HerbalEGram: Volume 14, Issue 1, January 2017

Each January, the editorial staff of the American Botanical Council (ABC) compiles a list of the 10 most popular HerbalEGram articles from the previous year. The list reflects the breadth of ABC’s coverage of medicinal plant-related topics and provides insight into trending topics of interest to our diverse readership. The top 10 HerbalEGram articles of 2016, as determined by the number of individual link clicks, are no exception. They include guest articles on the maca (Lepidium meyenii, Brassicaceae) “gold rush” in China and the ongoing debate over Cannabis taxonomy; an analysis of a cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon, Ericaceae) clinical trial that erroneously stated cranberry was ineffective in preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs); and multiple in-depth profiles of foods with health-promoting properties — articles from our perennially popular Food as Medicine series.

The most-clicked HerbalEGram article of 2016 was a critical review and summary of a cranberry study published online in October 2016 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The 12-month study of elderly nursing home residents looked at the effects of a standardized cranberry juice extract on the presence of bacteria and pus in the urine — symptoms that often indicate a UTI. By the end of the study, there was no significant difference in the amount of urinary bacteria or pus in subjects taking the cranberry extract compared to those taking a placebo. A corresponding JAMA editorial suggested that it was time to forget cranberry and move on to other remedies (e.g., conventional antibiotics), and many major media outlets echoed this sentiment in their coverage. In his analysis for HerbalEGram, ABC Chief Science Officer Stefan Gafner, PhD, explored several significant shortcomings of the study. “Since this study was not designed to detect the efficacy of cranberry on UTI prevention,” Gafner emphasized, “conclusions about the benefits of cranberry extracts to prevent recurrent UTIs should not be made based on the results.”

In 2016, HerbalEGram readers continued to show a strong interest in the science and history of healthy and so-called “functional” foods. Six of the 10 most-clicked articles from last year were from our monthly Food as Medicine series. These profiles, which became a regular feature in HerbalEGram beginning in December 2014, are a collaborative effort, produced by ABC dietetic interns led by ABC Education Coordinator Jenny Perez, and HerbalGram Associate Editor Hannah Bauman. Each profile details the history and traditional use, modern research, and consumer considerations of various food items.

The full list of HerbalEGram’s 10 most popular stories of the year is available below.

By Stefan Gafner, PhD, November 2016
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association ostensibly “disproved” the benefits of cranberry extract for UTIs, and an accompanying editorial suggested that cranberry therapy should be abandoned. Media coverage of the study continued to cast cranberry treatment in an unfavorable light. However, experts have questioned the validity of the data, the study’s methodology, and whether the tested endpoints were appropriate.

2. The Rise and Fall of Maca in China
By Eric Brand, LAc, July 2016
Guest contributor Eric Brand, founder of Legendary Herbs, a family business specializing in Chinese herbs, presents his perspective on the recent maca “gold rush” in China — and its eventual demise. Brand gives a firsthand account of his experiences in China during the height of the maca craze and explores the differences in Peruvian and Chinese maca, which vary substantially in price and in quality.

3. Cannabis Taxonomy: The ‘Sativa’ versus ‘Indica’ Debate
By Robert C. Clarke and Mark D. Merlin, PhD, April 2016
Guest contributors Robert Clarke and Mark Merlin, PhD, co-authors of the comprehensive text Cannabis: Evolution and Ethnobotany, explore the spread of Cannabis species throughout the world and the impacts this geographical range has had on genetics, historical uses, and nomenclature. Taxonomic nomenclature, they write, will likely continue to change as researchers learn more about the evolutionary history of Cannabis.

4. Food as Medicine: Broccoli (Brassica oleracea, Brassicaceae)
By Hannah Bauman and Stephanie Darby, March 2016
Once called “Italian asparagus,” broccoli florets conceal a wealth of nutritious and beneficial compounds. This vegetable is more than a maligned childhood trial: a library of research explores broccoli's efficacy as a treatment for environmental pollution, obstructed lung disease, tumor suppression, and a long list of other conditions.

5. Food as Medicine: Mango (Mangifera indica, Anacardiaceae)
By Hannah Bauman and Maili Huck, June 2016
The sunny fruit of the mango contains copious amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C, and beneficial phytochemicals, but the plant itself offers much, much more. Every part of the mango tree, including the peel, bark, leaves, wood, and roots, has been used in traditional medicinal preparations. Consumers are encouraged to discover the surprising uses of mango in human and animal medicine, but they should be cautious: mango can cause allergic reactions in some individuals due to the presence of certain chemicals found in the peel.

6. Food as Medicine: Arugula (Eruca sativa, Brassicaceae)
By Hannah Bauman and Min Kwon, April 2016
Arugula’s cruciferous pedigree gives salads and pizzas a peppery kick. It also packs a nutritious punch, providing vitamins K and A, antioxidants, and the same cancer-fighting potential as its relatives broccoli and kale. Though arugula seed oil is relatively unknown in the United States, it enjoys widespread use in India, Iran, and Pakistan. This month’s Food as Medicine article takes a look at the unsung hero of the Brassica family, which has a history of cultivation, medicinal use, and even a scandalous reputation stretching back thousands of years.

7. Food as Medicine: Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas, Convolvulaceae)
By Hannah Bauman and Mikala Sessa, November 2016
While they may be delicious baked in a pie and topped with marshmallows, sweet potatoes deserve to shine on their own merits. All parts of the plant, including the vines, leaves, and tubers, are edible and contain vital nutrients, such as beta-carotene, anthocyanins, dietary fiber, and complex carbohydrates. Not to be confused with the common potato (Solanum tuberosum) or a true yam (Dioscorea spp.), the sweet potato has a deep cultural history in the southern United States as well as Central and South America.

8. The 10 Most Popular HerbalEGram Articles of 2015
By ABC Staff, January 2016
Three of the 10 most-clicked HerbalEGram stories of 2015 were related to the New York attorney general's actions against herbal dietary supplements, but our new Food as Medicine series was even more popular, with four articles on the list. Did your favorite article make the cut?

9. Food as Medicine: Beets (Beta vulgaris, Chenopodiaceae)
By Hannah Bauman and Lindsey Duree, January 2016

“Earthy”: is it a compliment, or is it a pejorative? Though the rustic flavor of beet root can be polarizing, its nutritional value brooks no argument. Find out how this vitamin- and mineral-packed vegetable evolved from livestock fodder to a possible sports supplement ingredient.

10. Food as Medicine: Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia, Cucurbitaceae)
By Hannah Bauman and Brittany Markides, September 2016
Skip the spoonful of sugar to help this medicine go down: bitter melon has been used for thousands of years as a therapeutic food for people with diabetes. Human and animal trials have investigated the gourd's insulin-modulating properties as well as its ability to alleviate the side effects commonly associated with diabetes mellitus.

—ABC Staff