Rating: 
Summary: GREAT REFERENCE MATERIAL!
Review: "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" contains a wealth of information on nutrition, herbs, diseases and alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, Chinese medicine, biofeedback and massage. Since I am personally a great believer in herbal medicine, this book was of particular interest to me. However, like any medication, one must be cautious of what herbs they are using and how they may interact with each other.While there are many positive sides to the book, there are also negative aspects of the book; mainly, it is "information overload." It is certainly not a book you would pick up and spend hours reading in one session, but I do not believe that was ever the intent of the authors. From sports nutrition, cancer and heart disease risk factors, filtered versus non-filtered water, the list of topics goes on and on, particularly when it comes to various diseases. While the book is certainly factual, I did give it a four star rating because in some respects, it was just "too much of a good thing." Some components made for very dry reading, and others could have been cross-referenced in a better manner. I must admit, there were one or two sections that I skipped entirely; the book just seemed to go on and on. However, "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" does serve as excellent resource material, even if it does not make for enjoyable bedside reading unless, perhaps, you are a medical guru.
Rating:
Summary: Tons of health information but no references
Review: The book's biggest weakness is that it has no list of references. So you can either take its health claims on faith or get on the Internet and start searching MEDLINE yourself. In that case, this book will work as a point of departure for doing your own research.
Rating: 
Summary: very complete information, easy to use
Review: This book is very easy to use, with various disorders listed alphabetically. Each problem listed contains a description of symptoms, possible underlying causes of disorder, nutrients which are listed as either essential, very important, important, or helpful for the treatment of the disorder, a description of various herbs which may help, and how to use them, and other recommendations and considerations. For instance, under bronchitis, recommendations includes "drink plenty of fluids. Pure water, herbal teas and soups are all good choices." and "Add moisture to the air..." Under considerations, bronchodilators are discussed, inhalers are mentioned, and one is advised to get a chest xray if bronchitis "does not clear up in a reasonable amount of time." There are actually hundreds of disorders listed in this book. It is the most complete reference I have seen for natural remedies, written for the layperson. There is an extensive section on various nutrients, why they are necessary, for what conditions they should be used, and how they should be taken. At the back is a list of manufacturers of the various supplements mentioned. This book certainly does not displace medical care, but it is a good supplement. It is very useful for minor ailments for which one would not want to see a doctor, or for chronic conditions such as endometriosis or chronic fatigue syndrome, which traditional medical practitioners are unable to easily cure. I can highly recommend this one to anyone who takes supplements and wants more information on how to heal the body with natural remedies.
Rating:
Summary: The "update" is surprisingly plentiful.
Review: Since I have the second edition, I was reluctant to buy the third, thinking that I would not see much difference. But I was definitely wrong! This new edition is really worth the price of the new book. The quantity and quality of the new information is outstanding. I was so pleased, I gave it as a gift with Balch's Prescription for Dietary Wellness. That way if you would like to heal what ails you with a better diet you can learn what to eat. Let's face it, not everyone is comfortable with a diet of pills. The two books make a delightful team, one complementing the other. I cannot imagine a more comprehensive approach to "you are what you eat."
Rating: 
Summary: Misinformation
Review: First day I owned this book I noticed under "Honey" (page 73) the claim that honey was 35% protein! Are the authors insane? Honey contains no protein whatsover. It is sugar, has always been sugar and will always be sugar. (Look at the label on any honey you have ever purchased). With misinfomation like this on such basic elements as honey I shudder to think of the other bad advice I'll find beyond.
Rating:
Summary: A must have!!
Review: I have owed this book (first addition) for 10 years now. When the second addition came out I bought it and gave my first one away. I have recommended this book to everyone that shows an interest in health and supplements. It is a very easy to understand book. It tells you about all the vitamins, minerals ect as well as about the problem you are trying to rememdy. It does not just tell you to take xyz it tells you why. When someone asks me a question about a condition / rememdy this is the first and only book that I pull off my bookshelf.
Rating:
Summary: A New Update of the "Bible" for Feeling Better
Review: A new update of the "Bible" for feeling better. I have had a copy of the second edition for years and refer to it regularly on many subjects. What I really appreciate about this book is: 1. It is comprehensive and lists many different drug-free remedies for various disorders and health conditions including vitamins, minerals, herbs, food supplements, exercise and meditation. 2. It is realistic about the role of herbs in healing. Unlike other materials and books it does not advocate the exclusive usage of herbs for healing or view herbs as a "cure-all." It is also quite honest and very straightforward about the dangers of some herb usage (for example, the regular use of licorice root, which has been determined to cause a sudden and unexpected rise in the blood pressure of some individuals.) 3. The book lists diseases, illnesses and disorders in alphabetical order (along with recommended treatment) for quick reference. There are other chapters which specifically explore vitamins, minerals, herbs, the role of food supplements, nutrition and good water. A copy of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing", now in its third edition, is highly recommended for every household.
Rating:
Summary: Clear and Concise Reference Book!
Review: As Alternative Medicine host at Bella Online, I refer to this book more often than any other in my extensive library of altenative, herbal, homeopathic, Chinese, and Eastern therapy books. Each time I search for a subject, I'm amazed at the simplicity and the amount of valuable information in a single volume. Thanks Balch and Balch.
Rating:
Summary: More than I expected
Review: I just recently became interested in nutrition, herbs and vitamins. I have only made it through a couple sections in this book and find it to be a wealth of information. A perfect reference for the nutritional novice and I'm looking forward to the lifestyle changes from this book. www.ltsp.net/users/carl
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended for self-help
Review: I am working on my college degree in Health Science and I want to comment that this book is THE MOST helpful book I have ever owned! Packed with accurate information, I have cured most of my ailments and have also learned more about many specific health problems. Not only does it give information on what the specific vitamins, minerals, and nutrients do, it tells you where they can be found naturally in the foods you eat, instead of always resorting to pill supplements. If you have an ailment (like a skin infection for example) it tells you what nutrients are needed in order to cure the problem. I am tired of having the doctor medicate me with costly prescriptions only to create more problems for me (ex. Erythromycin for my bronchitis burned my stomach and gave me a yeast infection) Had I known about this book before I got that prescription, I would have been a lot more comfortable. I highly recommend this book. Great reference manual.
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