ABC Raises Funds to get Herbal Message Out

The American Botanical Council (ABC) is launching a fundraising campaign to raise between $5m and $10m to protect the future of herbal medicine for the long term, and is looking to industry and beyond for donations.

Based in Austin, Texas, ABC is an international not-for-profit organisation dedicated to educating the public about herbals. The campaign, ‘Creating an Herbal Legacy’, is designed to collect donations for an endowment fund, a scholarship fund as well as a green development and beautification fund.

‘The greater mission is education and, via education, protecting the future of herbal medicine,’ said ABC executive director Mark Blumenthal.

ABC kicked off its campaign at Expo West in Anaheim, California, with a dinner event and call for donations. However, the group is not limiting its field of potential donors to industry members.

‘We're going outside the box for money now,’ said Blumenthal.

The organisation has created a board dedicated to finding new sources of funding that will likely include major corporations and wealthy individuals - such as celebrities - outside the industry.

Blumenthal characterised prospective donors as ‘people who are using herbs in their daily lives already and are becoming increasingly aware of the role medicinal and aromatic plants play in self care and healthcare’.

Currently, ABC survives on a month-to-month basis for its funding needs and the endowment fund would allow the organisation to both tap into the interest from the fund for operational needs as well as to use it for capital projects or as a stop gap.

‘We need a long term fund for stability and viability,’ said Blumenthal.

In Blumenthal's opinion, there is a lack of awareness in the United States about the health benefits associated with botanicals and ABC's raison d'etre is to change this.

‘I think culturally the US lags behind Western Europe and Asia in terms of its acceptance of, and inclusion of, medicinal plants as part of diet and healthcare,’ he said.

The scholarship fund is designed to prop up ABC's educational reach into mainstream healthcare professions and the public by supporting onsite pharmacy and dietician internships as well as ethnobotanical tours.

‘We believe that education is the principal basis for ensuring the long term viability of a healthy and robust herbal culture characterized by the responsible use of high quality, well-manufactured, properly labeled, appropriately regulated, scientifically researched, sustainably sourced herbal preparations,’
said Blumenthal.

The green development and beautification fund is being set aside to improve ABC's facilities and gardens in Austin.

Web: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com

Chilli Peppers Found to Have been Domesticated more than 6000 Years Ago

According to new research, the chilli pepper has been found to be the oldest spice in use in the Americas, and one of the oldest in the world. Described in a February 2006 report in the journal Science, the research findings provide details about early plant cultivation and the use of chili peppers for food and ceremonial purposes.

• Peppers are in the botanical family Solanaceae, an edible family flowering plants like tomatoes, eggplant and tobacco.
• The research shows that the study of microscopic starch granules stuck in the crevices of cooking implements and in bowl-scrapings can reveal foods that originally weren't thought to have enough starch in them to be traceable.
• ‘The usual idea is that the tropical lowlands were mostly on the receiving end, that they were not areas of innovation. Now our findings are beginning to cast doubt on that,’ said J. Scott Raymond, an archaeologist at the University of Calgary.
• Chilli peppers are thought to have been domesticated at least five times by prehistoric peoples in different parts of South, Central and North America.
• Chilli peppers have been part of the human diet in the Americas since about 7500 BC.
• Evidence of chilli peppers at archaeological sites in the Americas show they may have been domesticated over 6,000 years ago.
• Within decades of European contact, the New World chilli pepper was carried across Europe and into Africa and Asia, adopted widely, and further altered through selective breeding.
• They are now grown around the world and are widely used as medicine, and as or vegetables in cuisine. The chili pepper is an essential cooking ingredient in places as diverse as Hungary, Ethiopia, and China.

What you need to know - Alternative View
Statements and opinions by Mike Adams, executive director of the Consumer Wellness Centre
• Chilli peppers offer truly powerful medicine for boosting circulation, dilating blood vessels, enhancing oxygenation of tissues and protecting the cardiovascular system.
• For as long as chilli peppers have been cultivated for food, they've also been used as medicine around the world. South American Indians, North American Indians and even Asian cultures all prized chilli peppers for their observable medicinal effects.

Bottom line
• Chilli peppers may be the oldest spice in use in the Americas, according to starch granule research.

Web: http://www.NewsTarget.com

Herb's Potent Psychedelic Hit Raises Alarm - Health Canada Looking into Potential Danger

A common garden herb that packs a powerful psychedelic punch has some federal health officials calling for strict controls.

But Health Canada says it can't regulate the use of salvia divinorum - also known as Diviner's Sage - until there's more evidence of its dangers.

Department documents obtained by The Canadian Press under Access to Information law say salvia is being used by adolescents and young adults for its hallucinogenic properties.

A December 2005 report by the marketed health products directorate, an arm of Health Canada, recommends that salvia be placed under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Department spokesman Jason Bouzanis said salvia has been known to cause hallucinations, out-of-body experiences, unconsciousness and short-term memory loss. But that's not enough to declare it illegal.

‘We can't make any recommendations to place salvia under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act schedules until we have sufficient scientific and empirical data that concludes it has the potential for misuse and abuse,’ Bouzanis said.

Australia is one of few countries that has made it illegal to possess, distribute and consume salvia, also known as Sally D, the diviner's sage, or the sage of seers.

It is a species of sage, which belongs to the mint family, and is most commonly found in Mexico, where indigenous Mazatec shamans have used it for centuries for spiritual journeys.

Salvia leaves are most commonly dried and smoked. Extracts of salvinorin-A, salvia's active ingredient, are available in tablet form.

Pill prices can range anywhere from $30 to $80 in Canada, depending on the potency desired. Most online sellers of salvia advertise the herb as a natural health product.

An October 2006 report by the natural health products directorate of Health Canada, which is responsible for assessing safety among all marketed health products, highlights four cases of adverse reactions to salvia.

One case involves a 16-year-old Canadian boy who reportedly became incoherent, suicidal, and threatened to kill police officers after taking a single tablet of salvia in March 2005.

