THE PHARMACIST'S GUIDE TO OVER-THE-COUNTER AND NATURAL REMEDIES

A handy, well-laid-out reference to self-treatment possibilities, with appropriate cautions throughout. Pharmacist Garrison seeks to provide “a bridge that will help you make informed choices between the familiar drugstore medications and the available herbs, vitamins, minerals, and other natural substances that can be used for medicinal purposes.” He first sets out some basics on self-treatment, including how to find a reliable pharmacist for assistance, and details valuable warnings about the possible interactions between herbs and other medications. High does of kava-kava, for instance, “can cause muscle weakness. . . . Potentiates alcohol and other CNS depressants.” The bulk of this guide is then given over to a discussion of more than 75 conditions, from abscesses through yeast infections, first explaining the condition, and then listing the possible remedies (again including appropriate cautions). Garrison recommends, for example, that bursitis, the inflammation of the sac surrounding the body’s friction points (e.g., the elbow), be treated by eliminating the cause (incorrect tennis technique, perhaps). Meanwhile, symptomatic relief can be provided by analgesics, whether OTC products like aspirin or natural remedies like boswellia (“Look for a standardized extract. . . . Use of boswellia should be monitored by a physician”). Reasonable suggestions for self-help, in an well-organized, accessible format.