The latest research often proves what Granny knew all along–you don't have to shell out a fortune for doctor's visits, drugs, or surgery to solve some health problems. In this folk encyclopedia you'll read about herbal remedies, ancient healing secrets, and other natural ways to fight illness. Also includes modern health experts and a glimpse into the latest medical research.

This book is NOT really a folk remedy encyclopedia. Every chapter is about a particular illness or problem (i.e. asthma, heart disease, food poisoning, IBS, etc.), it tells what the symptoms are, what foods are recommended and what is not, same for supplements, suggest other medical treatments and then the 'folk' remedy is given at the end of each section as a sort of aside. All the information is basic and not harmful, though none of it is very enlightening for anyone who has ever read an issue of Prevention Magazine. For a similar compendium that is more informative and more geared towards actual 'home' or 'folk' remedies that may actually work, I'd look to Andrew Weil's books. ( )