Despite being aware of salvia's potentially harmful effects, the RCMP can't crack down on the herb because it's legal.

‘As far as including salvia included under the Controlled Substances Act, that's Health Canada's responsibility,’ said Sgt. Nathalie Deschenes.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration lists salvia as a ‘drug of concern’ but it has not been banned by the U.S. federal government.

EC Plans Legal Challenge over Spanish Herbal Ban

The European Commission is set to challenge Spain over its ban on the import of herbal products before the European Court of Justice - a policy it says is an unjustified and disproportionate barrier to EU trade.

Under Spanish law, products containing herbal ingredients are classified as medicines unless they are included on a list of permitted plants drawn up in 1973.

The list was last updated over 30 years ago, since which a number of extracts have become available in other member states - such as guaraná, ginseng, espirulina and passiflore - but are systematically removed from the Spanish market in Spain.

If the EC is successful in its bid before the ECJ, it could open up considerable new opportunities for the sale of herbal supplements in Spain - giving suppliers access to the 40 million-strong Spanish population.

According to Euromonitor International, retail sales of herbal supplements in Spain totalled €63.2m in 2005, compared to €81.9m in Italy, €105.3m in the UK, €193.7m in France, and a massive €404m in Germany. The market researcher predicts that Spanish sales will grow to €76.1m by 2010.

Spanish health product groups welcomed the 2002 dietary supplements directive as the first legal recognition of food supplements in the country, but herbals do not presently fall under the scope of this piece of legislation.

In fact, there have been some complex regulatory shifts over the last 30 years relating to herbals and the broader supplements category, but the current scenario is that a number of ingredients that were previously permitted are now not.

According to the EC, Spanish practice exceeds what is necessary in terms of public health, and the problem lies in restrictive interpretation of the relevant law.

Originally some products excluded from the 1973 list, such as ginseng, were initially permitted on the market under a far-reaching dietetic foods law from around the same time.

However this law was later replaced by Europe's Parnuts regulation, which created a much stricter definition of dietetic foods that left the likes of taurine, CoQ10, carnitine and isoflavones that were not on the market prior to Parnuts out in the cold, since they were not recognised by any law.

The situation was somewhat addressed by the 2002 supplements directive. But since 2002 Spanish authorities have since 2002 decided to enforce a later regulation, published in 1990, to regulate herbals.

This law sought to create a 'traditional plants' category as distinct from registration drug products. But having no references for traditional plants, the regulators have looked to the herbal preparations listed on the annex to the 1973 law, despite no mention of 'traditional' under this list.

For herbals not on this list, the, the only route to market is to gain permission for the plant to be used as a medicine - a long, arduous and expensive path that, there can be little doubt, stifles new product development and product launches.

The EC has said it ‘considers the absence of adequate procedures for assessing the risk to public health allegedly posed by products containing plant extracts an unjustified and disproportionate barrier to intra-EU trade’.

Mining of Ancient Herbal Text Leads to Potential New Anti-Bacterial Drug

A Mayo Clinic collaboration has revived the healing wisdom of Pacific Island cultures by testing a therapeutic plant extract described in a 17th century Dutch herbal text for its anti-bacterial properties. Early results show that extracts from the Atun tree effectively control bacteria that can cause diarrhea, as claimed by naturalist Georg Eberhard Rumpf, circa 1650. He documented his traditional healing methods in the book Ambonese Herbal.

The Mayo Clinic-led team's report appears in the Dec. 23 edition of The British Medical Journal, http://www.bmj.com. In their report, Mayo Clinic researchers demonstrate the feasibility of using sophisticated data mining techniques on historical texts to identify new drugs.

Significance of the Mayo Clinic Research
The study provides a creative new model for drug discovery. It integrates nontraditional, ancient medical information with advanced technologies to identify promising natural products to investigate as drugs for new and better therapies.

‘Natural products are invaluable sources of healing agents - consider, for example, that aspirin derived originally from willow bark, and the molecular basis of the anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent Taxol(tm) was derived from the bark of the Pacific yew tree. So it's not so far-fetched to think that the contributions of an ancient text and insights from traditional medicine really may impact modern public health,’ explains Brent Bauer, M.D., director of the Mayo Clinic Complementary and Integrative Medicine Programme.

For thousands of years, people around the world have lived intimately with botanical healing agents and evolved effective healing traditions. ‘Our work shows just how much we can learn from them. But to make the most of what is fast becoming lost knowledge, we have to respect, preserve and work with traditional healing cultures,’ adds Eric Buenz, Ph.D., researcher for Minnesota-based BioSciential, LLC.

Ancient Text
Rumpf referred to himself as Rumphius, in the Latinised scientific manner of the day. Rumphius was a German-born naturalist who worked for the Dutch East Indies Company. His book is an account of the herbal healing traditions on the Indonesian island of Ambon. Rumphius' description of Atun kernels' therapeutic properties is what modern medicine calls "antimotility agents,’they stop diarrhea. Writes Rumphius: ‘... these same kernels ... will halt all kinds of diarrhea, but very suddenly, forcefully and powerfully, so that one should use them with care in dysentery cases, because that illness or affliction should not be halted too quickly; and some considered this medicament a great secret, and relied on it completely.’

Authors
Dr. Buenz was formerly an investigator in Mayo Clinic's Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program, and is now a private researcher with Minnesota-based BioSciential, LLC. Working with Dr. Bauer, Dr. Buenz went to the Independent State of Samoa in January 2005 and accompanied a shamanistic healer to Atun tree groves. The Atun leaves and nuts Dr. Buenz picked were brought back to Minnesota and analysed in Mayo Clinic laboratories.

