Mayo Clinic introduces a reliable and easy-to-understand resource on alternative medicine

Want to find ways that may help prevent illness naturally, for a fraction of the cost of a trip to the doctor?  Interested in taking control of your health with evidence-based practices that complement conventional medicine?  Mayo Clinic, a leading authority on health and nutrition, presents Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine, a reliable and easy-to-understand resource on alternative medicine.

Full of the latest medical research from the esteemed Mayo Clinic, the updated and expanded Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine cuts through the clutter of information on alternative medicine, and is the definitive guide for safely and effectively incorporating alternative therapies into daily life.

"Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine informs readers about various natural products and practices.  It is also a guide to alternative therapies that can help treat or prevent disease," said Brent Bauer, M.D., Director, Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program at Mayo Clinic and the book's editor-in-chief.  "The intent is to help promote self-care:  steps you can take on your own to achieve and maintain health and wellness."

Recent studies reveal the important role that the mind plays in healing and fighting disease.  That's why doctors and their patients are increasingly turning to practices once considered "alternative," as they attempt to treat the whole person – in mind, spirit and body.  As alternative therapies begin to integrate with conventional medicine, more and more people are achieving optimal health and healing.

Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine covers everything one needs to know about alternative medicine:  from the benefits of acupuncture and yoga to the use of echinacea and St. John's wort.  Other useful facts include:

• Calcium and magnesium may help reduce high blood pressure
• Oat bran, when eaten regularly as part of a healthy diet, may reduce blood sugar levels for people with type 2 diabetes
• Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil and certain nuts and plants, may be a mood stabilizer for people with bipolar depression and other psychiatric disorders

Acai berry, artichoke, avocado, cayenne, cinnamon and ginger are all simple, cost-effective ingredients that may aid in the prevention of many common diseases and medical conditions.  Who knew that peppermint can treat certain digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome and even heartburn?