Non-prescription Healing aids

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Jan, 2004 by Beatrice Trum Hunter

Healing Without Medication

by Robert S. Rister

Basic Health Publications, 8200 Blvd E., N. Bergen, New Jersey 07047 USA

Oversized quality paperback, notes, index, 2003, $24.95, 738 pp

Healing Without Medication is a comprehensive guide to medicinal herbs and nutritional supplements found useful in promoting healing in more than 200 health problems, including conditions such as acne, alcohol withdrawal, bedwetting, epilepsy, jet lag, intestinal parasites, migraine, rheumatoid arthritis, shingles, and tennis elbow. The health problems are listed in alphabetical order in the table of contents and the index, as well as in the text, along with cross references. Thus, searching for a topic is easy and quick to locate. Symptoms are listed, followed by sections about understanding the disease and healing process of the condition, as well as treatment suggestions of nutritional supplements and herbals. Specific suggestions are offered for both supplements and herbs, making the recommendations practical. If an individual with a condition is already taking prescription medications, warnings are given about potentially dangerous interactions.

Shingles will serve as an example of an entry. The symptoms and disease process of this painful condition are described. The dietary treatment suggests eliminating all polyunsaturated vegetable oils, margarines, vegetable shortenings, and products made with partially hydrogenated oils, and increasing consumption of omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish (salmon, sardines, herring, etc;) or flaxseeds. The recommended nutritional supplements are enteric-coated bromelain, papain, or chymotrypsin, in dosages suggested on the product label. In addition, 100 mg of vitamin B-complex daily, and 400 IU of vitamin E daily are added. For herbal treatment, capsaicin (Zostrix) cream is suggested, to be applied 3 or 4 times daily to the affected areas, but only after the blisters have healed. The reader is cautioned not to apply the cream to broken skin, and to avoid areas of the eyes and mouth. In the section "Understanding the Healing Process," the author presents the scientific evidence of how proteolytic enzymes, such as bromelain from pineapple, papain from papaya, or chymotrypsin from the pancreas of many animals including humans, can relieve shingles. Although proteolytic enzymes are safe for almost everyone, Rister cautions against their use by individuals with cystic fibrosis. Also, he cautions that frequent use of proteolytic enzymes is undesirable, and that the occasional allergenic reaction may be experienced. In "Concepts for Coping with Shingles," Rister suggests cold packs and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS), available from some chiropractors and massage therapists, as useful adjuncts. Unfortunately, acupuncture does not appear to be helpful for this condition.

The book includes a section titled "Healing Tools," describing in alphabetical order, a number of specific vitamins, minerals, amino acids, phytochemicals, enzymes, homeopathics, standardized herbs, and other useful substances. Each entry is described regarding its special properties, its functions, its proper dosages, and precautions.

The last section of the book deals with known and potential interactions between herbs, vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional supplements with commonly prescribed drugs. For example, taking St. John's wort at the same time as the anti-rejection drug, cyclosporine, can lead to tissue rejection. Or, Siberian ginseng increases the toxicity of gioxin (lanoxin), while dong quai can increase the risk of bleeding if taken with warfarin (coumadin).

Healing Without Medication (actually, healing without prescription drugs) is a useful compendium for all who seek safe healing without resorting to potentially harmful mainstream medications.

Rister is a well-qualified and responsible writer. He is one of the editors of The Complete German Commission E Monographs, considered to be a reliable reference work. He has authored several others books, including Japanese Herbal Medicine: The Healing Art of Kampo, and Medicine of the Five Rings.

review by Beatrice Trum Hunter