Book Review
British Dental Journal 218, 270 (2015)
Published online: 13 March 2015 | doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2015.161
Published online: 13 March 2015 | doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2015.161
Book review: Dental herbalism – Natural therapies for the mouth
S. Conroy
BOOK REVIEWED -
- L. M. Alexander, & L. A. Straub-Bruce
- Healing Arts Press: 442 pp. £11.77
9781620551950
With
a shift of focus in healthcare towards a holistic approach it falls on
us, as dental professionals, to familiarise ourselves with complementary
techniques, so as to better advise our patients of the options with
regards to their oral health.
Part one of this
easy-to-read guide of all things herbal explores the anatomy of the head
and neck, providing a guide to the oral cavity and an introduction to
the dental team. It establishes the importance of prevention, including
plaque control and diet advice, and this is a recurrent theme throughout
the book.
Part two explores the oral cavity's
journey from infancy to old age, with 49 common conditions that may be
encountered along the way, reminding the reader of the importance of
attending their dentist, and the dangers of self-diagnosis.
Part
three is a whirlwind tour of everything herbal, profiling 41 herbs that
the authors feel should be integral to a herbalist's 'material medica'.
It provides properties, indications, cautions and preparations, and
puts the herbs into action, explaining how they can be applied in
different situations.
The book closes with an
overview of general issues affecting oral health and examines the link
between oral health and systemic disease. It controversially includes a
summary of 18 contentious issues that affect oral health, with fluoride
and amalgam noticeable mentions. The authors highlight this is an area
they had difficulty in writing, and remind the reader that
health-related decisions are always a personal choice.
The
book implores safety and aims not to replace professional care or
provide diagnoses. It reminds readers that although herbs may often act
as excellent symptom alleviators, they are rarely curative, and so must
be used only in support of conventional dental treatment.
Dental herbalism
undoubtedly provides sound basic knowledge for herbalists and for
dental professionals exploring complementary therapies, however, I would
advise caution in recommending this book to patients as I feel aspects
may challenge and contradict our professional advice. With regards to
fluoride, although not condemning its use, it in no way highlights its
importance in caries prevention, and, even with the safety warnings in 'Dental Herbalism', I still worry patients may potentially delay seeking treatment and the correct diagnosis.
