Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2001 Edition

by Therapeutic Research Faculty Staff, Jeff M. Jellin (Editor)

Book Description The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database gives accurate scientific data for every herbal medicine and dietary supplement used and referenced in North America. The database covers more products than any other reference. For each product the database provides 15 categories of information. For each product the database will tell you various other names that the product is known by...what the product is used for, including current uses, traditional uses, uses in other cultures, non-medicinal uses...the safety rating, including safety during pregnancy and lactation...effectiveness rating, including effectiveness for various uses...major active ingredients and theoretical mechanism of action...potential interactions with drugs...potential interactions with foods...potential interactions with disease conditions...potential interactions with medical lab tests...typical dosing and routes of administration and other important commentary. This database is extremely comprehensive. There are almost 1200 pages of concentrated data. The database is the most comprehensive and most clinically valid reference on this topic in existence. The database is written for physicians, pharmacists, and other health professionals. Consumers who use this database are encouraged to seek appropriate guidance from a healthcare professional. Included in with the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database are several charts showing which herbs and drugs interact, and listings of herbal and dietary supplement products showing all of the specific ingredients in each product. The database is exhaustively referenced. Each statement is referenced by one of thousands of medical references. The database is extremely easy to use. For any particular question, you simply flip to the name of the product, and find the answer to your question in the appropriate box on that page. This Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database is an outstanding collection and consensus of data from every other reputable reference in this topic area. The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database is an excellent tool for people who wish to determine the safety or effectiveness of any herbal or dietary supplement product. People will also be able to determine the appropriate uses and side effects to watch for. The database provides a unique and very user-friendly ranking for the safety and the effectiveness of each herbal medicinal or dietary supplement product. Each product has one of five safety ratings, and one of five effectiveness ratings. These ratings are assigned based on the number and quality of published human studies. The authors have evaluated the various studies and determined which studies hold enough scientific validity to earn a particular rating. Very importantly, people will know if there is any documented interaction between a natural medicine and a traditional prescription or non-prescription drug, or if the natural medicine is likely to effect any medical lab test, or aggravate any particular disease. A ! group of 37 pharmacists and physicians, plus 2 nutritionists, worked as a team for over one year to compile this immense and user-friendly database. This Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database represents the best collection of knowledge on this subject available anywhere, and is a "must-have" tool for anybody who prescribes, dispenses, recommends, or uses these products.

1530 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2000

Reviews

[SheriC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I acquired this as a reference book when I was in the NP program. I found the information to be well organized and appreciate the scientific approach. It takes a pharmaceutical approach to herbal/nutritional supplement products, provides all the common names as well as the scientific names, gives the common uses, dosing, known safety information, and summarizes scientific knowledge of each substance. And by scientific knowledge, I mean published studies. I especially appreciate the information on food and drug interactions as well as interactions with diseases and conditions. I like the factual approach, as opposed to the hyperbole you find by searching the internet.