Botanical Medicines

Donated by The Australian Commercial Herb Growers Association.

The global popularity of herbal supplements and the promise they hold in treating various disease states has caused an unprecedented interest in understanding the molecular basis of the biological activity of traditional remedies. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects focuses on presenting current scientific evidence of biomolecular ef

The potential benefits of plants and plant extracts in the treatment and possible prevention of many leading health concerns are historically well known and are becoming more widely studied and recognized within the medical community. It is these studies that led to the first compilation of new research developments, identifying new extracts and uses for plants in disease prevention and treatment. This major comprehensive reference work contains contributions from more than 150 clinical and academic experts covering topics such as treatments of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, as well as historical plant use by indigenous people supported by recent scientific studies. Authors review the safety and efficacy of botanical treatments while idenifying the sources, historical supportive data and mechanisms of action for emerging treatments. Written by researchers currently carrying out identification and biomedical testing, this is the most up to date text on the latest research from all over the world. It is an essential resource for health care practitioners and herbalists, as well as researcher, students and professionals in botany and alternative medicine.

Use herbal medicines to treat women at any stage of life! Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health, 2nd Edition provides an evidence-based, patient-centered approach to botanical interventions for many different medical conditions. More than 150 natural products are covered, showing their benefits in gynecologic health, fertility and childbearing, and menopausal health. This edition includes new full-color photos of herbal plants along with a discussion of the role of botanicals in healthy aging. Written by Aviva Romm, an experienced herbalist, midwife, and physician, this unique guide is an essential resource for everyday practice of herbal medicine. Winner of the 2010 American Botanical Council's James A. Duke Excellence in Botanical Literature Award! Current, evidence-based information covers more than 150 botanicals for over 35 different conditions. Case studies provide realistic scenarios and help you apply the content to the real world. Treatment and formula boxes summarize the most important information. Color illustrations and photographs of plants enable you to identify herbs visually as well as by substance make-up. Logical chapter organization begins with the principles of herbal medicine and then covers women’s health conditions organized chronologically by lifecycle, from teen and reproductive years to midlife and mature years. Appendices include practical, at-a-glance information on common botanical names, chemical constituents of medicinal plants, and a summary table of herbs for women's health. NEW! Updates reflect the latest research and the most current information. NEW Full-color design and detailed, professional color photos of plants make this a unique, essential resource. NEW! Coverage of the role of botanicals in healthy aging for women features phytoestrogens, Ayurvedic/Chinese herbs, and discussions of health promotion.

Winner of the James A. Duke Award for Excellence in Botanical Literature Award from the American Botanical CouncilCompiled by the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, this volume addresses the lack of authoritative microscopic descriptions of those medicinal plant species currently in trade. It includes an atlas providing detailed text and graphic descri

For those who want to make educated decisions about whether, and when, to use natural products, this text explains the most current scientific evidence of the roles that plants can play in our health: how they can prevent, modify, or treat disease. Since antiquity, humans have used botanicals to treat various conditions affecting their organ systems, and this book is built around explaining which plants may be used for major ailments affecting the various systems. The increasing availability of botanicals on the market, intended to be used as dietary supplements for health, has been fueled by the public's demand for a more natural approach to healthcare. Unfortunately, much of the information fed to the public on alternatives is based on anecdotal evidence (case stories), the advice of friends, or media features that often do not stand up to standards for scientific evidence. In this book Al-Achi explains current research and science that exists - or remains lacking - for the various botanicals as healthcare products. He also details the potential misuse and the dangers of some herbal formulas. Photographs of 62 medicinal plants are included. For those who want to make educated decisions whether, and when, to use natural products, this text explains the most current scientific evidence of the roles that plants can play in our health: how they can prevent, modify, or treat disease. Since antiquity, humans have used botanicals to treat various conditions affecting their organ systems, and this book is built around explaining which plants may be used for major ailments affecting the various systems. The increasing availability of botanicals on the market, intended to be used as dietary supplements for health, has been fueled by the public's demand for a more natural approach to healthcare. Unfortunately, much of the information fed to the public on alternatives is based on anecdotal evidence (case studies), the advice of friends, or media features that often do not stand up to standards for scientific evidence. In this book, Al-Achi explains current research and science that exists - or remains lacking - for the various botanicals as healthcare products. He also details the potential misuse and the dangers of some herbal formulas. Photographs of 62 medicinal plants are included. Because of its evidentiary approach, this book may serve also as a text for introductory college courses in the field of botanical medicine, or as a supplemental general text for an alternative and complementary medicine course. The history leading to the use of botanicals in healthcare is described, as are botanicals used in the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular disease, endocrine system disorders such as diabetes, gastrointestinal problems, men's and women's specific disorders, infections, chronic pain, psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression, and other health issues.

