Delmar's Integrative Herb Guide for Nurses is the first book to present the ways nurses can successfully integrate herbs into a caring practice alongside more conventional biomedical therapies. Herbs were once a major source of the remedies used in healing. The development of synthetic drugs during the twentieth century largely replaced the use of herbal therapies in nursing practice. This trend is beginning to change again, however, as nurses now encounter patients turned health care consumers who actively seek alternatives to biomedicine, such as herbal therapies. Today's nurse is also becoming more aware of a larger demographic group of patients who continue to use generations-old, plant-based remedies. The guide begins with an introduction to medicinal plants and includes a brief overview of botany, safe use information, and suggestions on how to use the guide in practice. The main body of the guide includes twelve chapters profiling fifty-eight common herbs. Each chapter contains practical information on how to integrate plant-based therapies into patient care. The guide concludes by showing nurses ways they can learn more about the use of plant therapies in holistic practice and includes a sample curriculum for a thirty-two week introductory course on the integrative use of plant therapies.

This guide describes ways herbs can be integrated into a practice along with more conventional biomedical therapies. It provides an introduction to medicinal plants, including a brief overview of botany and safe use guidelines. Twelve chapters profile 58 common herbs. A color insert features illustrations of each plant. Libster is a certified practitioner and consultant in traditional Chinese and Western herbal medicine, and a nurse.
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Designed specifically for the practicing nurse, this valuable reference on medicinal herbs presents an integrated approach to the study of plant therapies by including numerous sources of plant knowledge such as scientific studies, cultural uses, and historical nursing uses. Over 50 herb profiles are accompanied by foundational information for the nurse and the novice learner of botanical/medicinal plant science and therapies.

Entering the World of Healing Plants. The relationship of people and plants. 1 Individual and International. 2 The Chlorophyll Connection. Plant Personality 1. Botany a. Growth patterns and plant designs b. Plant constituents and active medicinal principles c. The Sensory Experience of Plant Personality. A History of Healing. A. Making Medicine 1. Ethnobotany 2. Pharmacognosy III. Plants and Paradigms. Interdisciplinary Interest. Medico-Pharmacological Paradigm: Evidence from research. Traditional Paradigm: Evidence from observation and use over time 1.Cultural Comments. Nursing Paradigm: Evidence from an integrative caring practice 1. Comfort. 2. Midwifery. The future of an integrative paradigm 1. The vision of the World Health Organization 2. Working with traditional healers IV. Carefulness and Conservation. A. Standards and Control. B. Gentle Greens/ Powerful Potions. C. Safe Sampling vs. Grazing with Gusto. V. Nursing care and plants: Back to the Roots. Nature care and making remedies. 1. Plants as medicine and healing foods. a. Teas/Soups. b. Tablets and Capsules. c. Tinctures and Extracts. d. Syrups. e. Functional Foods. 2. Topical Applications of Plants. a. Compresses. b. Poultices. c. Oils and Liniments. d. Salves and Ointments. 3. Plants and a healing environment. a. Aromatherapy and essential oils . b. Herbal Baths. c. Inhalations - Steam and Incense. d. Healing gardens. Partnering with plants. 1. Healing memories. 2. Plant presence. VI.Plant Profiles Adaptogens. Health Patterns. 1. Introduction to Profiles. 2. Comfort and Pain relief. 3. Endocrine balance. 4. Adaptation and infection. 5. Skin care and wound healing. 6. Sleep and rest. 7. Elimination. 8. Nutrition and Appetite. 9. Energy 10. Emotions and Stress. 11. Mobility. 12. Lifestyle Choices (Substance Misuse). 13. Restoration (Longevity, Aging, and antioxidants) VII.Education, Research, and Resources. A. Learning about Lemon; Cues from Cranberry. B. Naturopathy, Herbalism, and Nurses' Nature Care. C. Reasonable research. D. Medicinal Plants and the Law. VIII. Conclusion: Staying in contact with the garden. A. Planting a Seed B. Necessary and Unnecessary Weeding . C. Enjoying the vista