FWD 2 HerbalEGram: October 2013
  Volume 10, Number 10, October 2013

 

            Affordable Care Act


Skullcap


American ginseng



Adulterants logo
Will 'Obamacare' Affect Natural Healthcare in the United States?
By Lindsay Stafford Mader
As the government shutdown continues and national politicians continue to feud over the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as 'Obamacare,' this article explores parts of the law that could affect consumers and practitioners of natural and integrative medicine. Read more>>


Doctoral Dissertation Provides Extensive Review of Skullcap Literature
By Stefan Gafner, PhD
ABC's new chief science officer summarizes a 257-page doctoral dissertation on the medicinal herb skullcap, which he notes is one of the most extensive works on this plant published to date. Read more>>
 

2013 Efforts to Improve Sustainable Management of Wild American Ginseng Harvest
By Haley Chitty, American Herbal Products Association
AHPA's director of communications details recent efforts by four US states and five national forests attempting to ensure the sustainable harvest of wild American ginseng from private and public lands. Read more>>



American Society of Pharmacognosy Lends Support to ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program 
America's largest professional society of medicinal plant research experts has officially endorsed this nonprofit educational program. Read more>>


 
 
 
 
Farmacology
 
Farmacology: What Innovative Family Farming Can Teach Us About Health and Healing was written by Daphne Miller and published in 2013 by William Morrow/HarperCollins. The featured book excerpt includes the book’s introduction, “Kicking Over the Traces.”

In her latest book, family physician and author Daphe Miller combines her medical expertise and passion for sustainable farming to present a unique look at how healing foods and medicines are intimately related to the environment in which they are grown. By reimagining the food-as-medicine model, Miller offers a new approach to healing and presents multiple examples of “farm-to-body” lessons for the reader. 

The book is available for purchase from the publisher’s website.

 

 
 
HerbalGram 99 Cover  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
November 7-10: American Herbalists Guild Symposium. Bend, OR. 
 
November 12-16: SupplySide West. Las Vegas, NV.
 
December 8-12: 5th Global Summit on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. 
 
More event listings can be found on ABC's website.


 
 
 
Palo Santo: A Fragrant Wood with Cancer Fighting Properties. Fox News. The palo santo tree is used as incense and has antibacterial and anti-cancer properties.
 
Synthetic Versions of Natural Ingredients with NDI Notifications Crop Up in Marketplace. NutraIngredients-USA. Experts insist that synthetic versions of approved NDIs are still adulterated under the law.

Ashwagandha Fights Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients. Food Consumer. Breast cancer patients taking ashwagandha supplements reported less fatigue and a better quality of life.

An Analgesic Molecule Discovered in its Natural State in Africa. Phys.org. An African medicinal plant produces a chemical identical to the synthetic painkiller Tramadol. 

Herbal Healer: What is Epazote? Get Healthy. This Latin American plant is commonly used for treating parasitic infections in humans.

Man Guilty of Trying to Induce Abortion. Houston Chronicle. A man who spiked his pregnant girlfriend’s drinks with toxic herbs was found guilty of attempted fetal homicide.

Treat the Fungus Among Us With Nontoxic Medicinal Compound. Science Daily. Compounds from Gymnema sylvestre have been found to have anti-fungal properties.

Common Plant Could Hold Key to Alzheimer's Treatment. Reuters Foundation. An extract of a Southeast Asian plant was shown in vitro to be as effective as a common Alzheimer’s drug.
 
 

What flower is most often used in celebrations for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a Mexican holiday for remembering deceased friends and family? Find the answer here!