Global involvement
Scientists and others in the Mayo Clinic collaboration included:
-- in the Independent State of Samoa, shamanistic healer.
-- in Rochester, Minn., a Mayo Clinic neuroscientist, a physician, laboratory analysts and a bioinformatics text-mining expert, who oversaw the Mayo Vocabulary Server concept-indexing application to closely examine the text for detailed and relevant information.
-- in Kalaheo, Hawaii, ethnobotanists (persons who study the plant lore of a race or people) at the Institute for Ethnomedicine, National Tropical Botanical Gardens, to validate the correct botanical specimens.
-- in Boston, Mass., experts in technology to digitise the text so names, symptoms or ailments associated with a given plant could be extracted.
-- in New York, N.Y., a botanist at the New York Botanical Gardens to reconcile ancient plant names with modern plant names.
-- in Chicago, Ill., experts using a natural products database to compare the therapeutic plants identified by Rumphius with modern botanical healing agents in use. Plant names found in Rumphius' text -- but not found in the database -- were considered promising leads to investigate.
-- in Amherst, Mass., a professor of Germanic languages who translated the work written in Dutch and Latin by Rumpf (1627 1702).

Collaboration and Support
Authors also include Kristi Frank and Charles Howe, Ph.D, at Mayo Clinic. Other collaborators include botanists Holly Johnson and Gaugau Tavana, Institute for Ethnomedicine, National Tropical Botanical Gardens, Kalaheo, Hawaii; and E.M. Beekman, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Funding was provided by Mayo Clinic.

The report is illustrated with photos taken of prints contained in a rare early version of the Ambonese Herbal, housed in the University of Minnesota's Owen H. Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine, Minneapolis, which was published in a six-volume set between 1741 and 1750. Electronic files of the prints are available on request.

Mayo Clinic
200 First St. SW
Rochester, MN 55902
United States
Web: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Weaving a Network of Herbal Nurseries

The Handloom Weavers Development society proposes to undertake cultivation of medicinal plants in a hundred households in the Balaramapuram region on a promotional basis.

A re-orientation programme for cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants and its dissemination submitted by the Handloom Weavers Development Society (HLWDS) in Balaramapuram, India has been awaiting State Government approval for more than a year.

The society has famously pioneered the manufacture of `Ayur Vastra', the wonder fabric dipped in herbal dyes with therapeutic properties. Ayur Vastra is finding a growing market within the country as well as abroad.

Popularisation of Ayurvedic systems of treatment in India and abroad has created tremendous demand for Ayurvedic medicinal plants, say Mr K. Rajan, Mr K. Komala Kumaran and Mr Satheesh Kumar of HLWDS. The Ayur Vastra revolution has helped further accelerate this growth in demand.

This has ultimately resulted in wanton destruction and over exploitation of medicinal plant stock and associated eco-systems, which are now in short supply. It is in this background that the society proposed a novel and innovative medicinal plant cultivation and promotion programme back in 2005.

Developed under the guidance of scientists and development experts, the programme is sought to be popularised and generate employment and income generating opportunities (including women empowerment) through cultivation and promotion of medicinal plants.

The society has a fairly long history of using the traditional knowledge of colouring cloth materials with natural dyes, mostly of plant origin. Now it is the process of consolidating the experimental and research endeavours aimed at evolving new natural dyes, developing an exclusive databank, processing raw dyes as finished natural dyes and a mixture of different dyes to develop new colours. The society proposes to undertake cultivation of medicinal plants in a hundred households in the Balaramapuram region on a promotional and propagation basis. Propagules collected from the wild/homestead gardens in the form of seeds, stem/root cuttings, and suckers will be used in raising the required saplings.

After necessary soil preparation, the saplings will be planted in a systematic manner to form a scientifically and aesthetically developed conservatory. The target species will be labelled (with their scientific and local/trade names, the dyes collected and their virtues) and nurtured in the field through regular watering, manuring and other nursery care. Organic mode of nurturing the sapling will be preferred in the nursery.

Boots Unveils New Plant Extract

The cosmetic benefits of the traditional Scottish plant Sweet Gale have been harnessed by UK retailer Boots in a new skin care line to be launched for its leading Botanics natural range.

The essential oils found in the leaves of the Sweet Gale plant, has been more commonly used for flavouring beer, porridge and vinegar whilst also functioning as a natural insect repellant.

However, after many years of research and development, Boots has discovered that the oils of the plant, also known as Bog Myrtle, have a high anti-oxidant content which efficiently combats the bacteria known to cause blemish prone skin.

Likewise the plant extract has been heralded as a significant breakthrough for the skin care market due to previously unknown properties that will help prevent outbreaks for people with sensitive skin. It is also said to have far fewer irritants than similar plant extracts whilst also having anti-bacterial properties that aid acne prone and oily skin complexions.

The new Botanics range, comprising of a cleansing mousse, skin serum, cleansing lotion, moisturiser and facemask, is innovative on the beauty market due to the short supply of the Sweet Gale plant, which grows in the Scottish Highlands.

Bitter Herbs can Ease Bloating and Heartburn

However healthy our food choices are, there are still many factors that can cause digestive problems. Not chewing food thoroughly, eating on the run and drinking too much with meals can all affect digestion.

When food isn't broken down properly, it starts fermenting, producing the gases that cause problems such as indigestion, stomach pains and bloating. Many people then resort to antacids for relief; but these medications are only a temporary solution to imbalanced stomach acid, and won't improve the underlying weak digestive function.

Fortunately, nature has provided an answer with bitter herbs, still eaten in many countries at the start of a meal. The bitterness of food on the tongue kick-starts the digestive process, instructing the stomach to produce acid in a balanced way. Our Western diet unfortunately contains few of these bitter-tasting foods. A.Vogel has two fresh herb tinctures of bitter herbs that work on different parts of the GI tract to get the digestive system working correctly.

HEARTBURN?
The herb Centaurium rebalances stomach acid and helps stimulate the enzymes needed to start breaking down proteins. It also tones the oesophageal sphincter to ease acid reflux. It can be very helpful for those with a hiatus hernia.

