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      Although I encourage you to read every single word of this book from start to finish, you’re welcome to skip around to acquire your knowledge on a need-to-know basis and completely skip the sidebars (shaded gray) and anything flagged with a Technical Stuff icon. Although this information may be too fascinating to ignore, it’s not essential.

      During the writing of this book, I adopted a few conventions to help convey the content as simply and clearly as possible and highlight important information:

      Within this book, you may note that some web addresses break across two lines of text. If you’re reading this book in print and want to visit one of these web pages, simply key in the web address exactly as it’s noted in the text, pretending as though the line break doesn’t exist. If you’re reading this as an e-book, you’ve got it easy – just click the web address to be taken directly to the web page.

      Foolish Assumptions

      The fact that you’re reading this book tells me that you’re probably not feeling as well as you know you should feel and that you haven’t had much success with conventional medical treatment. Maybe you’re taking a prescription medication that’s causing side effects that are worse than the illness itself. Perhaps you’re worried about the long-term effects of being on multiple medications. Whatever the reason, you’re not satisfied with what conventional medicine has to offer, and you’re looking for a better way.

      Other foolish assumptions I’ve made about you include the following:

      Icons Used in This Book

      Throughout this book, icons in the margins highlight different types of information that call out for your attention. Here are the icons you’ll see and a brief description of each.

      

I want you to remember everything you read in this book, but if you can’t quite do that, then remember the important points flagged with this icon.

      

Tips provide insider insight. When you’re looking for a better, faster way to do something, check out these tips.

      

“Whoa!” This icon appears when you need to be extra vigilant or consult your healthcare provider before moving forward.

      

Occasionally, I feel compelled to delve deeper into the biology or physiology of a given health condition or treatment. When I do so, I give you a heads up with this icon, so you can skip the details and head right to the cure.

      Beyond the Book

      In addition to the abundance of information and guidance on harnessing the power of nature and your body’s self-protection and self-healing mechanisms, you also get access to even more help and information at www.dummies.com. Go to www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/naturalcures for a free cheat sheet that accompanies this book. It brings you up to speed on natural cure fundamentals, provides a list of junk foods to eliminate from your diet and healthy foods to eat more of, outlines a protocol for maintaining a healthy gut (the key to wellness), and tells you how to combat colds and other bacterial, viral, and fungal infections by enhancing your body’s immune response.

      You can also head to www.dummies.com/extras/naturalcures for a few free supplemental articles that I think you’ll find helpful as you begin your journey to optimal health and well-being. Here you find out how to restore healthy gut bacteria after antibiotic treatment, discover ten key supplements to always keep on hand, and come to recognize why taking vitamins and minerals in their better forms is so important.

      Where to Go from Here

      I structured this book so you could use it in a couple different ways. To get the most out of it, read it from cover to cover so you don’t miss out on any valuable information and insight. You may also use it as natural cures desk reference; when you’re not feeling well, simply look up your illness in the table of contents or the index and flip to the designated page to find the cure for what ails you. The appendixes also provide several quick references to nutritional and natural remedies.

      I do recommend, however, that you start with the chapters in Part I. Chapter 1 provides a brief overview of the natural cures approach to wellness and gets you up to speed in a hurry on the theory behind the practice. In Chapter 2, I recommend diet and lifestyle changes that form the foundation of good health. And in Chapter 3, I take you on a tour of the different treatment approaches that comprise natural medicine, including Ayurveda, chiropractic, homeopathy, and functional medicine.

      As you embark on your journey to optimal health, keep in mind that you’re a unique individual. Your DNA, body chemistry, and even the microbes living inside you are all very distinctive, so there is no one-size-fits-all path to wellness. I strongly recommend that you consult with a qualified natural medicine practitioner – a functional medicine practitioner, naturopath, osteopath, chiropractor, or other practitioner who has advanced training in functional medicine and natural cures – for an initial evaluation to identify any deficiencies or other conditions that may be getting in the way.

Part I

      Stepping into the Wonderful World of Natural Cures

      

Visit www.dummies.com for free content that helps you learn more and do more.

       In this part …