THE CELLULAR WELLNESS SOLUTION

Herbs can help alleviate chronic illnesses and much else that ails you, according to this sprawling primer.

Rawls, a physician, bases his account of the medicinal action of herbs on an analysis of processes that can sicken and kill cells called “glycation,” which is the tendency of glucose molecules to stick to proteins, caused by eating too many carbs; the buildup of free radicals; the wearing out of mitochondria that supply cells with energy; the corrosive effects of constant physical and mental stress; trace environmental toxins that poison cells; the pervasive presence of microbes that infest and kill cells. To ameliorate these problems, Rawls recommends a diet heavy in vegetables and low in starch, plenty of sleep and exercise, water and air filters to remove toxic contaminants, social distancing, masking and condom usage to avoid microbes, and a low-stress lifestyle. Most of all, he suggests herbal supplements—powdered extracts are his preferred form—with antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other properties. (Among the dozens of herbs he covers, from achyranthes to yohimbe, his personal favorites include the rhodiola herb, a Siberian “adaptogen” taken by Vikings to enhance endurance; reishi mushrooms; the herbal “brain revitalizer” gotu kola; and shilajit, a mixture of phytochemicals and minerals collected from Himalayan crevices.) Rawls lays out the medicinal uses of each herb along with recommended dosages, contraindications (many herbs are blood thinners, for example), and the occasional smoothie recipe. He goes on to prescribe herbal regimens for specific ailments from loss of bone density to low testosterone levels. Rawls knits together a wealth of sophisticated medical ideas, supported by citations from the scientific literature and his own case studies, in prose that’s lucid and down-to-earth but stocked with evocative metaphors. (“The immune system can target infected cells with antibodies, but in the process, it also inadvertently targets normal cells of the same tissues. You might recognize this as autoimmunity. It’s like fighting terrorists hiding out in a city full of civilians.”) Readers interested in trying out natural remedies will find this an eminently useful and reassuring starting point.

A well-written guide to medicinal herbs full of illuminating theory and practical information.