Morus alba
©2022 Steven Foster Group

AHP Report: White Mulberry Leaf Use and Safety
By the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia
In this report, the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP) reviews the quality, therapeutic use, and safety of white mulberry leaf (WML) in response to the alleged involvement of the herbal material in the December 2021 death of Lori McClintock, the wife of Congressman Tom McClintock (R-CA). The Sacramento County coroner’s office concluded that the cause of death was “dehydration as a result of gastroenteritis,” which was attributed to the ingestion of WML. Despite this and the resulting uncritical media coverage, herbal experts have questioned the causal association of McClintock’s death with WML, which is widely considered safe and has been used medicinally for at least 1,800 years. Read more >>

Phacelia tanacetifolia
©2022 Craig Burrows

Floral Fluorescence: Medicinal Plants in a New, Ultraviolet Light
By Connor Yearsley
California-based photographer Craig Burrows uses a technique called ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence (UVIVF) photography to capture the beauty of plants, including medicinal plants, in a way that humans would not otherwise see them. This process involves using an ultraviolet (UV) light source, which makes the plants glow in the dark, and the effect is like something from “Fantasia” or “Avatar.” Burrows, whose work has been featured in National Geographic, believes the technique creates a sense of wonder and hopes it inspires peoples’ interest in the plant world. The American Botanical Council is grateful to Burrows for generously providing the UVIVF photographs featured here. Read more >>

Undaria pinnatifida
Courtesy of manray3

Food as Medicine: Wakame Seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida, Alariaceae)
By Hannah Bauman
Wakame is a species of brown kelp that is native to the cold northern waters of the Pacific Ocean, but highly adaptable to various climates and growth mediums. Seaweed has been revered for its nutritional and medicinal qualities for centuries in Asia but is now growing in popularity outside of its native range due to the promising phytonutrients it provides. Some compounds in wakame are used as ingredients in over-the-counter acid reflux medications and surgical dusting powders, while the whole food itself is the subject of preliminary research for its beneficial effects on blood sugar and insulin levels. Read more >>

Panax ginseng
©2022 Steven Foster Group

Book Review: A History of the Korean Ginseng Industry
By Mark Blumenthal
This book, by Professor Il-Moo Chang, PhD, received the American Botanical Council’s (ABC’s) James A. Duke Excellence in Botanical Literature Award for 2022 in the reference/technical category. In his review, ABC Founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal praises Chang’s thorough research that traces the story of ginseng on the Korean peninsula from a food item to medicinal ingredient and, finally, an internationally traded commodity. Read more >>