HerbalEGram September 2013

Volume 10, Number 9, September 2013

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Dr. Sanjay Gupta's WEED Documentary: A Critique by ABC's Resident Cannabis Writer
By Lindsay Stafford Mader
HerbalGram's resident cannabis writer presents the merits and shortcomings of the CNN Chief Medical Correspondent's recent documentary on medicinal cannabis.Read more>>

Maryland Officials Ban Harvest of Dwindling American Ginseng from Public Lands
By Tyler Smith
An analysis of three decades' worth of harvest data and a field survey found steep declines in American ginseng populations, prompting state officials to ban harvest from all public lands. Read more>>

New Trial Tests Impact of Medicinal Doses of Kava vs. Oxazepam on Safe Driving
By Ash Lindstrom
Using driving simulators, researchers found that participants taking the anxiety drug oxazepam had slower braking times and more instances of lapsed concentration compared to those taking a therapeutic dose of kava root. Read more>>

Herb Industry Pioneer Barry Meltzer Dies, 1945-2013
By Mark Blumenthal
Founder and owner of the San Francisco Herb Company, Barry Meltzer was a pioneer of the modern herbal industry, supplying bulk herbs, spices, and tea ingredients to customers in the United States and around the world. Read more>>

Vitatech Adopts Cinnamon through the American Botanical Council's Adopt-An-Herb Program
Vitatech's support will ensure that cinnamon's entry in ABC's HerbMedPro database will stay up-to-date with the latest scientific and clinical research. Read more>>

ABC Celebrates 30th Anniversary of HerbalGram
In its three-decade history, HerbalGram has transformed from a single-color newsletter to an 80-page journal complete with thoroughly researched, peer-reviewed articles. Read more>>

A Different Medicine: Postcolonial Healing in the Native American Church was written by Joseph D. Calabrese and published in 2013 by Oxford University Press. The featured book excerpt includes thetable of contents and Chapter 5, “Medicine and Spirit: The Dual Nature of Peyote.”

In A Different Medicine, author Joseph D. Calabrese discusses the legal yet controversial practice of peyote consumption by the Native American Church (NAC), which was founded in the 1800s. The book is based upon the author’s two years spent among the Navajos of the Southwestern United States. Calabrese explores the ritualistic and clinical use of the psychedelic peyote cactus by the NAC, and concludes that preventing a group of people from using a culturally significant medicine is a human rights violation.

Available for purchase from the publisher’s website .

Herb Supplement Sales Increase 5.5% in 2012

Acute Dose of Bacopa Extract Improves Cognitive Performance

Cannabis and Schizophrenia

Botanical New Drug Applications: The Final Frontier

November 7-10: American Herbalists Guild Symposium . Bend, OR.

November 12-16: SupplySide West . Las Vegas, NV.

February 20-22, 2014:Integrative Healthcare Symposium . New York, NY.

More event listings can be found on ABC's website.

PepsiCo Explores Chinese Herbal Extracts for Fatigue Relief. FoodNavigator-USA. PepsiCo is considering beverages with herbal extracts instead of caffeine to boost energy.

€200m Singapore Herb Maker Defends TCMs amid Chinese Contamination Busts. NutraIngredients. Eu Yan Sang says recent negative press has tarnished the reputation of traditional Chinese medicine.

Salmonella in Spices Prompts Changes in Farming. New York Times. A three-year study by FDA found that 7% of imported spices were contaminated with salmonella.

South Africa's Traditional Happy Pill. Times Live. An extract of Sceletium tortuosum can reduce anxiety response in healthy individuals.

Evidence of 3,000-Year-Old Cinnamon Trade Found in Israel. LiveScience. Researchers found traces of cinnamon in ancient flasks in Israel.

Novel Chinese Herbal Medicine Improves Spinal Cord Injury Outcomes in Rats. Science Daily. A blend of Chinese herbs has been shown to reduce tissue damage in spine-damaged rats.

Christie OKs Medical Marijuana Bill for Ill Children. CBS News. The New Jersey Governor has relaxed the state’s medicinal cannabis law allowing access for minors.

Eating Raw Garlic May Help Cut Risk of Lung Cancer Almost in Half. Fox News. A recent analysis found that raw garlic consumption may reduce one’s lung cancer risk.

Aloe Vera Products Made to IASC Standards Are Safe: IASC Responds to CSPI's Press Release. Press release from the International Aloe Science Council.

Warning Over Dangerous Traditional Chinese Medicines. Press release from Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

Medical Marijuana Advocates Cautious About ‘New’ Policy on Federal Marijuana Enforcement. Press release from Americans for Safe Access.

DNA Mutation 'Signature' Identified in Cancers Linked to Birthwort Herb. Press release from Johns Hopkins.

Missouri Botanical Garden Announces Completion of Flora of Missouri. Press release from the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Which chemical components of cinnamon are responsible for its health benefits such as reducing blood sugar and improving intestinal health? Find the answer here!