[...]... infections, and more, further expanding women’s health- care autonomy I support the self-care approach to healing Much of the practice of medicine is not particularly difficult or complex Education and resources can provide a lot of very practical information One of the things I’ve tried to do in this book is not only to provide some self-care treatments for common female disorders but also to provide guidelines... bleeding episodes, nutrients such as bioflavonoids and bromelain for their natural anti-inflammatory effect, herbal extracts for their ability to bring about ovulation and orderly stimulation of ovarian function, and herbs for their tonifying and astringent effects The concept of tissue tonification is a key feature of the philosophy of herbal medicine It is thought that gynecological conditions associated... only in people with cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis, or malnutrition and in children and adolescents However, for a period of only one month, as in this study, vitamin A toxicity is of virtually no concern, and I would not hesitate to use it for this amount of time, or up to three months Using lower doses of 25,000 IU for longer periods of time should be considered in those cases where ongoing treatment... student at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine If it were not for her, I would not have learned to use a computer Thanks to her weekly tutoring, I finally achieved at least a functional level of competence Susanna was critically involved in the research of information for the first edition of the book and in planning its organization and format I also want to thank Dr Sandoval Melin for his expertise... more empowered women have come to reject the dictums of orthodox medicine in greater numbers Women intuit the limitations of the biomechanical model to completely explain physiological processes Despite the orthodox physician’s uniform advocacy for menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for all, only a fraction, less than 20 percent of women, comply; 90 percent of the women who begin HRT stop... are conditions of the whole organism, involving a complex interaction of physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, and social/cultural/economic factors The physician must treat the whole person by taking all of these factors into account Homeostasis and harmony of functions of all aspects of the individual are essential to recovery from disease, prevention of future health problems,... year of use Partially a failure of access, it is also a profound testimonial to their lack of trust in conventional medicine s safety, efficacy, and commitment to their well-being The creation of synthetic hormones in the 1950s and 1960s was unquestionably revolutionary for women in that it suddenly allowed personal life autonomy through successful fertility control and the elimination of the hot flashes... gets to choose It may be black cohosh, or it may be estrogen It may be a rigorous naturopathic health regimen, or it may be surgery It may be an integrated combination, a “complementary” approach using the best of two worlds Choice is a powerful force—the force of individual responsibility, empowerment, and self-direction Choice fosters will, desire, discipline, and motivation Freedom of choice occurs... iron content of whole wheat flour Brewer’s yeast and wheat germ are both excellent sources of iron, supplying about 18 and 8 mg respectively per half cup Blackstrap molasses is not only one of the richest sources of iron but also of many other minerals It supplies about 9 mg of iron per tablespoon; dark unrefined molasses contains 1.5 mg of iron per tablespoon, and sugar, none Single foods high in iron... natural or pharmaceutical, can be resonant The art of medicine is to know when to use what, for whom, and for how long I believe the most profound healing principle in the practice of medicine is the principle of resonance, not whether the medicine is natural or synthetic, alternative or conventional, or a naturopathic philosophy versus conventional allopathic philosophy The healing method is the medicine . alt="" WOMEN’S ENCYCLOPEDIA of NATURAL MEDICINE WOMEN’S ENCYCLOPEDIA of NATURAL MEDICINE A Alternative T Therapies a and I Integrative Medicine f for . 481 vii For more information about this title, click here This page intentionally left blank FOREWORD ix I ’ve long been a fan of the work of Dr. Tori Hudson,