Books on taking both natural AND synthetic medicines?

[keegans_mommy]

My mother had brain surgery this past April for a small orange sized tumor that, thankfully, turned out to be non-cancerous. A couple weeks later, she had a lump on her cheek removed and that WAS cancerous but they removed it all. She's had 3 tumors removed in her history as well.

Anyway, she's been on a high-blood pressure medication for just years and years with no sign of getting off ever. She cannot take Valerian root nor can she use Grapefruit seed extract with her medications she takes.

She keeps asking me of things she CAN take and I am so afraid to recommend anything with her meds as I am NOT a doctor and I would probably kill her. Eek!

Are there books out there that I can get for her so she can decide what she can and cannot take? Her doc has NO clue about natural medicine, which is no surprise, but she is starting to be interested in using more and more of it since she had her brain surgery.

Please help me find something I can buy for her! She doesn't want to keep pumping synthetic medications into her body, causing MORE problems for her. She's been through enough already.

[Watercolor Ponies]

I am not sure of anything specific, but you might look up anything by Dr. Andrew Weil. He is a world renowned M.D. who is also homeopathic. He is very big into how foods and natural cures can be used in conjunction with traditional medicine. I have seen many interviews with him, and he is very knowledgeable about both realms of healing. Prayers for your mama, I hope she is doing better:goodvibes:

[babydirtybike]

Hi,
Sorry to hear about her conditions, but congrats on having a mom who is willing to take her health care into her own hands. That alone is a huge thing:thumbsup: .

There is a great book that all the health food stores have here in town that is like a giant encylopedia that lists all the natural cures plus all (known *sigh*) drug interactions. I will try to remember the title. It's something generic, but I just can't put my finger on it.

If you check on Amazon (I know :yuck: . Just use their search engine to find the title under the search "drug interactions") you get:

A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions: How to Improve Your Health and Avoid Problems When Using Common Medications and Natural Supplements Together by Schuyler W. Jr Dc Lininger

Herb Contraindications & Drug Interactions: With Appendices Addressing Certain Conditions & Medicines by Francis Brinker

Interactions Between Drugs & Natural Medicines by Chris D. Melitis

Ask your naturopath or a more natural approach pharmacist (ok hard to come by) for some book suggestions.

I know you are looking for books, but....
This is a pretty neat site where you can search your ailment, find treatments and natural remedies and it shows interactions. Click on Healing Centers and then HBP or whatever you want. It'd be a start.
http://www.wholehealthmd.com/ME2/Default.asp

Good luck!

[keegans_mommy]

Thank you ladies! I appreciate it and my mother will appreciate it! :)

She is doing MUCH better now she's done with her brain surgery. It was very scary for all of us but she came through with NO problems! Thank goodness! I have NEVER been so scared in all my life. I think that is the ONE time I cried non-stop for days on end, and easily.

Anyway, she will be pleased to have something to read up on and take charge of her own health. Thank you again!