For the second time in two years, an American Botanical Council publication has earned a high rating by Doody Publishing, a leading reviewer of medical publications. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission Monographs was given a four-star rating (out of five) based on a weighted numerical score of 95 (out of a possible 100). In 1998, ABC’s The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines won a five-star rating, based on a weighted numerical score of 100, and was one of three finalists for Book of the Year by Doody Publishing.

An expert panel reviewed approximately 4,000 medical titles released during 2000 for Doody. All titles must pass various levels of expert peer review, including authority of the author and currency of references. The weighted numeric rating system evaluates 16 elements. Only five percent of the publications receive a five-star rating; 25 percent receive four stars.

Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs revised and updated The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines, published in 1998, after feedback from readers who wanted to know the sources of the Commission E’s research to evaluate the currency of the data.

Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs expanded upon more than 100 herbs that are relatively important to the U.S. market. and also the unapproved herb yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe) and the unapproved plant parts of hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna or C. laevigata) and parts and/or species of echinacea (Echinacea spp.). The integrity of the original monographs was maintained, while new information was cited to enable the reader to distinguish between the original monograph and added information.

The editors also added discussion on geographical distribution, usage history, and available clinical studies, plus quality control parameters from official pharmacopeias, and revised safety and dosing data. A notable section is Table 5, “Most Frequently Prescribed and Researched Phytomedicine Brands in Germany and U.S. Brand Counterparts.”

With 90 full-color photos by noted botanist and author, Steven Foster, Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs is “an informative reference guide about herbal remedies with information presented in an attractive format that is easy to read and follow,” wrote Paula F. Scharf, Ph.D., R.N., in her review for Doody Publishing.  —  Jan Veenstra, ABC