Herbal Therapy and Supplements or The Lighter the Berry

Herbal Therapy and Supplements: A Scientific and Traditional Approach

Author: Merrily A Kuhn

This unique, portable clinical reference provides easily-accessible and clinically relevant monographs of herbs, spices, and aromatherapy oils for use by health care providers. The monographs, similar to those presented in nurses' drug handbooks, contain information on the health risks of taking these substances with over-the-counter and prescription drugs, a behavior that is increasing among the general public. Assessment guidelines help providers monitor side effects, toxicity, and drug-herb/drug-spice interaction. Specifics of monographs include action, current use, pharmacokinetics, toxicity, contraindications, side effects, long term safety, use in pregnancy/lactation and use for children. Appendices provide drug-herb interaction tables, contraindicated herbs, a listing of 'do not take together' herbs, and a listing by use/indication. Each monograph includes line drawings of each herb, and extensive reference and research listings.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer: Edilma L. Yearwood, PhD, RN, CS (Pace University)
Description: This is an easy to use handbook on herbal products and supplements commonly used in the U.S. and Canada. Information on each product is presented in a monograph form.
Purpose: The authors have succeeded in developing a manageable, current, and easy to carry reference book for use by clinicians. The content on herbs and supplements is well organized, thorough, and comprehensive.
Audience: This is a timely reference for healthcare professionals who work with individuals who use herbal products and supplements. The authors are a nurse with a PhD in physiology and an herbalist. They state that one of their goals is to provide traditional information as well as available scientific data on the products described. Both students and experienced practitioners will find this book helpful in their practice with a variety of clients.
Features: Each herbal monograph and supplement includes the name of the product, description of the plant, action, ingredients, traditional and current use, available forms, dosage, contraindications, and side effects. Another positive feature is the inclusion of a bibliography at the end of each monograph. Appendixes list herbs or supplements that may be used in specific medical conditions and the herbs that are contraindicated in pregnancy and breast feeding. There is also a list of commonly used abbreviations and a glossary.
Assessment: This is an excellent reference for providers who prescribe these products or who work with clients who use herbal products. The authors have included known research and scientific information on products whenever possible. Well written, easy to access, and current in its information. this is a must have for providers.

Rating

5 Stars! from Doody

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The Lighter the Berry: Race, Color and Gender in the Lives of African American and Mexican Women

Author: Margaret L Hunter

Women and the Politics of Skin Tone tackles the hidden yet painful issue of colorism in the African American and Mexican American communities. Beginning with a historical discussion of slavery and colonization in the Americas, the book quickly moves forward to a contemporary analysis of how skin color continues to plague people of color today. Margaret Hunter describes how colorism leads to discrimination resulting in lower levels of education, lower incomes, and lower status husbands. In addition to issues of color, Hunter also investigates the growing phenomenon of cosmetic surgery to Anglicize facial features such as noses and lips.

In startling interviews with African American and Mexican American women, Margaret Hunter also presents the voices of women of color who describe the personal, and often private pain of colorism in their own lives. Light-skinned women gain advantages in terms of beauty status and romantic relationships, while dark-skinned women ae typically viewed as more authentic members of their own racial/ethnic groups. This is the first book to explore this well-known, yet rarely discussed phenomenon.