Book Nook: Natural Antibiotic Treatments - Heal Your Body, Heal Your Mind

There's a lot of press out there nowadays about the ill effects of overuse of antibiotics. They have often been overprescribed, and many times they aren't necessary (however, obviously they are still a vital tool for some conditions). I recently had a chance to review Natural Antibiotic Treatments - Heal Your Body, Heal Your Mind. This book looks at conditions sometimes treated by antibiotics that don't require them.

I like the book's holistic approach - it's not just about physical health, but mental health as well. It's informative about the uses of many medicinal plants, some commonly known, others more obscure. It's also very well-organized, so people suffering from a certain condition can find exactly what they're looking for.

Obviously this book won't solve all possible health problems, but it's a really good resource for anyone who wants to try a natural approach. As with all health-related issues, you should talk to your doctor to make sure they're aware of what you're doing; many times complementary and alternative medicine can work well with traditional medicine, but sometimes there are interactions that medical professionals need to know about.

Aruna M. Siewert is a healing practitioner, having completed her extensive training and advanced medical education under the umbrella of botanical/ herbal medicine and the workings of the body. She has her own daily practice and was for many years a docent at the Campus Naturalis in Berlin in the disciplines of healing practise, botanical medicine and aromatherapy. Aruna lives in Berlin, Germany (and speaks fluent German only).