ESCOP Monographs, The Scientific Foundation for Herbal Medicinal Products, 2nd ed. Thieme: New York; 2003. 556 pp., hardcover. $135.00 ISBN 1-901964-07-8. Available from ABC, Item # B524.

This edition expands and updates the 60 herbal monographs published initially in 6 “fascicules” of 10 monographs, plus 20 additional monographs. Monographs are compiled and revised by many of the leading herbal experts in Europe. Reviews the scientific and clinical information on the therapeutic uses of herbal medicines, and lists the official and clinically documented indications, dosages, contraindications, and potential interactions and adverse effects of these herbs. Includes pharmacological activities. Excellent source of therapeutic information and references for healthcare professionals in many fields.

Herbal Medicinal Products. Frauke Gaedcke and Barbara Steinhoff. CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL; 2003. 177 pp., hardcover, tables, charts, graphs. $59.95. ISBN 0-8493-1023-7.

Written by two experts in the German phytomedicine industry, this book defines basic terms and concepts necessary to understand the preparation of herbal and phytomedicinal products. Discusses manufacturing principles and quality control consistent with GMPs. Provides a summary of current scientific and legal requirements for marketing authorization in Europe.

Honoring the Medicine: The Essential Guide to Native American Healing. Kenneth Cohen. Random House Ballantine Publishing Group: New York; 2003. 428 pp., hardcover. $26.95. ISBN 0-345-39530-1.

Focuses on the ancient medicinal practices and rituals of Native Americans. Divided into two sections, Principles and Values, and Methods of Healing. These sections discuss the power of the Four Winds, Native American values, moontime rituals, massage techniques, the benefits of ancient purification ceremonies, tips on finding and gathering healing plants, and the purpose of fasting and chanting.

Sho-Saiko-To: Scientific Evaluation and Clinical Applications. Yukio Ogihara and Masaki Aburada (eds.). Taylor & Francis: New York; 2003. 223 pp., hardcover, index, some charts, graphs, and illustrations. $119.95. ISBN 0-415-30837-2.

The fourth volume in the series of “Traditional herbal medicines for modern times.” Extensive data on the well-known and clinically-tested herbal hepatoprotectant formula, Sho-Saiko-To (aka Minor Bupleurum Formula in traditional Chinese medicine): historical use, cultivation of ingredients, production, chemistry and pharmacology, and clinical testing of its safety. Discusses the herb’s importance in traditional Japanese Kampo medicine, and how it can be effectively integrated into Western medicine.

Hypericum: The Genus Hypericum. Edzard Ernst (ed.). Taylor & Francis: New York; 2003. 241 pp., hardcover, index, charts, illustrations. $129.95. ISBN 0-415-36954-1.

Written by an acknowledged expert in clinical research on herbs and phytomedicines. Covers the botany of the genus Hypericum, plant infections in this genus, cultivation, manufacturing, standardization, quality control, biochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical application. The primary focus of the book is on H. perforatum, St. John’s wort (SJW). Discusses possible pharmacologically active compounds, indications, possible mechanisms of action, and possible long-term effects and risks. Compares research on SJW and synthetic drugs for the same indications.

Shengmai San. Kam-Ming Ko (ed.). Taylor & Francis: New York; 2002. 136 pp., hardcover, glossary, index, illustrations. $89.95 ISBN 0-415-28490-2.

Describes the ingredients of Shengmai San, and provides comprehensive data on the historical, phytochemical, pharmacological/toxicological, and clinical aspects related to the formula.

Oregano, the Genera Origanum and Lippia. Spiridon E. Kintzios (ed.). Taylor & Francis: New York; 2002. 277 pp., hardcover, index, tables, illustrations. $129.95. ISBN 0-415-36943-6.

An updated and analytical review of current available technical knowledge and market information on oregano. Includes global and regional distribution of the various species, their chemotaxonomy, ecophysiology, cultivation technology, pharmacology, and breeding methods.

Rasayana: Ayurvedic Herbs for Longevity and Rejuvenation. H.S. Puri (ed.). Taylor & Francis: New York; 2003. 352 pp., hardcover, index, illustrations, tables. $89.95. ISBN 0-415-28489-9.

