Absolute Beginner's Guide to Alternative Medicine

Premenstrual Syndrome

■ Acupuncture

■ Aromatherapy: massage or warm bath with rose oil, clary sage, ylang-ylang,

lavender, lemon grass, sandalwood, jasmine, bergamot—you will have to

decide, by trial and error, which one of these oils best suits you

■ Deep breathing exercises for a least 20 minutes a day

■ Herbs: vitex, black cohosh extract, agnus-castus (10–20 drops each morning);

Helonias; Chinese tonic of dong quai

■ Homeopathy: windflower, pulsatilla, lachesis—1 tablet two times daily—

maximum 1 week; may be repeated next period

■ Meditation

■ Reflexology: massage uterine reflexes below inside ankle bones and ovarian

reflexes beneath outside ankle bones

■ Supplements: vitamin B6, 2–3 g capsule of combined fish oil and evening

primrose oil

Prostate Enlargement (Benign)

■ Herbs: Saw palmetto (160 mg two times a day) pygeum africanum, stinging

nettle root tea

■ Supplements: 30 mg of zinc picolinate daily; add soy foods to diet

Psoriasis

■ Diet: include foods with zinc, beta-carotene, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty

acids; avoid liver and other organ meats, foods that aggravate psoriasis

■ Herbs: aloe vera extract in topical application—apply three times a day—do

not cover

■ Homeopathy: sepai, arsenicum iodatum, petroleum—1 tablet two times

daily—maximum 2 weeks

■ Sunshine on the skin is helpful

338 ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TOALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

34 0789731193_app_a.qxd 3/3/04 12:21 PM Page 338