HerbalEGram

Volume 11, Number 3, March 2014

Sara Katz
Principles and Practices of Phytotherapy

Gordon Cragg, PhD

ABC 25th Anniversary Logo

Herbal Advocate Sara Katz to Receive American Botanical Council Mark Blumenthal Herbal Community Builder Award
By ABC Staff
Herbalist, educator, and Herb Pharm co-founder Sara Katz is recognized with the second-ever ABC Blumenthal Award for her efforts in creating a sense of community among herbalists, researchers, and others who work with medicinal plants. Read more>>

American Botanical Council Announces Recipients of James A. Duke Excellence in Botanical Literature Award
By ABC Staff
Kerry Bone and Simon Mills receive ABC's highest honor in literature for Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine, 2nd edition, which they co-authored. Their previous edition has sold more than 40,000 copies worldwide and is regarded as the first modern, comprehensive, evidence-based guide for clinical herbalists. Read more>>

Gordon Cragg to Receive American Botanical Council's Norman R. Farnsworth Excellence in Botanical Research Award
By ABC Staff
Former Director of the US National Cancer Institute's Natural Products Division Gordon Cragg, PhD, is recognized by ABC for his many significant contributions to natural products research. Dr. Cragg's work on plant-derived anti-cancer compounds and his commitment to biodiversity and indigenous rights have made him a leader in responsible drug discovery. Read more>>

Editor's note: The recipient of the 2013 ABC Varro E. Tyler Commercial Investment in Phytomedicinal Research Award will be announced live at the 9th Annual ABC Botanical Celebration and Awards Ceremony, which is held annually during Natural Products Expo West and the NEXT Innovation Summit (formerly Nutracon) nutrition, natural products, and dietary supplements conference.

Don't forget to visit ABC in Hall A, Booth #1017 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Find more information, including a map of the venue, on Expo West's website.

Herbs for Healthy Aging: Natural Prescriptions for Vibrant Health was written by David Hoffmann and published in 2013 by Healing Arts Press, an imprint of Inner Traditions. The featured book excerpt includes the book’s title page, table of contents, and introduction.

Herbs for Healthy Aging is the third — and renamed — edition of medical herbalist and author David Hoffmann’s Herbal Prescriptions After 50: Everything You Need to Know to Maintain Vibrant Health.

The book is divided into 13 chapters and includes practical information on herbal treatments for numerous aging-related health concerns. Herbs for Healthy Aging is organized by body system and includes a primer on herbal medicine making and an extensive materia medica covering more than 150 herbs.

“Life extension is not so mysterious as finding secret longevity pills. By and large, it involves identifying the major predictable causes of death and reducing the risk that you will fall prey to them,” herbal expert Rob McCaleb is quoted as saying in the introduction. “Herbs and other dietary supplements can help us avoid succumbing to these diseases, or at least lessen or delay them. The strategy is simple: identify the risks and minimize them.”

Available for purchase from the publisher’s website.

Herb Profile:
Black Chokeberry

Feature:
Milkweed: Medicine of Monarchs and Humans

Legal & Regulatory:
'Dendrobium Extract'-Containing Sports Supplements

Research Review:
Cinnamon for Type 2 Diabetes

March 14-16: Merging Medicine XVI: Integrative Neuro-Psychology: Healing the Mind with Naturopathic Medicine. Berkeley, CA.

April 24-26: 12th Annual International IPT/IPTLD Integrative Oncology Conference. Reno, NV.

May 25-30: Southeast Wise Women Herbal Immersion. Black Mountain, NC.

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

We have tested the following article links prior to publication; however, some news organizations remove stories and disable links at various times. ABC sends links to these articles as an educational service, but cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in them.

Could Mushrooms Be the Cure for Cancer? The Guardian. 3-3-14. Compounds from various mushroom species have shown promising anti-cancer activities in recent analyses.

Sprouting Garlic Packed with Heart-Healthy Antioxidants, Say Researchers. NutraIngredients. 2-27-14. Older, sprouted garlic contains higher levels of antioxidants than fresh bulbs.

Eleuthero: The Secret to Better Strength and Stamina for Athletes? Fox News. 2-26-14. The adaptogenic herb has been shown to increase endurance, boost immunity, and improve sexual function.

Disqualified Olympic Athletes Testing Positive for Supplements Point to DMAA. Natural Products Insider. 2-25-14. Two Olympic athletes were removed from competition after DMAA was found in their systems.

Sriracha Chemistry: How Hot Sauces Perk Up Your Food and Your Mood. NPR. 2-24-14. A video from the American Chemical Society explains the molecular mechanism of capsaicin, a compound found in peppers.

Evidence Mixed on the Usefulness of Echinacea for Colds. Health Behavior News Service. 2-20-14. A recent Cochrane Review found limited evidence supporting the use of echinacea for colds, but study materials varied in quality.

Illegal, Remote Pot Farms in California Poisoning Rare Wildlife. NPR. 2-14-14. Rat poison from illegal cannabis farms is polluting rivers and killing members of a rare species related to the weasel.

Oregano Oil: Could Pizza Herb Prevent Winter Vomiting Disease? Science Daily. 2-11-14. The compound carvacrol has been shown to break down the norovirus, otherwise known as the winter vomiting disease.

[FDA Import Alert] Detention Without Physical Examination of Dietary Supplements and Bulk Dietary Ingredients That Are or Contain Mitragyna Speciosa of Kratom. Import alert from the US Food and Drug Administration. 2-28-14.

AHPA Awards Dr. Bronner's, Daniel Gagnon, Lyle Craker and VIRGO Team Members for Contributions to the Herbal Industry. Press release from the American Herbal Products Association. 2-19-14.

Bayer To Acquire [TCM Maker] Dihon Pharmaceuticals Group, Co., Ltd. in China. Press release from Bayer. 2-27-14.

National Medical Marijuana Group Certifies First Dispensaries in Effort to Bring Quality Standards to the Industry. Press release from Americans for Safe Access. 2-20-14.

Early Career Women Scientists from Developing Countries Honored for Research into the Medicinal Properties of Natural Compounds. Press release from Elsevier. 2-13-14.

Green beer, a St. Patrick's Day favorite, traditionally is dyed and flavored with which herb that also has shown promise in improving blood circulation? Find the answer here!