Discusses different traditional Ayurvedic Rasayana multi-herb preparations, originating from ancient India, and describes their therapeutic effects for numerous disorders, including their uses for maintaining and promoting health, i.e., tonic, pro-active effects. Targeted for graduate students, scientists and researchers, as well as those just interested in the use of Rasayana preparations.

Citrus. Giovanni Dugo and Angelo Di Giacomo (ed.). Taylor & Francis: New York; 2002. 642 pp., hardcover, index, charts, tables. $149.95 ISBN 0-415-28491-0.

Describes how the use and cultivation of citrus fruits have increased enormously in the past few decades. Covers all aspects of citrus botany, cultivation, processing, industry, chemical, and application of citrus fruits and their oils.

Taxus. Hideji Itokawa and Kuo-Hsiung Lee (ed.). Taylor & Francis: New York; 2003. 456 pp., hardcover, index, charts, tables, illustrations of chemical compounds. $149.95. ISBN 0-415-29837-7.

Reviews how Taxol^® was clinically developed as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of breast and ovarian cancers—derived from the bark and later, the leaves, from trees of this genus. Provides a thorough and authoritative account of all the taxoids, including their production and biosynthesis, taxoid chemistry, analytical methods for identifying their structure, and pharmacological aspects of the genus Taxus.

Tea: Bioactivity and Therapeutic Potential. Yong-su Zhen (ed.). Taylor & Francis: New York; 2002. 267 pp., hardcover, index, charts, tables. $119.95. ISBN 0-415-27345-5.

Covers all relevant aspects of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis, including botanical identification, processing, composition and chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, therapeutic/clinical effects, and epidemiological data. Therapeutic applications based on traditional Chinese medicine are also included.

Capsicum, Amit Krishna De (ed.). Taylor & Francis: New York; 2003. 275 pp., hardcover, index, tables, graphs. $129.95. ISBN 0-415-29991-8.

Discusses the ancient uses of peppers, the fruits of the genus Capsicum, including their uses as natural colorants, spices, and traditional medicines. Reviews the various therapeutic properties of the essential oils derived from the fruits. Covers the cultivation, taxonomy, ethnobotany, chemistry, and history of its trading. Included are sections covering its use in the food industry and post-harvesting technologies. Also has a section on the biosynthesis and therapeutic prospects of capsaicin, the vanillanoid compound responsible for much of the fruits’ pungency and therapeutic activities, approved as a drug ingredient for topical application for Herpes zoster-related dermatological conditions (e.g., Zostrix^®).

Flax: The Genus Linum. Alister D. Muir and Neil D. Westcott (eds.). Taylor & Francis: New York; 2003. 307 pp., hardcover, index, tables, graphs, charts. $149.95. ISBN 0-415-30807-0.

Discusses Linum usitatissimum, its wide distribution and long history of traditional use as a vegetable oil and fiber crop, known as linseed in the UK and as flax in North America. Provides information regarding the steadily growing interest over the last 15 years in the medicinal and nutraceutical value of flaxseed. Covers all aspects of flax taxonomy, chemistry, cultivation, pharmacology, and commercial uses of flax. Includes chapters on the disease-prevention potential of the seed and its essential fatty acid-rich oil.

Eucalyptus: The Genus Eucalyptus. John J.W. Coppen (eds.). Taylor & Francis: New York; 2002. 450 pp., index, charts, graphs, tables, few illustrations. $129.95. ISBN 0-415-27879-1.

Covers the uses of eucalyptus for timber, pulp, and fuel wood, and its numerous medicinal and aromatic properties. Includes potential therapeutic uses in the treatment of various illnesses. Covers eucalyptus botany, cultivation, genetic improvement, chemistry, bioactivity, oil distillation, formulations and legislation, international trade and markets, and environmental and ecological aspects. Each chapter is complemented by an appendix to provide further practical help and advice.

Complex Herbs-Complete Medicines. Francis Brinker. Eclectic Medical Publications: Sandy, OR. 2004. 428pp., softcover, index, bibliography and addendum. $24.95. ISBN 1-888483-12-1.

Emphasizes the importance of recognizing and acknowledging the differences between intact herbs and their various derivatives to aid selection of appropriate preventive and therapeutic applications. Extensive excerpts from the writings of the Eclectic pharmacist John Uri Lloyd illustrate the advantages and limitations of multiple dosage forms. Examines traditional and modern herbal preparations, solvents and processes, and proposes appropriate language to distinguish herbs, their native extracts, simplified fractions, and isolated chemical constituents. Considers the appeal and concerns regarding modern herbal product developments, including standardization and freeze-drying. Provides comprehensive assessments of representative herbs that exemplify a full range of botanical products.

