING EDITOR, EVERYTHING SERIES
Lisa Laing
COPY CHIEF
Casey Ebert
ACQUISITIONS EDITOR
Lisa Laing
SENIOR DEVELOPMENT EDITOR
Brett Palana-Shanahan
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Hillary Thompson

This book is dedicated to my husband, Don, who is my
inspiration in all things (including herbs).

Copyright © 2009 by F+W Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced
in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions
are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

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and everything.com
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are registered trademarks of F+W Media, Inc.

Published by Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc.
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com

ISBN 10: 1-59869-988-1
ISBN 13: 978-1-59869-988-3

Printed in the United States of America.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
is available from the publisher.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

—From a
Declaration of Principles
jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations

Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.
For information, please call 1-800-289-0963.

The Everything
^®
Guide to Herbal Remedies
is intended as a reference volume only, not as a medical manual. In light of the complex, individual, and specific nature of health problems, this book is not intended to replace professional medical advice. The ideas, procedures, and suggestions in this book are intended to supplement, not replace, the advice of a trained medical professional. Consult your physician before adopting the suggestions in this book, as well as about any condition that may require diagnosis or medical attention. The author and publisher disclaim any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of this book.