Get a Handle on Herbs and Nutritional Supplements

Every time I work our library's Circulation Desk I discover a really interesting book that I just have to read! The book I found yesterday is Guide to Herbs & Nutritional Supplements: What You Need to Know from Aloe to Zinc by Laura Shane-McWhorter. Endorsed by the American Diabetes Association, this book is essential reading for anyone, diabetic or not, who decides to treat their ailments with natural dietary supplements. The best part of this book is the beginning--the author's preface quickly notes that dietary supplements are not the "end-all-be-all" answer to curing a person's disease. Shane-McWhorter states that all patients should use dietary supplements with guidance from a medical professional on their benefits and cautions. The book does not recommend specific supplements or brands, but gives general information on the safety and effectiveness of many commonly used supplements. Each entry lists the supplements common name (and other names it is called by), uses, the dosage amount, and studies completed on the supplement, and a list of side effects and drug interactions. The only thing that might have made this book better would be pictures of the individual supplements in the forms you would take them. I think this book would be an excellent choice for persons seeking information on the pros and cons of dietary supplements.