Mosby's Handbook of Herbs & Natural Supplements

by Linda Skidmore-Roth RN MSN NP

This essential handbook presents detailed monographs for 270 commonly used herbal products and natural supplements. Arranged in alphabetical order, each monograph incorporates authoritative information on generic names, botanical names, common alternative and trade names, actions, uses, dosages, side effects and adverse reactions, contraindications, precautions, pharmacokinetics, chemical components, and interactions with foods, other herbal products, and with drugs.

Genres: Reference

504 pages, Hardcover

First published June 22, 2001

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book yesterday at a CEU for nurses EKG class! Wow! This is great! Info on the herbs an their interactions in a small book the size of the drug books we use. Also in a clear concise manner! I was so excited to get this book!

[Patricia Morgunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference book to have in ones book collection.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nicely formatted and easy to read. A good handbook for getting started learning about herbs and natural supplements, their uses, and interactions and contraindications.

[Laura Larmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-have reference book for home and practicing herbalists! It is definitely written for the health care professional, but it is so well organized and easy to read, that it is accessible to intermediate users as well. It is small, making it very portable, about 5’ by 9”, and is easy to flip open with one hand making it great for using it as a quick reference and for when an herbalist’s hands are full. The cover is easily wiped clean – a big plus for those making their own medicine. Its format is also excellent- it is simply alphabetical, with no nonsense, Acidophilus, page 1, Yohimbe, page 1017, and you know right where you are as the letters are tabbed on the edges of the pages, and the name of the subject at the top of every page. Additionally, I was amazed at how comprehensive this book is. I had to think of a very obscure herb that even my local bulk herb store did not carry, to find something not included in this reference (some 300 herbs and supplements are here).
This reference lists the common name and other names, the scientific name, the herb class, the origin, uses, product availability and dosages, Contraindications, Client considerations, pharmacology, actions, references, and has a handy Icon system that flags points that refer to toxicity, endangered herbs, pregnancy or children. It has several appendixes with herbal references, CAM programs, Poison control centers, drug/herb interactions, botanical atlas and more, and a well done glossary and index. This is a small but mighty book, and it is the one I would choose, if I could only have one technical reference.

[Bron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am critically reviewing this book for my course, and here are my final thoughts on it:

This book is formatted with a unique style that is easily read and hard to miss important points. It would most certainly be a useful quick reference for a busy professional, but also due to its simplicity can be used and understood by people from all walks of life. The pocketbook size means that it is easily portable and can be used in many different circumstances. My only criticism is that it contains a relatively small number of herbs, albeit the most used in Western Medicine.

[Mikael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very important for the working clinician since almost patients take some kind of herbal supplement.

[Eric Troy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reference for herbs.