Blumenthal Interview for “Healing Herbs” in January Issue of Bottom Line/Health

(Austin, TX. December 20, 2005) An extensive [about 40 column inches] interview with ABC Founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal appears in the January issue of Bottom Line/Health. Blumenthal was interviewed on October 31, 2005 by Marguerite Lamb, a contributing writer for this monthly newsletter, which has a core readership of individuals over age 50.

Lamb’s objective was to discuss herbs that may be beneficial or detrimental for men and women over 50, as well as any special concerns, such as drug interactions, that some leading herbs may present for older patients. Blumenthal first clarified the results of the low-dose echinacea trial published in July 2005 in the New England Journal of Medicine, then focused on five herbs: garlic, ginkgo, milk thistle, saw palmetto and valerian.

For each herb, Lamb asked about the actions, the level of scientific evidence supporting one or more of the key benefits, potential side effects, and typical dosage.

Blumenthal noted that the scientific literature supports the use of ginkgo extract in elderly people with early-stage senile dementia. Gingko extract increases blood flow to the brain. He noted that a “dose of 120 mg daily could enhance mental function, and possibly slow their cognitive deterioration.”

He is also quoted as saying that “Saw palmetto is proven, through nearly 25 clinical trials, to be a near equal to prescription medication for relieving the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, with none of the [adverse] side effects, such as diminished libido.” “Bottom Line / Health has an extensive circulation to a mature readership,” Blumenthal continued.

“This constitutes the third time we’ve been interviewed for articles in this publication and we are most grateful for Bottom Line’s confidence in the herbal information from ABC.”

Bottom Line/Health is a publication of Boardroom, Inc.; excerpts from selected articles appear randomly on its web site, www.bottomlinesecrets.com.

About the American Botanical Council

Established in 1988, the American Botanical Council (ABC) is the leading nonprofit, member-based international organization working to educate consumers, healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, industry, and the media on the safe and effective use of herbs and medicinal plant products. Located on a 2.5 acre site in Austin, Texas ABC is the publisher of HerbalGram, a peer-reviewed quarterly journal and The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs, a continuing education and reference book, which contains extensive monographs on the safety and efficacy of 29 popular herbs. More information is available at http://www.herbalgram.org/.

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