This is probably one of the most important books on botanical medicine to be published in recent years. In 1983, the British Herbal Medicine Association published the first volume of the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia In 1990 they published a revision (see review in HerbalGram #26, p.53) which did not include the therapeutic actions of the herbs listed which were stated in the original volume. The reason for this is that the BHP is designed as a basic pharmacopoeia with definitions and standards for the identification and evaluation of medicinal plants. The present volume, designed as a companion to the BHP, is a publication that many of us in the herb world have been waiting for. The BHC is distilled from dozens of authoritative scientific texts and over 1,000 published scientific articles. Each monograph contains taxonomic information and the source of the medicinal plant, chemical constituents, therapeutic actions including pharmacology, indications, other uses, contraindications, and dosage, as well as the regulatory status in France, Germany, the U.S., and the Council of Europe. In addition, extensive references are listed as well as regulatory guidelines from other European community members: Belgium, France, and Germany. For France, the government-approved traditional medicinal uses are noted and for Germany, translations of the Commission E monographs are included where applicable. Although this current volume includes information on only 84 medicinal plants, the information is authoritative and reliable and thus makes this compendium a necessary addition to the libraries of all herb manufacturers and marketers, herbalists, health professionals, regulators, and all those interested in the legitimate uses of medicinal plants. Mr. Bradley and his colleagues of the BHMA Scientific Committee (Sheila E. Drew, Fred Fletcher-Hyde, Simon Y. Mills, Hugh W. Mitchell, Edward J. Shellard, Arnold R. Webster, Hein H. Zeylstra) are all to be congratulated for the publication of an indispensable reference work. We can only hope that Volume II will be forthcoming within the next few years. Article copyright American Botanical Council.">by the British Herbal Medicine Association. Edited by Peter R. Bradley. 1992. Dorset, England. Hardcover. 239 pp. $75.00 ISBN# 0-903032-09-0. Available from ABC Books.p#