Number 2, February - American Botanical Council

HerbalEGram

Volume 4 - 2007

HerbalEGram

ABC News & Appearances

Wrangling an Herbal Legend
The February issue of Herbs for Health magazine discusses the conception of HerbalGram, the importance of an herbal education, and possible changes for the herbal community with American Botanical Council Founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal.

March 7-9. Nutracon Conference. Anaheim, CA.
On Thursday, March 8, ABC Founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal will be speaking at the Nutracon Conference as part of a panel that will look at current health problems and the existing gap between the health care treatment paradigm and quality of life. In Top 10 Forecast: Case Studies and Cautionary Tales, panelists will give their perspective on nutritional ingredient market leaders over the last 10 yearswhat went right and what went wrong? Nutracon 2007 will feature a two-track educational program that focuses on timely topics for the Food and Beverage and Supplements & Bioactives markets. The complete Nutracon conference schedule is available at www.nutraconference.com.

ABCs Peruvian Amazon and Macchu Picchu Trip set for August

When does ABC equal HMI?

Some big changes are in the works within the community. Several organizations have instituted guidelines for the harvest and collection of herbal products. The FDA has held hearings on so-called functional foods. Also, a new monograph on Echinacea purpurea aerial parts has been released as well as the UKs first registered product under its new Traditional Herbal system . Finally, it is with great sadness that we report the news that the herbal community has lost a great advocate this past month with the death of William A. Mitchell, Jr., N.D., Co-Founder of Bastyr University Bastyr will conduct public memorial services and events on February 23rd and 24th. A brilliant and engaging man, Bills legacy is the many natural healers that Bastyr has produced, with a positive impact on Americas health for decades to come.

As always we are grateful for your support of ABC's nonprofit educational mission.

Sincerely,
The Staff of the American Botanical Council

HerbalGram

HerbalGram 73 mailed on February 1, 2007. Featured articles include:

First Annual HerbDay Celebrated Widely with Resounding Success

Sho-saiko-to, A Clinically Documented Herbal Preparation for Treating Chronic Liver Disease

Saving Wild Ginseng, Goldenseal, and Other Native Plants from Mountain Top Removal

Additional articles from previous issues are available at
http://www.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/.

Media Watch

Pomegranate Sows Seeds of Popularity - Boston Globe
Pomegranate sales and popularity are rapidly increasing for a fruit that was relatively unknown to the public a few years ago. Abelson, Jenn. Pomegranate Sows Seeds of Popularity. Boston Globe. December 10, 2006.

Supplements: Sorting Fact from Fiction - ABC News
Dr. Andrew Weil provides tips on finding the right dietary supplement for each person. Supplements: Sorting Fact from Fiction. ABC News. January 7, 2007.

An Herbal Menopause Therapy Gets a Closer Look - USA Today
Conflicting information from researchers leaves black cohosh fans confused. Rubin, Rita. An Herbal Menopause Therapy Gets a Closer Look. USA Today. January 1, 2007.

Brazil Gambles on Monitoring of Amazon Loggers - New York Times
Re-elected Brazilian President Luiz Ignacio Lula de Silva has enacted a new plan to protect land in the Amazon rainforest from illegal mining, hunting and animal husbandry while still allowing monitored large-scale logging. Rohter, Larry. Brazil Gambles on Monitoring of Amazon Loggers. New York Times. January 14, 2007.

Magical or Overrated? A Food Additive in a Swirl - New York Times
Martek Biosciences struggles to increase the presence of their algae derived omega-3 supplement in various food products. Rivlin, Gary. Magical or Overrated? A Food Additive in a Swirl. New York Times. January 14, 2007.

Libido-enhancing Root in Global Dispute - Associated Press
Indigenous groups fight to keep their natural resources safe from exploitation through bioprospecting. Vecchio, Rick. Libido-enhancing Root in Global Dispute. Associated Press. January 5, 2007.

Poll: 38% Have Used Herbal Supplements - CBS News
A CBS News poll conducted by phone shows that 38 percent of Americans have tried herbal supplements and that 44 percent find them helpful. The poll also differences in use by gender and region. Poll: 38% Have Used Herbal Supplements. CBS News. January 15, 2007.