BLOATING?
Yarrow Complex contains Yarrow, Centaurium, Dandelion and Melissa, which together have an antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory action. Yarrow Complex reduces the inflammation caused by foods that can irritate the gut (such as wheat, cheese and coffee) and calms the spasms that can result.

Both A.Vogel Centaurium and A.Vogel Yarrow Complex are easy to take as tinctures before meals in a little water. They cost £8.49 50ml from health stores. Stockists 01294 277344

Web: http://www.avogel.co.uk

First Round of Herbal Validation in Western Canada

British Columbia Institute of Technology's Natural Health Products Research Group has announced the completion of the first round of its natural health products analytical laboratory proficiency programme using the herbal goldenseal.

As part of the inter-laboratory collaborative study, blind samples consisting of authenticated and adulterated goldenseal plant material, extracts and finished products were analysed by participating laboratories in Western Canada. The samples were examined for alkaloids via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to distinguish goldenseal from its common adulterants.

The research group says it is developing analytical methods to determine the integrity of natural health products sold for consumption in Canada. It is now recruiting participating laboratories for the second round of the Programme.
Goldenseal is an indigenous North American plant, the root of which has been used as a natural antibiotic, popular for colds and flus, as well as for gastric conditions.

British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) says it validated the HPLC methodology and it is suitable for distinguishing goldenseal.

Panax quniquefolius has been selected by the programme for its second round of testing.

Methodology has been selected by an international expert review panel and validation is being conducted by BCIT in collaboration with AOAC International.

The Institute listed the following labs as having met the acceptance criteria for its project and therefore having demonstrated proficiency in testing for alkaloids in goldenseal:

Canadian Phytopharmaceutical Corporation, Richmond, BC
Cantest Ltd, Burnaby, BC
Envirotest Labs, Edmonton, AB
Labs-Mart Inc., Edmonton, AB
Natural Factors Nutritional Products, Coquitlam, BC
Natural Factors R & D, Burnaby, BC
SGS Canada Inc., Vancouver, BC

Web: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com

Natural Ways to Cope with Stress

Stress is often an unavoidable side-effect of busy, modern lifestyles and the cause of many symptoms such as headaches, nausea, cravings, moodiness and sleep problems. It's not always easy to remove the causes of stress but it is possible to help the body cope with it more effectively. Here are some dos and don'ts from nutritionist Alison Cullen, plus some A.Vogel herbs to try when extra help is needed.

Don't reach out for crutches like caffeine, chocolate, or alcohol, they are a very temporary fix.

Do improve the diet, ensuring it contains plenty of B vitamins, magnesium, vitamin C and iron, all of which the body needs more of at times of stress.

Don't mess up your blood sugar with sugary snacks and over-processed foods. Choose dried fruit, nuts and wholegrains for long term energy.

Do learn to relax with yoga, meditation or try a relaxation tape instead of watching TV.

Do go for a brisk 10 minute walk every evening - to liberate endorphins, the naturally happy chemicals inside the body.

For extra help, try a herbal supplement to relax and revitalise the nervous system, with no risk of addiction or side-effects. Here are three suggestions from the A.Vogel range of fresh, organic herbal tinctures.

AVENA SATIVA (pictured)
This is made from fresh young oat seeds. It is a gentle herb with effects that build up gradually, to help cope with ongoing stress such as the build up to exams or a new job. It‚s so gentle that it can be used for children, for example when facing a new school, house move or family upheaval.

PASSIFLORA COMPLEX
This tincture combines Passiflora and Avena sativa which help to relax muscle tension and relieve anxiety for those who are constantly nervous and agitated. Passiflora Complex is also helpful for improving quality of sleep.

VALERIAN-HOPS COMPLEX
This combination of Valerian root and unpollinated hops is very good for helping with sleep problems as it is fast-working and doesn't cause drowsiness on waking.

A.Vogel fresh herb tinctures cost £8.49 50ml from health stores. Stockist information 01294 277344 and online ordering http://www.AVogel.co.uk

Gingko for Memory

Rather than purchasing trademarked ‘memory boosters’ from health food stores that claim to improve focus and concentration, try fixing the problem at its source by treating memory problems with pure herbs. Many of these herbal remedies have been used for thousands of years, and can help promote concentration, focus and overall wellbeing.

Gingko Biloba is the most famous of memory-enhancing supplements. Some doctors claim that this humble herb can help alleviate symptoms in Alzheimer's patients -for limited periods of time - and also help improve circulation. A study at the Martin Luther King Jr.- Drew Medical Centre in Los Angeles reported gingko's positive effects upon improving memory and overcoming dementia. All but one of the 40 controlled trials of Ginko extracts in the treatment of dementia found clinically significant improvement in memory loss, concentration, fatigue, and depressed mood. This herb is versatile, and readily available in the form of supplements teas, and multivitamins.

The rest of the world has jumped on the bandwagon in gingko research, supporting its claims for aiding memory and concentration, among other benefits. A study at the Sheba Medical Center in Tel-Hashomer, Ramat-Gan reports that, ‘In clinical trials the gingko extract has shown a significant improvement in symptoms such as memory loss, difficulties in concentration, fatigue, anxiety, and depressed mood.’

Although ginkgo gets a lot of the credit for improving memory, a host of other herbs have also been shown to have positive effects on cognition. A Bulgarian study reports that, ‘The favourable effects on learning and memory of the combination of Panax ginseng plus Gingko biloba and the other pharmacological activities inherent in the extracts characterize this combination, offered as Gincosan as a particularly promising drug in geriatric practice.’ Another European study similarly found that, ‘Ginseng at appropriate doses improves learning, memory and physical capabilities.’

For more information about Herbs for memory please contact Pacific College at (619) 574-6909 or visit http://www.PacificCollege.edu.
http://www.healthy.net/index.asp

Herbs, Spices Offer a Dash of Healing Power

Curry for back pain, rosemary to ward off aging: The findings add a new dimension to the phrase ‘spice of life.’

