HERBS AND NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS
An Evidence-based Guide
Lesley Braun and Marc Cohen
Many clinicians are poorly informed about complementary medicines even though, according to the statistics, patients use them by the truckload. This reference guide sets out to bridge that gap and provide scientific information on the 100 most popular herbs and natural supplements. The information on each substance is clearly set out in a manner similar to a drug formulary: chemical components/actions/clinical uses/dosage/toxicity/adverse reactions/interactions/contraindications and precautions/pregnancy use. The material is well referenced. However, it should not be forgotten that the field of herbal medicine remains in its scientific infancy and the appendix at the back of this book dealing with levels of evidence indicates that less than one-third of the indications listed for the various substances are based on clinical trials.
I looked up my favourite contentious issues. I found a balanced discussion regarding the toxicity of kava kava and the benefits of St. John’s Wort. The discussion on shark’s cartilage did not question whether the antiangiogenic molecules known to be in the cartilage would be absorbed after oral consumption. I was pleased to see that hydrazine and laetrile were not included; but when I thought how frequently patients ask me about apricot kernels, I wondered whether they should be included briefly to underline their ineffectiveness and toxicity for the novice in the field.
I found this guide to be well-presented, informative and user-friendly. It will be a useful reference in the hospital library.
Roger Woodruff
Director of Palliative Care, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
(February 2005)
Author Information
Lesley Braun is a Pharmacist, Naturopath and Herbalist, and Senior Lecturer at the Australian College of Natural Medicine.
Marc Cohen is Professor and Head of the Department of Complementary Medicine, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
Table of Contents
Section 1 Herbal and Natural Supplements – The Background
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Introduction & Key Concepts – Herbs
Chapter 3: Introduction & Key Concepts – Nutrients
Chapter 4: Herb–Drug Interaction
Chapter 5: Preoperative Care – Considerations
Section 2 Monographs
Monographs A–Z (100)
Section 3 Appendices
Appendix 1 Glossary
Appendix 2 Supplements grouped by pharmacological activity e.g. anticoagulants. Appendix 3 Herb–drug and drug–herb interactions
Appendix 4 Poisons centres
Appendix 5 Online references (includes teaching institutes, complementary medicine associations, herbal/ nutritional and essential oil manufacturers
Appendix 6 Adverse effects and toxicity doses of commonly prescribed nutrients Appendix 7 Nutrition safety tabl