17th Century Remedy; 21st Century Potency - New York Times
Researchers glean a 17th century text for evidence of indigenous cures and find what may be a new type of antibiotic. Bakalar, Nicholas. 17th Century Remedy; 21st Century Potency. New York Times. January 16, 2007.

Searching Historical Herbal Texts for Potential new Drugs - British Medical Journal
Researchers describe the process of discovering and testing remedies found in historical texts. Buenz, Eric J. Searching Historical Herbal Texts for Potential new Drugs. British Medical Journal.December 23, 2006.

Essay; Diet Supplements and Safety; Some Disquieting Data - New York Times
New York Times writer Dan Hurley writes a controversial and highly erroneous and misleading essay on the safety and efficacy of dietary supplements as part of his campaign to market his new book, Natural Causes. Hurley, Dan. Essay; Diet Supplements and Safety; Some Disquieting Data. New York Times. January 16, 2007.

New York Times Issues Correction for Erroneous Adverse Event Reporting Infornmation in Hurley Essay

NTU to Test Anti-Depression Herbal Medicine on Pet Dogs, Cats - The China Post
Taipei medical University may have found an herbal alternative to treat depression in pets with fewer side effects than other pharmaceuticals. NTU to Test Anti-Depression Herbal Medicine on Pet Dogs, Cats. The China Post. January 26, 2007.

Prof Explores Treatment for Mustard Gas - Rocky Mountain News
A University of Colorado researcher has been awarded a federal grant to study the properties of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) to prevent or treat chemical burns caused by mustard gas. Erickson, Jim. Prof Explores Treatment for Mustard Gas. Rocky Mountain News. January 3, 2007.

Thistle Saves Santa Cruz Mushroom Poison Victims - CBS 5
A potent form of milk thistle is used to treat 6 victims who ingested highly poisonous death cap mushrooms. Russomanno, Tony. Thistle Saves Santa Cruz Mushroom Poison Victims. CBS 5. January 19, 2007.

Despite Numerous Studies, Final Verdict Still Not in on St. John's wort and Depression - Medical News Today
Though St Johns wort is widely used and well known, conclusive evidence of its efficacy and side effects are unknown. Fowler, Kellie. Despite Numerous Studies, Final Verdict Still Not in on St. John's wort and Depression. Medical News Today. January 31, 2007.

Elizabeth Tashjian, 94, an Expert on Nuts, Dies - New York Times
Nut Museum owner Elizabeth Tashjian dedicated her life to the collection and decoration of nuts. Martin, Douglas. Elizabeth Tashjian, 94, an Expert on Nuts, Dies. New York Times. February 4, 2007.

Events

The following are just a few of the upcoming events that you will find listed on ABC’s Event Calendar.

February 10-16: Society for Range Management 60th Annual Winter Meeting. Sparks, NV.

February 15-18: Bio-Fach World Trade Fair for Organic Food and Natural Products. Nuremberg, Germany.

February 21-23: 2nd Annual Day Spa Expo. Las Vegas, NV.

February 25: Womens Wisdom: Herbs for Womens Health. Vacaville, CA.

March 1: BRIT Distinguish Lecturer Series. Fort Worth, TX.

March 7-9: Nutracon Conference. Anaheim, CA.

March 8-11: SupplyExpo. Anaheim, CA.

March 8-11: Natural Products Expo West. Anaheim, CA.

March 9: Cultivating the Herbal Medicine Woman Within. Vacaville, CA.

March 11-16: Destination Health: Renewing Mind, Body and Soul. Kauai, HI.

March 16-18: Holistic World Expo. Toronto, Canada.

April 30-May 3: 6th Oxford International Conference on the Science of Botanicals (ICSB). Oxford, MS.

HerbClip

The current HerbClip™ bin was released on 1/31/07. Two samples have been made available online to all members:

Tea Extracts Effective for Reducing Skin Inflammation Due to Radiation Therapy

Echinacea's Antimicrobial Effects on Gastrointestinal Bacteria

The HerbClip Educational Mailing Service is published twice monthly and provides hardcopies of reviews/summaries along with the original articles (in most cases). This unique educational benefit is available at the Sponsor Member level. For more information, please contact Aileen Truax at the Development Department or by phone at 512-926-4900.