It's the natural stuff rather than concentrated pills or supplements that have more effective curative powers, University of Michigan researchers said recently when issuing a list of seasonings and herbs that are potent panaceas.

‘Herbs and spices add flavour, but they also add health benefits. They can help maintain a healthy weight. Plus, they can help prevent certain cancers, and even lower blood pressure, control blood sugar and improve cardiovascular health,’ said Suzanna Zick, a nutritionist and epidemiologist in the university's Department of Family Medicine.

Serious medicinal properties are found in those fragrant leaves, fresh garlic and ginger, curry powder and cinnamon, she says, including cancer-fighting antioxidants, anti-viral agents and anti-inflammatories. Clever combinations such as basil and oregano are a good substitute for salt for those on low-sodium diets, while nutmeg, clove or cardamom can help temper a sweet tooth.

Though there may be some breath issues, garlic appears to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. It also contains a sulphur compound that acts as a natural antibiotic, and it may decrease the risk of developing colorectal, prostate, breast, liver, skin and digestive tract cancers.

‘For maximum benefit, you need to have about three medium cloves of garlic per day. Dry garlic or garlic left out too long lose their health benefits,’ Mrs. Zick said.
And dried herbs? They're as effective as fresh, leafy versions provided they are less than a year old, she adds.

‘Rosemary is one of nature's most powerful antioxidants,’ Mrs. Zick said, noting that new research has found that it is helpful with memory loss and cancer prevention. Meanwhile, chronic coughs have responded to thyme.

‘The health benefits of thyme are unique. It has been traditionally used to treat coughs, even whooping cough. Thyme is often drunk as a tea,’ she said.

Curry powder contains curcumin, a substance that works in a way similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Curry may decrease symptoms of arthritis, tendonitis and auto-immune diseases, and has been shown to shrink colon polyps, Mrs. Zick said.

Curry has fans elsewhere: Last year, Rutgers University researchers revealed that the bright yellow spice can ward off prostate cancer.

The National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine an agency of the National Institutes of Health with a $123 million annual budget also is investigating the health benefits of fresh food substances common to many larders. Chocolate, chamomile tea, cranberries, ginger, garlic and mushrooms are among those being tested in clinical trials.

The NIH researchers are pernickety, indeed. One study under way in conjunction with Stanford University is examining whether fresh garlic lowers cholesterol. Four groups of 200 volunteers each are swallowing either dried garlic, powdered garlic tablets, aged garlic extract or fresh garlic ‘study sandwiches’ over a six-month period to determine which form best does the job.

By Jennifer Harper
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Web: http://washingtontimes.com

Consumers Advised not to use Herbal Sleep Supplement

Health Canada is advising consumers not to use a product called Eden Herbal Formulations Sleep Ease Dietary Supplement, because it was found to contain an undeclared drug estazolam, which can be habit-forming when used for as little as a few months. Consumers who may still have this product in their homes are advised to consult with a health care professional before they stop taking the capsules, because of the risk of withdrawal symptoms.

Estazolam belongs in the class of drugs known as benzodiazepines, a class of drugs that should only be prescribed by a healthcare practitioner. Estazolam should not be used by people with an allergy to any benzodiazepines, such as Valium (diazepam), Restoril (temazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam), or those individuals affected by the neuromuscular disorder myasthenia gravis or by sleep apnea.

Benzodiazepines, including estazolam, should only be used by pregnant women if absolutely necessary, and with caution by the elderly, and those with a history of substance abuse. The side-effects associated with the use of products containing estazolam vary according to the individual and can include dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, depression, loss of memory and hallucinations.

Eden Herbal Formulations Sleep Ease Dietary Supplement was advertised as a herbal natural health product promoted to relieve sleeping difficulty and restless leg syndrome, and is not authorised for sale in Canada.

The product Sleep Ease Dietary Supplement was distributed at the Evergreen Acupuncture Clinic in Calgary, Alberta. The clinic has stopped sale of this product and has advised all their clients who had purchased the product.

Consumers who have purchased Eden Herbal Formulations Sleep Ease Dietary Supplement capsules should return the product to the place of purchase. To date, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of this product have been reported in Canada.

The CADRMP adverse reaction reporting form, including a version that can be completed and submitted online, is located on the MedEffect portal of the Health Canada Web site.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/index_e.html

Herbal Supplement Fails to Relieve Hot Flashes in Large NIH Trial

The herbal supplement black cohosh, whether used alone or with other botanical supplements, did not relieve hot flashes in postmenopausal women or those approaching menopause, who participated in the Herbal Alternatives (HALT) for Menopause Study, according to results from the clinical trial. The research, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), found that women using menopausal hormone therapy, however, did receive significant relief from their hot flashes and night sweats.

The 12-month randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, compared several herbal regimens and menopausal hormone therapy (estrogen with or without progesterone) to placebo in women ages 45 to 55.

The HALT Study was conducted by Katherine M. Newton, Ph.D., of the Group Health Center for Health Studies, Seattle, and the University of Washington, and colleagues. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), two components of NIH, funded the research. The findings are reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

‘In recent years, scientific studies have raised questions about the safety of certain types of menopausal hormone therapy in some women. Interest has grown in alternatives to hormones, including herbal supplements, for controlling hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause,’ says NIA Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D. ‘Testing the safety and efficacy of various treatments in randomised clinical trials such as HALT is critically important in helping women in mid-life and their doctors to make informed choices.’

Three-hundred and fifty-one women, ages 45 to 55, took part in the HALT Study, conducted at the Seattle-based Group Health Center for Health Studies. Each participant was experiencing at least two hot flashes and/or night sweats daily at the start of the study. The women were approaching menopause, having missed at least one menstrual cycle in the preceding 12 months, or were postmenopausal, having had no menstrual cycle in at least 12 months. Researchers included women who were perimenopausal (or in the menopause transition) because most previous studies looked only at postmenopausal women, who tend to have fewer symptoms than women going through menopause.

