The Best Alternative Medicine Books for Beginners

"Susan's approach to Ayurveda is simplicity itself. In Ayurveda Beginners Guide she has described the complex network of Ayurvedic information in a very practical, straightforward way so that every person can understand the healing modality of Ayurveda."―Vasant Lad, BAM&S, MASc, Ayurvedic Physician Founder of the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico, advisor for the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, and author of numerous books including Ayurveda: Science of Self-Healing and The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies.

Ayurveda is a profound science with wisdom spanning so wide that it can be difficult to know exactly where to begin. As an Ayurvedic consultant, Susan Weis-Bohlen helps those who are new to Ayurveda address this exact issue. In Ayurveda Beginners Guide Susan explains of the holistic principles behind Ayurveda, and offers gentle guidance for incorporating its restorative practices in your everyday life. Designed with the newcomer in mind, Ayurveda Beginner's Guide presents:. A concise overview of Ayurveda that covers its historical roots, concepts, and various healing methodsA 3-week Ayurveda plan for beginners to introduce Ayurvedic concepts into one's lifestyle gently and practicallyA wide range of Ayurveda techniques such as recipes, yoga, aromatherapy, meditation, seasonal cleanses, and moreA simple dosha quiz and in-depth descriptions of each doshaAyurveda Beginner's Guide will show you how to unlock the transformative powers of Ayurveda and move forward in your journey towards a healthier state of mind, body, and spirit.

The beloved best-selling classic for the modern herbalist—a definitive guide to 250 safe and effective herbal medicines, preparations, and single-herb remedies to make at home. This comprehensive, full-color guide offers detailed and easy-to-follow instructions for making and using approximately 250 all-natural DIY herbal medicines. With practical tips, in-depth preparation techniques, and an inside look at some of the authors’ own favorite formulas, The Modern Herbal Dispensatory walks beginners and advanced herbalists alike through:. • The 12 major categories of herbs, from aromatic to sweet.

• Herbal preparations: the many ways to prepare and use herbs, from capsules and tinctures to standardized extracts and essential oils. • Choosing the best dosage form for each category of herb. • How to harvest, dry, and use fresh herbs. • Extractions: terms, equipment, solvents, and calculations, plus how to extract herbs in water, alcohol, glycerin, and vinegar. • Advanced techniques: like percolation extracts, fluid extracts, and soxhlet extracts. • Preparations like oil-based extractions, topical applications, concentrates, lozenges, traditional Chinese methods, and more. • Formulas and dosages: how to design herbal formulas and use herbs safely and effectively. • Herbal insights and need-to-know wisdom, like why different preparations of the same herb affect the body differently; which herbs are medicinal when dry, but could be toxic when fresh; and why beginners typically see more potent results with formulations versus single-herb preparations. The text includes multiple appendices, recommendations for further reading, in-depth full-color photo guides, and a helpful index. With advice on herbal preparations for 100+ illnesses and conditions and a comprehensive materia medica, The Modern Herbal Dispensatory is an enduring classic and beloved plant-medicine reference manual for herbalists, natural medicine practitioners, and anyone seeking safe, holistic, at-home care and inexpensive all-natural remedies.

From a leading neurologist, neuroscientist and practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine, comes a rigorous scientific investigation of the healing power of sound, showing readers how they can use it to improve their mental and physical wellbeing. Why does a baby’s cry instantaneously flood a mother’s body with a myriad of stress hormones? How can a song on the radio stir up powerful emotions, from joy to anger, regret to desire? Why does sound itself evoke such primal and deeply felt emotions? A vibration that travels through air, water and solids, sound is produced by all matter, and is a fundamental part of every species’ survival.

But there is a hidden power within sound that has only just begun to be investigated. Sound Medicine takes readers on a journey through the structure of the mouth, ears, and brain to understand how sound is translated from acoustic vibrations into meaningful neurological impulses. Renowned neurologist and Ayurvedic expert Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary explains how different types of sound impact the human body and brain uniquely, and explores the physiological effects of sound vibration, from altering mood to healing disease. Blending ancient wisdom with modern science, Dr. Chaudhary traces the history of sound therapy and the use of specific mantras from previously unknown texts—traced back to the Siddhas, a group of enlightened yogis who created a healing tradition that served as the precursor to Ayurvedic medicine—to explain the therapeutic application of sounds for a wide range of conditions. Sound Medicine offers practical, step-by-step lessons for using music and mantras, whether you’re a beginner or searching for a more advanced practice, to improve your health in body, mind, and spirit.