Readers may find the term herbal drugstore an oxymoron. But just as conventional drugstores carry prescription drugs and products for skin care, hair care, and even pet care, hundreds of manufacturers are now distributing herbal remedies and treatments for these same ailments and needs. "And just as a conventional drugstore can be a bewildering place, competing herbal products can leave you confused as to what to buy," according to authors Linda B. White, M.D. (Kids, Herbs, Health: A Parents' Guide to Natural Remedies) and Steven Foster (101 Medicinal Herbs: An Illustrated Guide). "We created this book to be your guide to an ever-growing herbal marketplace."

They deliver even more than they promise. This is one of the most comprehensive and well-written herbal guidebooks available. The opening pages are devoted to important discussions about herb usage, including safety tips (such as never giving herbs to children younger than 2 years old without your doctor's approval), dosage information, and how to make your own herbal remedies. It has a quick-glance chart of familiar ailments, along with a listing of commonly used drugs and herbal alternatives. (For instance, according to the chart, bladder infections are routinely treated with antibiotics, but numerous herbal remedies exist, including bearberry, cranberry, goldenseal, goldenrod, and Oregon grape root.)

The meat of the book, however, is devoted to an alphabetized listing of ailments as well as extensive discussions of herbal remedies, dosages, and ongoing treatments. For example, under "sinus infection," readers will find a list of symptoms, a sympathetic write-up about the causes and different kinds of infections, and a list of numerous herbs and treatments, from echinacea to the Chinese herb astragalus. Entries address minor ailments such as a hangover to serious diseases like diabetes and Parkinson's disease. The book closes with a thorough index and a listing of manufacturers that sell herbs. Without a doubt, this is the book for treating common ailments with herbs. Anyone interested in exploring alternatives to prescription drugs will find safe and sound advice within these informative pages. --Gail Hudson

The Herbal Drugstore, which has already sold hundreds of thousands of copies in hardcover, sifts through all the scientific research, facts, and opinions to provide objective, concise profiles of more than 280 drugs and drug categories, along with their herbal alternatives. For each health problem (almost 100 are listed), you can weigh the functions and side effects of the most common pharmaceutical treatments against the benefits and cautions of the best-known herbal remedies. -Accurate dosage information for using herbs safely and effectively -Essential information about potential herb-drug and herb-herb interactions -Comprehensive chart lists drugs and their herbal alternatives side by side -In-depth profiles of nearly 60 herbs, with explanations of herb sources, uses, and safety issues -Shopper's guide for choosing among various herb forms and brands -Detailed instructions for making your own herbal remedies

This book is a collection of knowledge from doctors and herbal practicioners that provides the reader with information to help make informed decisions on whether to use medicine or herbal alternatives.

This book is layed out well and is easy to navigate and use.

There are profiles of herbal treatments including effectiveness, possible side effects, and typical dosage. There are the usual cautions also.

The types of herbs are categorized.

"The Herbal Drugstore" also offers the following:

Remedies by condition(ailment) listed with commonly used drugs and herbal alternatives.

Tips on buying herbs, growing herbs, making your own herbal products.

Exploring treatment options.

The Herb Profiles section offers a close-up look at common herbs showing alternate names, source, part used, forms available, uses, and cautions.

The Index at the end of the book is very helpful also.

I recommend keeping "The Herbal Drugstore" on hand as a valuable, convenient herbal guide. I would rate it on par with "The Green Pharmarcy".

I have read through this book once and I already like it. And now I will have another reference book to go to when illnesses come upon us. I used to work with pharmaceuticals and now I am very much interested in staying away from man-made drugs. Sometimes, when all else failse, I go to the doctor just to find out what is wrong. Then I go home and make my own herbal remedies.

It is easier to start using natural remedies before you start taking a lot of prescription drugs. There could be many side effects if you combine the two. For me there is no choice - I will always try to use the herbal choice. But it is great information for those who are weighing their options. As always, this book is not exhaustive. There are other books that are not as heavy in the medical terminology and that get down to the bottom line. But if you are taking other medications and want to add herbal remedies or would like to go completely over to the natural cures, this is a great book.

I have used this book for many years as it is the best source I have found to find alternative solutions to medical situations. It is extensive in its coverage and is the only resource I have found that tells both what medication would be prescribed by a doctor and what alternative can be used in its place. My copy is worn from usage and I have given a couple as gifts to friends.

I have other books on herbs but this book is very thorough. It is easy to use as a reference book for remedies to real health issues. My husband read an article in the newspaper and I found additional information in the Herbal Drugstore. He took the book along on his doctor's visit and our doctor prescribed Niaspan instead of a statin to lower his cholesterol. In future discussions with my doctors I will ask if we can rely less on medication and try a more natural method of controling my healh issues.

I had a bit of trouble rating this one; I was tempted to give it a three but ultimately was forced to decide on a 2. If Amazon offered a 2 1/2 choice, I would have used it.

Don't get me wrong - I didn't dislike this book. It had it's good points but the negatives couldn't allow me to give it a 3 as an average rating. For the positive side of things, this book is massive, pretty, well organized, and written in a simple to understand manner.

It's from the staff of Herbs for health, which includes many herbalists that are recommendable such as Christopher Hobbs. The main author of this book is Linda B. White, M.D., followed by Steven Foster. While I commend Ms. White for writing herbals and having an M.D. at the same time - we need more physicians taking alternate healing seriously - I felt the book was a bit too cautious and at time allopathic orientated.

Within every condition, there lay herbal recommendations....with prescription drug names and uses. In fact, drug names are listed first :( If this is a book on healing and herbs and natural remedies, why does it have to again share its pedestal? And even worse, be placed second when the book is supposed to be about it in the first place? If this Herbal Drugstore is supposed to be the options to prescriptions and over the counter drugs, then why list them so often in every section with details? At least their side effects are listed, which makes them appear a bit frightening in comparison. For those who really do want to know the name of each prescription drug used to treat asthma, angina, or any other condition, then here you'll find it.

Steven Foster was the co-writer for Tyler's honest herbal, which is an oxymoron if I ever heard one. Tyler's honest herbal remains one of the most hated books of the herbal profession, and for good reason. Fosters contribution there may also have been too cautious, although one isn't sure how much he really had to do with it. I am surprised someone who devotes so much time to herbs and even a magazine about them is so overly cautious, but that seems to be the current trend.

I did greatly appreciate some sections such as "How Herbs are Regulated" and common herb/drug interactions. The former is an interesting addition that's not seen enough, and was told honestly. There is a great simple reference guide at the beginning in a table where a condition is named, then commonly used drugs, then the herbal alternatives beside them.

The section on conditions is extensive enough and does offer more recommendations than herbs, as well as the occassional cool remedy/formula. Many of these seem like decent to good blends, particularly blister balm, Endometriosis Tea, and Swimmer's Ear Drops. Typical dosage is given for each herb, including teas or pills or tinctures, which is welcome.

The final half wraps up with very short comments on herbs, basically stating uses without complete sentences as a quick reference to herbs already covered elsewhere in the book. After these are the typical references and resources.

Overall this book is not bad but it's just so plain in terms of natural therapy. It's for the basic, basic lay person who only has a passing interest in herbal therapies. Here they're treated almost like little drugs beside other drugs, as alternatives, and no mention really on other herbal uses, as in holistic healing, etc. Diet is mentioned at times, and this is appreciated, but everything is so cautionary as seems to be found with these kinds of books lately.

Because of this, it can only be granted a low score. Not enough information per condition, with drugs listed FIRST, then herbs, and not much info on the herbs either. Too cautionary and medical minded to be a highly recommended herbal, but alright for the passerby who just wants to take a look.