Dr. Michael T. Murray and Dr. Joseph Pizzorno
Introduction
Natural medicine has become more popular over the last few decades as people have become less trusting of Western medicine and have become interested in more natural ways to heal. The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine Third Edition is a reference book to help you wade through all of the information on natural healing and determine what will work best for you.
This encyclopedia was written by two experts in the field. Dr. Michael T. Murray is a naturopathic doctor and an internationally known expert in the field of natural medicine. He is the Director of Product Development for a dietary supplement company.
Dr. Joseph Pizzorno is also an award winning naturopathic doctor and is the cofounder of Bastyr University, a university that specializes in natural medicine and the first of its kind in the United States.
These two professionals have combine their expertise to provide you with a book that provides a broad look at natural medicine and can help you to understand various treatment options and what each entails.
If you’re interested in natural medicine but aren’t sure how to get started, this volume can give you the information you need to make natural medicine a part of your life. Even if you’re not new to natural medicine, this is a great reference book to have on hand when you have questions about health and natural healing options.
The Premise
Natural medicine is a field that’s becoming more and more mainstream. The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine Third Edition will give you a window into this important philosophy of healing.
The idea is that you can use natural healing remedies that will assist your body in healing itself. This is different than using Western medicine that often treats specific issues, but doesn’t engage the body in its own healing process.
And while natural medicine can have side effects, it tends to have side effects that are much more significant and that can cause even more serious health problems. And with natural medicine there’s a greater focus on holistic wellness rather than just treating symptoms of illness.
With natural medicine you’ll also find that there’s a focus on the mind, body, and spirit rather than the Western approach that really only looks at the body – and usually only the parts of the body that are causing problems.
Natural medicine provides you with more options for improving your health and isn’t as limited as Western medicine. But because it’s so broad, it can be hard to navigate natural medicine and determine which therapies work and which ones are less effective.
This encyclopedia can take the guess work out of various approaches. You’ll be able to understand natural medicine as a whole, learn more about how you can stay well naturally, and learn which treatments are best for specific areas of the body and specific health conditions.
There’s nothing more important than your health and it’s important to have as much information as possible from trusted sources. With this encyclopedia you’ll be able to get the facts you need and you can feel secure knowing that they come from two of the most well-respected professionals in the field.
Book Organization
As you open The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine Third Edition, you’ll immediately see that it’s a well-organized reference book. It begins with a preface that helps you to understand the purpose of this book and how you can use it. It specifically points out that you shouldn’t use this book to diagnose yourself, but it is a good reference to help you determine which professionals can help you.
Section 1 is an Introduction to Natural Medicine. Chapter 1: What is Natural Medicine? will give you a brief history of naturopathic medicine and how it’s practiced today. You’ll also learn how naturopathy supports overall wellness and can be used to treat problems.
Chapter 2: The Healing Power Within is an explanation of how your body is actually designed to heal itself. Natural medicine is used to support your body’s ability to heal itself rather than fixing problems from the outside.
The second section is titled The Four Cornerstones of Good Health. This is divided into four sections – one for each cornerstone. In Chapter 3: A Positive Mental Attitude, you’ll discover insight into the power of the connection between the mind and the body.
Chapter 4: A Health-Promoting Lifestyle goes over some of the basics of a healthy lifestyle such as managing stress, getting more sleep, and moving your body. In Chapter 5: A Health-Promoting Diet you’ll learn more about the connection between nutrition and wellness. And Chapter 6: Supplementary Measures goes over the need for supplements to support your health.
The third section of the encyclopedia gets into more specifics and is titled Special Topics. Here you’ll find 10 chapters that look at details of particular areas of natural medicine including cellular health, cancer prevention, detox, digestion, cardiovascular health, the immune system, living longer, inflammation, stress management, and weight management.
In section IV, Specific Health Problems, you’ll be able to look up information by specific health problem. This section includes 83 short chapters that are organized in alphabetical order. Each chapter focuses on one concern such as acne, ear infection, hair loss, high blood pressure, insomnia, psoriasis, sinus infections, varicose veins, and many more.
This makes it easy for you to reference just the material you need without having to read the book cover to cover to glean the knowledge you need. You’ll also appreciate that there’s a glossary following these chapters that defines terms with which you may not be familiar.
Following the glossary you’ll find three appendices. Appendix A: Are You an Optimist? will help you to determine if you’re positive and optimistic – key factors in your health and wellness. Appendix B: Glycemic Index, Carbohydrate Content, and Glycemic Load of Selected Foods explains this important concept regarding your blood sugar.
Appendix C: Acid-Base Values of Selected Foods is a reference to help you maintain health by eating an anti-inflammatory diet. Following this appendix you’ll find references as well as a searchable index to help you find the information you need quickly and easily.
Who Benefits
The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine Third Edition is a valuable reference guide for every household. Having this guide on your bookshelf will allow you to work toward natural healing regardless of the health issue you’re facing. However, it isn’t a substitute for the help of a licensed professional.
Whether you’re brand new to the idea of natural medicine or you’ve incorporated into your lifestyle for years, this guide is an important addition to your bank of knowledge. This isn’t a book that’s meant to be read from cover to cover, although an inquiring mind is welcome to do so.
Instead, it provides you with an introduction to natural medicine, teaches you how to develop a naturally healthy lifestyle, and provides you with a reference that you can thumb through when you’re dealing with specific health issues.
Having this book in your home can help you to feel more knowledgeable as you work on improving your health and when you need to seek help for specific conditions.
You can have The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine Third Edition delivered to your home, your Kindle or Kindle reader and you can find it here;