Initially, the women were randomly assigned to receive one of five therapies:
* Black cohosh
* A multibotanical supplement, including black cohosh, alfalfa, boron, chaste tree, dong quai, false unicorn, licorice, oats, pomegranate and Siberian ginseng
* A multibotanical supplement plus diet counseling to increase consumption of foods containing soy
* Menopausal hormone therapy, consisting of estrogen with or without a progestin
* A placebo, containing no drug or supplement

Participants met with clinic staff at three, six, and 12 months after the beginning of the study and also received monthly telephone calls from study nurses. The women were recruited into the study from May 2001 through August 2003. When the first reports from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) in July 2002 raised possible concerns about the safety of menopausal hormone therapy*, researchers informed all women in the study about those findings and offered them the opportunity to take part in a study without a menopausal hormone therapy group. Most women consented to continue participation in the trial. All participants were informed about subsequent WHI publications, and later recruits were enrolled in the trial without the option of a menopausal hormone therapy group.

Newton and colleagues found no significant difference between the number of daily hot flashes and/or night sweats in any of the herbal supplement groups when compared to the placebo group. At the end of one year, the average difference was less than 0.6 symptom per day. However, the average difference at one year in symptoms between the menopausal hormone therapy and placebo group was significant --4.06 fewer symptoms per day among women receiving hormones.

‘While this study found that black cohosh alone or with other herbs did not reduce menopausal hot flashes,’ said NCCAM Acting Director Ruth L. Kirschstein, M.D., ‘it highlights the importance of studying herbs using well-designed research to find out what works and what does not. With this information women and their physicians can have a meaningful discussion of complementary and alternative medicine approaches to menopause.’

According to the 2000 census, about two million women turn 50 every year, and 51 is the average age of menopause. Many of these women experience menopausal symptoms of varying intensity. Some seek relief from their symptoms. Newton and colleagues previously noted that alternatives to menopausal hormone therapy, including over-the-counter supplements and phytoestrogens, ‘are sometimes assumed to be safer than ET/EPT (i.e., menopausal hormone therapy), though few have been evaluated in randomised trials.’

The NIA leads the federal effort supporting and conducting research on aging and the medical, social and behavioural issues of older people, including Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive decline. General information on research and aging, including menopause, is available on the NIA's website at http://www.nia.nih.gov/.

Herbal Medication Relieves Migraine

Raghu Bajwa MD, Chairwoman of Guruji Herbal, Inc. announced the availability of Migrowin©®™ at the Complementary and Natural Healthcare CAM EXPO.

Twenty five million Americans, about 17 percent of women and 7 percent of men suffer from migraine headaches. This debilitating affliction occurs on a recurring basis, is extremely painful and affects the quality of life of people suffering from it.

Migrowin©®™ is a powerful food supplement which provides relief to sufferers of migraine headaches. Migrowin©®™ combines 10 herbal supplements in a single capsule to provide relief for migraine headaches. Clinical studies over the last two years show that Migrowin©®™ brought relief to 95% of migraine headache sufferers who took the supplement over a period of three months.

Guruji Herbal is a developer of alternative treatments for common disorders.

Guruji Herbal integrates the practices of modern medicine with traditional remedies practiced for thousands of years in Ayurveda - the World's oldest medical practice.

Guruji Herbal, Inc.
Web: http://www.gurujiherbal.com

Natural health experts recommend the use of herbs to help heal eczema skin. Specifically, herbal remedies for eczema enhances the function of your liver. It is said that a malfunction of the liver has an impact on skin disorders. In addition, many who suffer from eczema have weaker general immunity and are more likely to develop warts, herpes, and other infections.

Herbs to heal eczema skin can come from many countries. They include:

* Burdock root and the Chinese herb, bupleurum, both cause improvement in your skin.
* The liver herb, Milk Thistle, is a great help with eczema and liver related problems.
* Gotu Kola, the Indian plant, usually applied as a salve on cracked or broken skin is also a good healer. The Rudolf Stiftung Hospital in Vienna, Austria uses these herbs as injections and salve to hasten the healing process.
* Pau D'arco, called the ‘immunity-enhancing herb’, comes from the bark of a tree in South America.
* From southern Europe, India and China, licorice roots are also used for eczema relief. Licorice roots help to bring down swelling, cure allergy symptoms, and improve liver function.

Gamma Liolenic Acid (GLA) is very effective for healing eczema. Primrose oil, chamomile, and licorice root all contain GLA. GLA is a fatty acid essential to proper body function. The average daily dose of primrose oil is 2-4 grams and should never be taken on an empty stomach. It can take as much as six months or even more for the results of primrose oil to show up; so it is important to be patient. Across Europe, primrose oil is the preferred way to help with eczema and related problems with skin.

Some other herbs, such as ‘skin and lymph cleansing herbs’ may also be of interest because these help clear whatever rashes might have developed and they also help to clear the skin of impurities. A few of these cleansing herbs are burdock, cleavers, nettle, red clover, and yellow dock. In fact, the yellow dock is known as the best option for those who are suffering from eczema.

Here is a herbal cleansing tea recipe that is suitable if you want to heal eczema skin. These herbs can be purchased at any herbal store. Mix one part burdock root, one part red clover and one part yellow dock. When the mixture is ready take one teaspoon and add it to one cup of warm or hot water.

If you wish to consider using herbs to heal eczema skin, do not expect a miracle. They are by no means an instant cure. You will have to use them over a period before you can benefit from its usage. Ask your local qualified herbalist for some recommendations for usage and application. You should also ensure that you are not on any kinds of medication. If you are, you should let him know.

Evelyn Lim

Web: http://www.eczemaskintreatment.com

Michael Tierra is visiting the UK in October to present a one-day workshop on Planetary Herbalism, followed by a talk the next day on Tonic Herbs & Deficiency Disorders.