Answer patients’questions about botanical supplements quickly and easily!This informative book is a compendium of detailed scientific research on 34 of the most popular dietary supplements used in North America and Europe. Its coverage of pharmacological studies on the main medicinal plants used in clinical practice and sold in pharmacies in the Western world is more extensive than any other publication of monographic reviews available. The way Botanical Medicines: The Desk Reference for Major Herbal Supplements, Second Edition. is organized (standardized topic formats are used in each monograph) makes it easy for you to locate relevant information quickly and to compare corresponding sections between different entries. This book is an invaluable tool for pharmacists, physicians, and other health care professionals who need detailed, scientifically accurate information on appropriate use, safety, dosages, and similar issues related to botanical dietary supplements.Each entry in Botanical Medicines: The Desk Reference for Major Herbal Supplements, Second Edition. covers botanical data (classification and nomenclature, common names, geographic occurrence, and botanical characteristics), plus: history and traditional uses chemistry therapeutic applications pre-clinical studies clinical studies recommended dosages safety profiles (including toxicology) side effects and contraindications drug interactions and special precautions safety recommendations during pregnancy and lactation This extensively referenced volume includes appendixes with information on the major provisions of DSHEA (the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994) and on the criteria and procedures for assessing the quality of botanical products.

Active botanical ingredients are a prime requirement for herbal formulations and discovering a drug is all about integration of science disciplines. In recent decades there has been a growing interest in treating wounds and diseases using traditional remedies based on local herbs, combined with chemical advances. Although this has led to the development of new bioactive ingredients from plants, there has been little success in terms of clinical trials and post-marketing studies to comply with FDA guidelines. Plants have been used as a source of medicine throughout history and continue to serve as the basis for many pharmaceuticals used today. However, despite the modern pharmaceutical industry being founded on botanical medicine, synthetic approaches to drug discovery have now become standard. Science-driven translational discovery and botanical development has created a new reality, leading to enormous changes in strategies, technologies and the disciplines involved, which have been embraced by the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. This book gathers scientific expertise and traditional knowledge to promote the discovery and development of new formulations and drugs based on active ingredients and to provide guidance on taking these to clinical trials. It discusses major topics, such as how the phytochemical composition of many plants has changed over time due to factors like cultivation, which can have both positive and negative effects on the levels of bioactive compounds. It also explores the importance of plants as a valuable source of therapeutic compounds as a result of their vast biosynthetic capacity, and classifies them according to their intended use, safety and regulatory status. Further, the book offers insights into the regulatory aspects of botanical products, which is an important issue when considering standardization and quality assessment, and also examines the commercial aspects of plant-derived medications and their proven role in the treatment of chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, pain, asthma, and other associated conditions. Given its scope, this book is a valuable tool for botanists, natural product chemists, pharmacologists and microbiologists involved in the study of phytochemicals for drug discovery.

Despite the undoubted success of a scientific approach to pharmaceuticals, the last few decades have witnessed a spectacular rise in interest in herbal medicinal products. This general interest has been followed by increasing scientific and commercial attention that led to the coining of the term ethnopharmacology to describe the scientific discipl

Find all the information you need on herbs and spices in one place! Herbal Medicine and Botanical Medical Fads is an A-to-Z reference book written in a straightforward style that’s informative enough for library use but informal enough for general reading. This essential guide takes a practical look at the popular uses of herbs and spices, presented in an easy-to-use format. The book is a refreshing alternative to the how-to guides, cookbooks, and picture books usually found on the subject. From alfalfa to ginseng to yellow dock, more than 100 entries are included, featuring historical backgrounds, popular and practical uses, folklore, and bibliographies. Herbal Medicine and Botanical Medical Fads also contains related listings and essays that range from alternative medicine to food preparation and nutrition to herbs in wedding celebrations. Detailed enough for reference use by academics, the book has a natural tone that appeals to garden club members, herb and spice experts, hobbyists, and others. Herbal Medicine and Botanical Medical Fads also includes information on: herb growing and marketing herbs and spices in literature medicinal herbs and spices federal regulations on herbs and spices horticulture therapy An everyday guide for enthusiasts and a perfect place to start for newcomers, Herbal Medicine and Botanical Medical Fads is an easy-to-use handbook with wide-ranging appeal. It combines the comprehensive information you’d expect from a reference book with a casual and colorful look at the histories and backgrounds of herbs and spices, both commonplace and exotic. As a vital resource or an occasional reference, this book is unique in its scope and invaluable in its usefulness.