According to calculations made by the World Health Organisation the use of herbal remedies throughout the world exceeds that of so called conventional drugs by two or three times. This despite the existence since the beginning of this century of a worldwide and influential pharmaceutical industry. We also know that medicines derived from plants predate any other form of medication and that until the last few centuries all human experience of medicine is based upon them. It is now understood that even animals choose to eat certain plants for 'medical' purposes. Given this overwhelming...

This book takes the myth and magic out of complementary medicine and presents us with a simple, straightforward formula for helping ourselves to better health. For far too long, the alternative to drug-based medicine was to take another medicine labelled 'natural' or 'alternative'. Usually rather expensive and provided without the confidence installed by the backing of a practitioner. Now the gap between the two has been bridged by this straightforward down-to earth advice on integrating natural remedies into our day-to-day living via the Spice Shelf. This little fountain of knowledge,...