One Day Workshop - October 14th, 2006 - Planetary Herbalism:
Integrating Herbs and Traditional Assessment Methods for Maintaining Good Health and Treating Disease. Time Will Also Be Given to the Treatment of Psycho-Spiritual Disorders (Shen Disturbance).
Venue: Herringham, Hall - Regents College London
Date: Saturday October 14th (9:30-4:30)
Cost: £60 (£40 student concessions)

Talk - October 15th, 2006 - Tonic Herbs & Deficiency Syndromes:
Outlining the importance of Tonic and Adaptogenic herbs in supporting patients with Immune Deficiency disorders. Talk will cover both Eastern and Western Herbs with an emphasis on Planetary Formulas.
Venue: Cam Expo - Excel, London Docklands
Date: Sunday October 15th (time to be announced)
For more information contact: John Smith: john@bodytonix.co.uk.

'Nature's Answer® is one of America's largest and oldest manufacturers of maximum strength liquid herbal extracts (since 1972) and pioneers of alcohol-free extracts, we continue to combine the best of traditional herbal remedies, vitamins and minerals with our knowledge of innovative scientific techniques and phytopharmaceutical manufacturing, to deliver high-quality, naturally-derived products for the entire family.

'The Nature's Answer® brand encompasses a broad range of products including Holistically Balanced® liquid herbal extracts for adults and children, encapsulated formulas and homeopathic and herbal creams. One thing is certain...every product from Nature's Answer® delivers uncompromising quality and exceptional value, satisfaction guaranteed.'

Nature's Answer® Offers the Finest Liquid Herbal Extracts Available.
'Nature's Answer® produces the finest liquid herbal extracts available. We are uniquely able to guarantee the quality of all of our liquid herbal extracts as we both manufacture and package all of the holistic remedies that we sell.
'In order to explain how the liquid herbal extracts we sell can be so superior in quality to others currently available, we would like to tell you a little bit more about our company.'

Research
'In our continuing efforts to provide only the best liquid herbal extracts we are constantly reviewing current and historical literature. We have an extensive library of herbal and pharmaceutical literature ranging from 150 year old dispensatories and pharmacopoeia to the most recent pharmabotanical journals. We also house one of the largest herbariums in the country. Our laboratories allow Nature's Answer® to constantly test, explore and update our herbal lines.'

Standards
'Nature's Answer® owns and operates North America's most extensive pharmaceutically licensed herbal manufacturing & quality control facilities. We are registered and are in compliance with all herbal regulatory agencies. This voluntary compliance requires adherence to Current Good Manufacturing Procedures as set forth and monitored by Federal and State Food, Drug and Health Authorities.'

Wildcrafted or Organic Herbs
'All the herbs we process are wildcrafted or organically grown with minor exceptions. Whenever possible, we endeavor to use wildcrafted herbs. Traditional practitioners and current scientific assays both confirm the higher activity of herbs grown wild in their natural environment. Having over 20 years experience with our wildcrafters and herbal sources; we work to ensure the long term protection of the plant species in the wild. If there is any concern about a wildcrafted species we turn to organically grown herbs. When using wildcrafted herbs, we use the entire herb rather than isolate certain 'actives', thus ensuring a more biologically balanced product.'

Nature's Answer® Introduces Full Line of Encapulated Products
'The launch of our new line of herbal and dietary supplements marks the next generation in natural formulating for Nature's Answer. This premier product line includes herbs in single and proprietary blends, as well as standardised formulations containing both standardised extracts and Holistically Balanced® herbs. In addition, we offer a broad selection of today's most popular vitamin and specialty formulas that support overall health and wellness.'

Packaging
'Nature's Answer® products feature consumer-friendly packaging. Structure/function benefits and full potency disclosures are clearly stated on the labels. Product packaging meets government regulations and is in DSHEA compliance. Formulations are free of synthetic ingredients and are 'unconditionally guaranteed'.'

Looking Ahead
'As we embark upon the next century, Nature's Answer® continues to be driven by its founding commitment of offering the finest quality of nutritional supplements and specialty products you can depend upon,'guaranteed'.'

Web: http://www.naturesanswer.com

New Catalogue from ShiZhen

ShiZhen TCM UK's new 56 page, colour catalogue offers an extended product range, including European GMP standard dried herbs and patent pills, detailed background information for each product range and competitive prices on all products.

'Since our restructuring earlier this year we have almost doubled the size of our product range and are confldent that ShiZhen can satisfy all your TCM needs.

'We provide detailed background information for all our product range including details of the manufacturing process and the quality assurance system we insist on for all our products.

'We are happy to reduce the prices on many products including the best selling 168 Pill Range with German and Chinese GMP standard and the ever-popular Koda Single Powders with GMP standard.'

FreePhone on 0800 612 0288
Web: http://www.shizhen.co.uk

'At Jason, we believe that it is equally important to pay attention to what you put on your body as well as what you put in your body. Since 1959, Jason Natural Products has been a leading purveyor of pure and natural products for skin, body, hair and oral health for the whole family, giving consumers effective, environmentally-friendly alternatives to mass-produced, synthetic chemical products.

'Fortunately for us, nature has provided an abundance of plants, roots, flowers and herbs rich in vitamins, enzymes, proteins, minerals and other biologically active compounds that have been used in the care of the body, skin and hair for centuries. Knowledge of the healing power of herbs and their special effects on the skin is used in the formulation of every product. Since our inception in 1959, Jason has strived to produce only pure, carefully balanced products that contain the highest quality, naturally sourced ingredients, known to be skin compatible and proven effective. Our products contain the finest food-grade, natural, organic and nutritional ingredients that deliver topical benefits to the hair and skin.

'Today, our top quality, affordable line features over 200 products, which are manufactured using the most advanced, innovative techniques and the purest, organic ingredients. Jason is still committed to creating distinctive, pampering products that delight the senses, soothe the soul, respect the planet and animals, and promote health and well being in our daily lives.