Narcissus and Daffodil. Gordon R. Hanks (ed.). Taylor & Francis: New York; 2002. 428 pp., index, charts, chemical illustrations. $129.95. ISBN 0-415-27344-7.

The first book to provide a complete overview of the genus Narcissus. Discusses extensive folklore. Classification is covered with a new practical consistency of the recognized taxa. Bulb production and the economics behind it are discussed. Comprehensive coverage of the alkaloids, aspects of galanthamine sources, production, extraction and analysis, and galanthamine synthesis. Pharmacological aspects of narcissus alkaloids are discussed, along with clinical trials of galanthamine in Alzheimer’s disease. Includes uses in perfumery and a review of pharmaceutical patents.

Fenugreek: the Genus Trigonella. Georgios A. Petropoulos (ed.). Taylor & Francis: New York; 2002. 200 pp., index, charts, graphs, illustrations. $109.95. ISBN 0-415-29657-9.

An in-depth review of the species of the genus Trigonella, particularly the species T. foenum-graecum, fenugreek. Chapters on botany, physiology, cultivation, breeding, nutrition, pests and disease, and weed control. Discusses various uses of fenugreek, the chemical constituents of the species of Trigonella, and their pharmacological properties.

Pueraria. Wing Ming Keung (ed.). Taylor & Francis: New York; 2002. 290 pp., index, charts, tables. $109.95. ISBN 0-415-28492-9.

The history of the genus Pueraria is discussed, including the introduction of kudzu (P. lobata) into the U.S. to stop soil erosion in the South. The book reviews how its nutritional value, hardiness and growing rate, and elaborate root system brought it into the fodder and fertilizer industry. Several chapters discuss medicinal effects of kudzu for alcoholism, plus research on health effects of isoflavones, pueraria-based medicinal products in China, etc.

Thyme: The Genus Thymus. Elisabeth Stahl-Biskup and Francisco Saez (eds.). Taylor & Francis: New York; 2002. 330 pp., index, graphs, charts, tables. $149.95. ISBN 0-415-28488-0.

Discusses the many species of aromatic herbs of the genus Thymus native to Europe and North Africa. The utilization of these species is reviewed, including sources of the essential oil. All aspects of taxonomy, botany, cultivation, chemistry, pharmacology, industrial processing, and uses of the various species in the genus are covered.

Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP), A Super Nutraceutical. Nan Kathryn Fuchs. Basic Health Publications: North Bergen, NJ; 2003. 43 pp., softcover, index. $4.95. ISBN 1-59120-104-7.

This short consumer-oriented reference discusses research suggesting how MCP might protect against prostate and other cancers, prevents cancer progression, prevents heart disease, removes heavy metal toxicity, and protects against Alzheimer’s disease.

Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine: Principles, Practice, and Materia Medica. Jeremy Ross. Greenfields Press: Seattle, WA; 2003. 970 pp., hardcover, index, tables. $149.00. ISBN 0-9728193-0-4.

Availabl at: http://www.jeremyross.com/books/index.html

Emphasis on Western herbs according to the principles of Chinese medicine, Western herbal tradition, and modern pharmacology. Discusses in detail the unique character of 50 different Western herbs. Provides the basic units for building herb combinations, and references over 1,500 pharmacological and clinical research studies. Contains special focus on practical herb use, safety, and data access.

The Handbook of Clinically Tested Herbal Remedies, 2 Volumes. Marilyn Barrett (ed.). Haworth Press: New York; 2004. 1435 pp., hardcover, index, glossary, bibliography. $159.95. ISBN 0-7890-2724-0. ABC Catalog Item #B528.

A comprehensive effort to demonstrate the clinical evidence supporting various commercial herb and phytomedicinal products. Provides a summary of each clinical trial that has been performed for 160 proprietary herbal products. Eleven chapters discuss the history, regulation, standardization, description, pharmacokinetics, monographs, safety and efficacy of botanical medicine. The two volumes are divided into three parts that are differentiated as Fundamentals of Herbal Medicine, Methods, and Botanical Profiles: Product and Clinical Trial Information.