The Business Of Botanicals

From tulsi to turmeric, echinacea to elderberry, medicinal herbs are big business—but do they deliver on their healing promise—to those who consume them, those who provide them, and the natural world? “An eye-opener. . . . [Armbrecht] challenges ideas of what medicine can be, and how business practices can corrupt, and expand, our notions of plant-based healing.”—The Boston Globe "So deeply honest, sincere, heartful, questioning, and brilliant. . . . [The Business of Botanicals] is an amazing book, that plunges in, and takes a deepening look at those places where people don’t often venture."—Rosemary Gladstar, author of Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs "For those who loved Braiding Sweetgrass, this book is a perfect opportunity to go deeper into understanding the complex and co-evolutionary journey of plants and people." —Angela McElwee, former president and CEO of Gaia Herbs Using herbal medicines to heal the body is an ancient practice, but in the twenty-first century, it is also a worldwide industry. Yet most consumers know very little about where those herbs come from and how they are processed into the many products that fill store shelves. In The Business of Botanicals, author Ann Armbrecht follows their journey from seed to shelf, revealing the inner workings of a complicated industry, and raises questions about the ethical and ecological issues of mass production of medicines derived from these healing plants, many of which are imperiled in the wild. This is the first book to explore the interconnected web of the global herb industry and its many stakeholders, and is an invaluable resource for conscious consumers who want to better understand the social and environmental impacts of the products they buy. "Armbrecht masterfully manages the challenges and complexity of her source material . . . [She] is a spirited storyteller . . . [and] presents all this with the skill of an anthropologist and the heart of an herbalist."—Journal of the American Herbalists Guild

Donated by The Australian Commercial Herb Growers Association.

Access to accurate, evidence-based, and clinically relevant information is essential to anyone who uses or recommends herbal products. With input from some of the most respected experts in herbal and integrative medicine, this completely revised edition of the American Herbal Products Association’s Botanical Safety Handbook reviews both traditional knowledge and contemporary research on herbs to provide an authoritative resource on botanical safety. The book covers more than 500 species of herbs and provides a holistic understanding of safety through data compiled from clinical trials, pharmacological and toxicological studies, medical case reports, and historical texts. For each species, a brief safety summary is provided for quick reference, along with a detailed review of the literature. Easily understood classification systems are used to indicate the safety of each listed species and the potential for the species to interact with drugs. Enhancements to the Second Edition include: Classification of each herb with both a safety rating and a drug interaction rating More references listed for each individual herb, vetted for accuracy Specific information on adverse events reported in clinical trials or case reports Safety-related pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of each herb, including drug interactions Additional information on the use of herbs by pregnant or lactating women Toxicological studies and data on toxic compounds Representing the core of the botanical trade and comprising the finest growers, processors, manufacturers, and marketers of herbal products, the mission of the AHPA is to promote the responsible commerce of herbal products. The American Herbal Products Association Botanical Safety Handbook, Second Edition ensures that this vision is attained. The book will be a valuable reference for product manufacturers, healthcare practitioners, regulatory agencies, researchers, and consumers of herbal products.

How to produce fresh, delicious, healthy good from your home garden year-round.

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.

Includes more than three centuries of drawings culled from the rare books library of the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design, each page in Botanicals explodes with rich colors and lifelike details. Exquisite flowers, delicate fruits, and exuberant butterflies are among the jewels of nature that come to life in this unique compendium. Featured are works by leading botanical artists, including Maria Sibylla Merian, a revolutionary female entomologist and natural historian of the seventeenth century; E.A. Seguy, whose art nouveau-era work serves as inspiration for many contemporary creative directors and designers; and Dr. Robert John Thornton, a British visionary renowned for his interest in botany.

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.

Created as a companion to the Herbal Academy's Botanical Skin Care Course, we've captured many of our favorite tried-and-tested skincare recipes into one delicious herbal book. Whether you're looking for a rich cream to pamper your face, a soothing salve for minor first aid, or topical support for a chronic skin condition, we've got something for you here. By the time you work your way through this recipe collection, you'll have a full cupboard of incredible botanical skincare products to share with your friends and family--and maybe even your pets and neighbors, too.

From tulsi to turmeric, echinacea to elderberry, medicinal herbs are big business--but do they deliver on their healing promise to those who consume them, those who provide them, and to the natural world? "An eye-opener. . . . [Armbrecht] challenges ideas of what medicine can be and how business practices can corrupt, and expand, our notions of plant-based healing."--The Boston Globe "[This] is one of the most important and readable books on the subject of herbs available today. Ann's story of her journey and the amazing message her book conveys moved me to tears. . . . Thank you, Ann, for listening to the plants as deeply as you have, for pointing the way forward, and for having the courage to lead us there."--Rosemary Gladstar, author of Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs Using herbal medicines to heal the body is an ancient practice, but in the twenty-first century, it is also a worldwide industry. Yet most consumers know very little about where those herbs come from and how they are processed into the hundreds of products that fill store shelves. In Following the Herbal Harvest (originally published in hardcover as The Business of Botanicals), author Ann Armbrecht embarks on a journey to follow herbal medicines from source to shelf. Her travels in North America, Europe, and India reveal the inner workings of the botanicals industry as she confronts complex questions about the ethical and ecological issues of mass production of medicines derived from these healing plants, many of which are imperiled in the wild. This is the first book to explore the interconnected web of the global herb industry and an invaluable resource for conscious consumers who want to better understand the social and environmental impacts of the products they buy. Inspired by her travels, Ann founded the Sustainable Herbs Initiative (SHI), which is devoted to motivating change in the herbal products industry. In a new epilogue for the paperback edition, the author describes how SHI's Learning Lab and Learning Journeys are bringing together stakeholders from herbal product companies to explore how they might collaboratively work to address the problems of poverty, biodiversity loss, and the climate crisis. Because, as Ann writes, "Herbal medicine is about creating wellness, resilience. It is about wholeness. From that, a huge industry has developed . . . an industry that I discovered too often ignores the social, environmental, economic and spiritual causes of disease in the world. And yet, we can't be well until and unless the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the soil in which our food is grown is well. What does it mean to be in the business of wellness in a world that is not well?" "Armbrecht masterfully manages the challenges and complexity of her source material . . . [She] is a spirited storyteller . . . [and] presents all this with the skill of an anthropologist and the heart of an herbalist."--Journal of the American Herbalists Guild "For those who loved Braiding Sweetgrass, this book is a perfect opportunity to go deeper into understanding the complex and co-evolutionary journey of plants and people."--Angela McElwee, former president and CEO of Gaia Herbs

The only book that brings together: an authoritative, stunningly illustrated field guide; a how-to book for identifying, collecting, and reserving plants; the fascinating story of the legends and lore of medicinal plants; and a do-it-yourself guide to planting and using herbs in cooking, cosmetics, and health. Illustrated.