PDR for Herbal Medicines

IV PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Foreword

With 150,000 copies of its first edition in print, PDR

for Herbal Medicines has almost instantly become one

of the nation's leading pharmacological references.

The reasons for its phenomenal reception are evident.

Hundreds of herbal remedies now fill the shelves in

virtually every supermarket and pharmacy, and the

popularity of self-medication with "natural" supple-

ments continues to rise, making the benefits—and

risks—of these preparations an ever more compelling

concern.

Now, to better address the host of questions that still

surround most herbal remedies. Physicians' Desk

Reference® is proud to present this completely revised

and updated second edition of PDR for Herbal

Medicines. Significantly enhanced and expanded, this

new edition extends both the range and depth of the

original volume. Among the many improvements

you'll find:

• Broader Coverage: With some 100 new entries,
  the book now covers a total of 700 botanicals, includ-
  ing a wide selection of popular Chinese herbs.


• More Research Data: Hundreds of entries have
  been augmented with additional information on safety
  and efficacy.


• Additional Adverse Effects: The entries include
  new information on drug/herb interactions. The Side
  Effects and Interactions indices have been enriched
  and expanded


• Available Formulations: Whenever applicable,
  the herbal monographs now list the names and suppli-
  ers of popular commercial preparations.


• New Indices: The index section has been enhanced
  with four additional indices:
  — Homeopathic Indications Index
  — Asian Indications Index
  — Safety Guide
  — Manufacturers Index


• Better Organization: In this edition, remedies
  appear under their more familiar common name,
  instead of their botanical designation. All monographs
  are cross-referenced by scientific name.

One important aspect of the first edition does, howev-
er, remain constant. Because it is still extremely hard
to come by reliable information on the swarm of
unregulated "dietary supplements" in today's market-
place, this new edition continues to provide you with
the closest available analog to FDA-approved label-

ing—the findings of the German Regulatory

Authority's herbal watchdog agency, commonly called

"Commission E." This agency has conducted an

intensive assessment of the peer-reviewed literature on

some 300 common botanicals, weighing the quality of

the clinical evidence and identifying the uses for

which the herb can reasonably be considered effective.

Its conclusions represent the best expert consensus on

medicinal herbs currently available.

For the herbs not considered by Commission E, PDR

for Herbal Medicines provides the results of an

exhaustive literature review conducted by the respect-

ed PhytoPharm U.S. Institute of Phytopharmaceuticals

under the direction of noted botanist, Dr. Joerg

Gruenwald. These additional monographs, now some

400 in number, provide a detailed introduction to an

array of exotic botanicals that you'll be hard pressed

to find in any other source.

To make the information in the monographs as useful

and accessible as possible, PDR® has echoed the struc-

ture of standard U.S. product labeling. Each mono-

graph contains up to ten standard sections, covering

considerations ranging from description to dosage.

Here's a closer look at what you will find:

• Title: Each monograph begins with the herb's
  generally accepted common name, followed by its
  scientific name. In addition, all monographs are cross-
  referenced by their botanical designation.


• Trade Names: Listed here are common commer-
  cial preparations of the herb.


• Description: This section provides a detailed
  botanical overview of the herb, including information
  on its medicinal parts; flower and fruit; leaves, stem,
  and root; unique characteristics, habitat, production,
  related plants, and additional common names and syn-
  onyms.


• Actions and Pharmacology: Here you'll find data
  on the active compounds or heterogeneous mixtures
  found in the plant, followed by a summary of the
  herb's clinical effects. If various parts of the plant
  possess different pharmacological activity, the parts
  are discussed individually, here and throughout the
  remainder of the monograph.