FWD 2 HerbalEGram: February 2015
Volume 12, Issue 2, February 2015

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Equisetum_arvense.jpgEquisetum arvense



Butternut_Squash_Julian_Fong.jpgCucurbita moschata
©2009 Julian Fong




ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program

ABC Says New York Attorney General Misused DNA Testing for Herbal Supplements, Should Also Have Used Other Methods
By ABC Staff
On Tuesday, February 3, New York State Attorney General (AG) Eric T. Schneiderman announced that cease-and-desist letters had been sent to four major US retail chains after a DNA barcoding study performed on behalf of his office revealed that certain store-brand herbal supplements contained little, or in some cases none, of the listed botanical ingredients. In this press release, ABC Founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal and Chief Science Officer Stefan Gafner, PhD, discuss known limitations of botanical DNA testing and call into question the validity and reliability of the AG's study of herbal supplements. Read more>>
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Guest Editorial: Sources of Data for Botanical Classification and Identification
By Arthur O. Tucker, PhD
HerbalEGram guest contributor Art Tucker, PhD, an expert on the systematics and chemistry of herbs and co-director of the Claude E. Phillips Herbarium in Delaware, discusses the significant changes that have taken place in the world of plant taxonomy and classification over the past 20 years. Notably, advances in genetic analyses have helped solidify some taxonomical hypotheses, but they also have revealed curious relationships previously unknown to plant systematists. In addition, Dr. Tucker shares some of his favorite online references and resources for this evolving scientific field. Read more>>
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Food as Medicine: Butternut Squash (Cucurbita moschata, Cucurbitaceae)
By Hannah Bauman and Sarah Edwards
The third installment of HerbalEGram's new Food as Medicine series highlights the historical background and modern scientific research on butternut squash. Also known as winter or pumpkin squash, this member of the Cucurbitaceae family is an excellent source of vitamins A and C as well as fiber and potassium. Modern studies have focused on a component of the squash known as cucurmosin, which has shown promising anti-cancer properties in animal and cell experiments. Read more>>
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ABC Press Releases:

Leading British Herbal Organizations Endorse Botanical Adulterants Program. ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program. 1-29-15.

ABC Welcomes New Board of Trustees President Tom Newmark. American Botanical Council. 1-27-15.
 
 
HerbalGram  
Research Reviews:
Tianqi & Diabetes
Book Reviews:
 
HolisticHealth_DS_300.jpg  
 
The Home Reference to Holistic Health and Healing was written by Brigitte Mars and Chrystle Fiedler and published in 2015 by Fair Winds Press. The excerpt includes the title page, table of contents, foreword by Rosemary Gladstar, preface, and Chapter 9, “Improve Immunity.”

The second book from authors Brigitte Mars and Chrystle Feidler, The Home Reference to Holistic Health and Healing follows their previous work, The Country Almanac of Home Remedies (Fair Winds Press), published in 2011. In this book, the authors outline natural methods to nourish and support the whole body and mind, including essential oils, herbal remedies, and nutrition, among others.

The Home Reference offers natural therapies for stress, insomnia, low energy, maintaining a healthy weight, chronic pain, grief, and impaired immune function. Each chapter is devoted to one condition and contains easy-to-read information on selfcare regimens for the reader. The authors recommend condition-specific healing herbs or essential oils, as well as other holistic activities such as simple exercises, changes to the diet, and nutritional supplements. The appendices provide a guide to aromatherapy, tea formulations, and a list of resources.

In the foreword, Rosemary Gladstar describes the book as "one of the best self-help books available on natural therapies for mental and emotional wellbeing."

The Home Reference to Holistic Health and Healing can be purchased from a variety of online retailers.
 
 
March 5-8: Natural Products Expo West. Anaheim, California, USA.
Visit ABC at booth #1017!

March 5: The AHPA-ABC Herb Walk. Anaheim, California, USA.

April 7-9: Ingredients Marketplace. Orlando, Florida, USA.

May 6-8: World Tea Expo. Long Beach, California, USA.

More event listings can be found on ABC's website.
 
 
It’s Time to Revisit DSHEA. Nutrition Business Journal. 2-3-15. NBJ editor-in-chief John Bradley discusses regulatory concerns in light of the recent negative media coverage of herbal supplements.
 
Coffee May Protect Against Some Skin Cancers. Discovery News. 1-21-15. Researchers found that people who drink four or more cups of coffee per day have a decreased risk of melanoma.

Pediatricians Urge DEA to Reclassify Medical Marijuana to Boost Research. Wall Street Journal. 1-26-15. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports the rescheduling of marijuana to promote research that may benefit children in need.

Bergamot Orange Lowers Cholesterol. Fox News. 1-21-15. As “Medicine Hunter” Chris Kilham explains, a compound from this “ancient hybrid” of orange species has been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol.

Obama: Let's Take Food Regulation out of FDA. Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society. 2-2-15. The 2016 fiscal budget includes language recommending the creation of a new food safety government organization.

Essential Oils Might Be the New Antibiotics. The Atlantic. 1-16-15. Concerns over drug-resistant bacteria have led researchers to look at potential therapeutic alternatives such as essential oils.

Treading a Fine Line Between Trade and Conservation to Fight Biopiracy. Deutsche Welle. 1-28-15. Enforcement of the Nagoya Protocol may offer hope for indigenous rights advocates and biological resource conservation efforts.

How a Fake Doctor Made Millions from ‘the Dr. Oz Effect’ and a Bogus Weight-Loss Supplement. Washington Post. 1-28-15. The Federal Trade Commission recently settled a case with Lindsey Duncan over his role in promoting green coffee bean extract on “The Dr. Oz Show.”
 
 
 
 

Which plant, with its high vitamin C content and astringent properties, has uses for treating both colds and stomach conditions? Find the answer here!