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HerbDay Coalition Celebrates HerbDay 2021 Online After canceling most in-person events in 2020, the HerbDay Coalition curated an all-virtual program for HerbDay 2021. Multiple organizations and herbalists contributed their time and expertise to produce educational videos, recipes, and other resources for participants. The event was the first of its kind for the coalition, which is now seeking feedback to improve its online programming for future events. Read more >> |
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The Murder of Guatemalan Maya Spiritual Guide Jesús Choc Yat On January 4, 2021, Jesús Choc Yat, a Maya ajq’ij (spiritual guide) and healer from Guatemala, who used local medicinal plants, was murdered, according to a press release from a Maya advocacy group. The circumstances and motivations behind his murder are unclear, and it is not known if any investigations have been conducted. This crime is part of a disturbing trend and follows the brutal murder of Domingo Choc Che, another Guatemalan Maya healer, in early June 2020. Unlike Domingo Choc Che's murder, Choc Yat’s murder does not appear to have received any international attention from major media outlets. Read more >> |
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Research Review: Systematic Review of Human Trials Regarding Dosage, Efficacy, and Safety of CBD in Adults This summary of recent clinical trials examines the evidence on the safety, administration, dosage, and efficacy of cannabidiol (CBD) supplementation in adults. CBD, which is a psychoactive but non-intoxicating compound in cannabis, has gained popularity as a supplement for a variety of conditions, including anxiety and other mental health disorders, substance abuse recovery, and seizures. However, it remains controversial due to its legal status, which varies by location. Read more >> |
ABC News:
An Open Letter to ABC Members and the Herbal Community from Mark Blumenthal. April 21, 2021.
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Herb Profile:
Yerba Maté
World News:
Thailand Approves Andrographis for COVID-19
Research Review:
Elder Berry and Viral Infections
Book Review:
Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals, Vol. 3
Did you know? HerbalGram is available in three digital formats: PDF, page-flip, and HTML. Check them out!
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The Ecology of Herbal Medicine explores medicinal plants of the southwestern United States through the lens of sustainability and rejuvenating the land. Dara Saville, executive director of the nonprofit Yerba Mansa Project and founder of Albuquerque Herbalism, writes about the ecological relationships between medicinal plants and their environment, and how this relationship can increase the understanding of the plants’ medicinal properties. This connection also informs her approach to using herbal medicines and preserving their natural habitats, which can improve the health of both humans and the planet.
The Ecology of Herbal Medicine can be purchased from the publisher. From The Ecology of Herbal Medicine: A Guide to Plants and Living Landscapes of the American Southwest by Dara Saville. Copyright ©2021 University of New Mexico Press. This material is reprinted with permission from the publisher and may not be used for any other purpose.
Most Comprehensive Studies to Date Find ‘Insufficient Evidence’ to Support Herbal and Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss. EurekAlert! May 8, 2021. The systematic review noted that many studies had poor research methodology and reporting, despite some results that showed a statistically significant result versus placebo, and concluded that current evidence does not support the use of supplements for meaningful weight loss.
Medicinal Plants in Demand for Terrace and Balcony Gardens. Hindustan Times. May 8, 2021. Nurseries in Indian cities are reporting increased demand for medicinal plants such as tulsi, turmeric, and ashwagandha for their health benefits as well as their air-purifying effects.
Hospital Food Is Never Great, But for Some Patients It Means Death. Science Alert. May 8, 2021. A randomized trial found that patients hospitalized with chronic heart failure who were given individualized nutritional guidance had a higher survival rate than those who did not and consumed a typical hospital menu.
Cubans Turn to Herbal Remedies, Barter, Amid Medicine Scarcity. Reuters. April 20, 2021. Doctors in Cuba have begun recommending herbal treatments for a recent scabies outbreak as the country’s economic crisis has caused a severe shortage of basic medications.
Denmark: Three Die of Salmonella Poisoning Linked to Herbal Remedy. BBC News. April 16, 2021. A salmonella outbreak in Denmark has been tentatively traced back to a psyllium husk supplement, and the company responsible issued a recall for the product out of caution.
How TCM Can Help Relieve Your Spring Allergy Symptoms. WholeFoods Magazine. April 12, 2021. Following the energetics model of traditional Chinese medicine, a variety of botanicals and fungi may help boost the immune system and relieve allergy symptoms caused by inflammation.
Changes in Mouth Bacteria After Drinking Beetroot Juice May Promote Healthy Aging. ScienceDaily. March 30, 2021. Drinking beetroot juice promotes a mix of mouth bacteria associated with healthier blood vessels and brain function, according to a new study of elderly adults.
Psychedelics for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Project CBD. March 22, 2021. New research into the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder with psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound in magic mushrooms, may help elucidate how the compound acts on mental health disorders.
Read more Herbal MediaWatch headlines here.
AHPA Requests CITES Exemption for Cultivated American Ginseng. American Herbal Products Association (AHPA). May 10, 2021.
DEA: Marijuana-Related Seizures, Arrests Increase in 2020. NORML. May 6, 2021.
NUHS Partners with Pusan University to Offer Certification Program in Korean Medicine. National University of Health Sciences. May 5, 2021.
CRN Responds to Recent Bloomberg Opinion Piece on Dietary Supplements. Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN). May 3, 2021.
GMP Harmonization: NSF Is Approved for Amazon Supplement Sales Rules. NSF International. May 2021.
CRN Announces Launch of WellComms Conference for Marketing and Communications Professionals in Wellness Industries. CRN. April 22, 2021.
Maryland University of Integrative Health Holds Annual Integrative Health Research Symposium. Maryland University of Integrative Health. April 22, 2021.
Institute for Natural Medicine Introduces New Collaborative Multi-Modality Medical Board. American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. April 21, 2021.
Americans for Safe Access Becomes First and Only Accredited Cannabis Standard Setting Body. Americans For Safe Access. April 20, 2021.
‘Forgotten’ Coffee Species That Grows at Higher Temperatures and Boasts a Superior Flavour Could Help to Futureproof the Coffee Industry Under Climate Change, Says New Study. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. April 19, 2021.
NIH to Host Spring Lecture Series on Integrative Approaches for Addressing Pain and Mental Health. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine. April 13, 2021.
Sixth Annual Dietary Supplements Regulatory Summit Features Top FDA Regulators. Natural Products Association. April 12, 2021.
AHPA Announces Date — May 24, 2021 — for 9th Botanical Congress. AHPA. April 8, 2021.
Study: Cannabis Associated with Sustained Improvements in Chronic Pain Patients. NORML. April 8, 2021.
AHPA Publishes Hemp Lexicon. AHPA. April 5, 2021.
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ABC’s 16th Annual Botanical Excellence Awards Celebration. Online. May 25, 2021. Join the international herbal community in celebrating the accomplishments of the American Botanical Council and recognizing the recipients of this year’s ABC Botanical Excellence Awards in this first-ever virtual program. More information.
The Grow System Summit. Online. May 21-23, 2021.
Natural Products Expo West. Online. May 24-27, 2021.
Medicines from the Earth Herb Symposium 2021. Online. June 4-7, 2021.
Botanical Safety Consortium. Online. June 24, 2021.
SupplySide West. Las Vegas, Nevada. October 25-28, 2021.
More event listings can be found on ABC’s website.
These big, bold blooms symbolize bravery, honor, and prosperity in Japan and China, and were once the Chinese national flower. In traditional Chinese medicine, they have also been used as an immune booster and to treat headaches, asthma, and liver ailments. They’re hard to miss, so read more here.