"This US produced book is primarily aimed at orthodox healthcare professionals such as physicians. It purports to provide at-a-glance information on approximately 85 herbs, 80 supplements, and 75 common conditions. It is stated that the pocket-sized reference focuses on the issues most relevant to actual clinical practice, such as drug-interactions, safety issues and identification of the natural products patients may be using. It aims to allow the reader to: 1. Rapidly identify possible drug interactions and other important safety issues using a condition-based approach that allows physicians to identify natural therapies that may present risk to patients. In each of the sections on specific conditions are located up to three tables: the first states known interactions of natural therapies that may be used in treating that condition with conventional drugs; the second, potential interactions of drug classes that may be used in treating that condition with natural therapies; the third, known and potential positive (supportive) interactions of natural therapies with drug classes that may be used in that condition. 2. Quicky assess the evidence behind natural therapies using strength of evidence scale from +4 (indicating multiple double-blind trials of satisfactory design and size) and –2 (indicating moderate to large negative double-blind trials). This scale is beneficial as it allows the reader to quickly assess the strength of evidence behind any proposed natural therapy - although, as the authors note, the scale is more a general guide rather than a formal, rigid analysis of the literature. 3. For each condition find: approach to the patient; review of scientific evidence regarding proposed natural therapies, concise information on relevant drug-herb-supplement interactions; and extensive references. 4. For each herb and supplement find: approach to the patient; review of scientific evidence regarding proposed uses; dosage and product information; mechanisms of action; safety issues; drug interactions; and extensive references. In addition, the introduction gives a brief but well-informed and seemingly unbiased guide to the definitions of herbs and supplements, and some of the problems associated with quality and adulteration. Thus, there is also a useful appendix of brands of herbs that have undergone testing in double-blind trials. The authors end the introduction by recommending to the healthcare professional ‘a balanced and prudent attitude…when considering treatment with herbs and supplements’ based on the evidence presented in the book. The book meets its objectives as stated by the authors. It is well laid out, with each section on a condition or natural therapy easy to read and digest in a short period of time. One of its greatest strengths is the wealth a literature that is used to support the text, which I estimate to be in excess of 3000 references. Since the book is primarily aimed at orthodox health care practitioners, this wealth of evidence, as well as the seemingly clear, scientific and even-handed approach to interpreting it, must be of benefit to the reader as well as to the herbal medical profession. Of course, the herbal practitioner and nutritional therapist could also see this as a valuable reference for checking possible interactions with orthodox drugs which their patients may be taking, as well as the scientific researcher who is presented with so much literature. Such a book should serve as a useful reference for all these professionals and is therefore recommended. "