'Today, we have too little time and too many short cuts. But some things should never be compromised – especially caring for yourself and your family. Combining our legacy in the art and science of natural personal care with the highest quality ingredients and formulations, Jason Natural Products are key to taking great care of your body head to toe everyday.'

Web: http://www.jason-natural.com/home.php

This booklet derives its inspiration from the work of Johann Künzle, who wrote a small book, Chrut und Uchrut (Herbs and Weeds), that was published in 1911. It captured the essence of the culture of natural living and natural healing that was still alive, but struggling, before these great wars began. His motto was 'Back to Nature,' and this shows that even a century ago the world was deviating from what was deemed natural towards an industrialised, more technological society, less concerned with nature. To a large extent, Künzle's book became an important mirror of the old world that one could view from the new world. Eventually, more than a million copies of the book were printed in the German language, distributed mainly in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, and followed up with translations that were distributed to several other countries in Europe. The last edition of the work was published in 1975, at which point its original content was still considered up to date, though brief information about 30 additional herbs had to be inserted to give some background for the Künzle formulas that had become famous. The current work, Major European Herbs, is intended as an updated and revised rendition of Künzle's basic approach to natural health care and herbal medicine, taking into account the considerable changes that have occurred both in our surroundings and in the field of natural cures since that time.

Künzle was influenced by his father who had a fascination with plants, but he had been first exposed to the medicinal properties of herbs during his high school years by a professor who was a Catholic priest. Catholics, particularly orders that were devoted to worldly deeds like the Jesuits, had pushed forward the development of universities, libraries, hospitals, and the study of medicine.

A significant part of the Western world's repository of medical information was to be found in Catholic institutions. During the 19th century, herbs were already being given a secondary place in medicine, though modern drugs as we known them were not yet firmly established. For example, Rudolf Buchheim (1820-1879) at Leipzig, Germany, produced the German language text Elements of Materia Medica and Therapeutics, eliminating many of the previously used herbs, and reporting on several drugs, including inorganic salts, gaseous anesthetics, and a few isolated chemicals. Aspirin, which was to become the most widely used drug (after alcohol), first appeared more than 20 years after Buchheim's death, in 1899.

Soon after Künzle's early introduction to herbs, he attended the University of Lowen where he studied theology and philosophy, and entered the seminary at St. Gall, Switzerland. He was ordained a priest in 1881. He served the church at numerous locations in Switzerland during the following years. His learning of herbs took place in the context of Catholic theology and in a setting where natural health care was separated from modern medicine.

Künzle pursued herbalism as a practical matter in response to his experience of being a spiritual advisor to parents who were dying and about to leave behind young children. Utilising the knowledge of herbs he had attained earlier, and studying further through books, and by thoughtful examination of his own experiences, he would sometimes restore the health of his wards by administering or recommending teas, herbal baths, and other preparations.
This somewhat limited activity (because of the remote area where he lived) soon led to a reputation for a healing ability (a charism, as described in Catholic terminology; a special gift, a talent, conferred by the Holy Spirit), and people began seeking him out for assistance from an ever expanding region, as word of mouth passed on praise of him as the 'Father Herbalist.' Eventually, his work as herbalist took over his daily life and he devoted himself almost solely to this task, though never leaving behind his devotion to the Catholic faith.

He described his experiences in the introduction to Chrut and Uchrut:
'A spiritual adviser, I often had to visit sick fathers and mothers who according to the reports of the local physicians, were dying, leaving behind their little children. In such cases, I gathered up all my knowledge of herbs and was often able to get them back on their feet again. Among others, I was thus able to help a poor Protestant who had been lying in his bed for two years, painfully afflicted with gout and swollen limbs. 'You must get this man out of bed again,' I told myself, and accomplished it after four weeks. Now people said, 'The parson can almost work miracles. He helps disregarding even the difference of faith!' Every evening, groups of working men and women came to me and implored me to help them and I did what I could. When someone reported me to the bishop, who at first did not want to hear anything about my doctoring activity, I sent some of the cured to him to tell the story. This satisfied the bishop, who then gave me permission to continue with my therapy.'

While the bishop may have been agreeable, the medical authorities and physicians in the region were aghast at his practice of medicine without a license. This earned him the reputation, among that group, as a quack practitioner, and it was only because of the strong support of the people that he was able to continue to offer his consultations, which included advice about diet, life style, and use of herbal remedies. He took care not to step over the bounds of natural health care and into the realm of modern medical practice, recognising that the latter had its place for situations where simple home remedies failed, or where there was a need for surgery. Thus, for example, under the heading appendicitis in his book, he claimed that the disease is often cured by a tea made from holly or blackberry leaves, and immediately followed the claim by this caution: 'but call a physician without fail at once.' He was not averse to the modern medical profession, but, instead, wanted people to stay healthy by following simple rules of natural living. He recommended the use of herbs for specific circumstances: to prevent an ailment from progressing to a stage so serious that the new medical treatments were needed; to treat persons who were not able to get to a doctor due to their remote location; and to try, sometimes successfully, to treat people who failed to respond to the available modern medical therapies.

Still, recognizing the increasing pressures being exerted by the medical community as his reputation as healer grew, he decided to pursue advanced medical studies. He did this as a 65-year-old student, and passed the test of the physician's examining board in 1922, thus granting him some acceptance by the medical profession (but, he did not go on to become a licensed medical doctor). Nonetheless, then as now, many physicians were highly critical of people viewed as mystical healers, a designation that was thrust on Künzle by his supporters and not self-proclaimed. It was as much his attitude as his use of herbs that had built up his reputation.

Still, with his passing of a medical exam and his recognition as a kind hearted healer, he could only visit with so many people. The demand for the herbal materials that he recommended to those people he saw locally, as well as those who had heard about him at a distance, expanded to such an extent that a factory was set up to produce his standard formulas: Krauterpfarrer Künzle AG (Father Herbalist Künzle Company) in Minusio, Switzerland.

His formulations, which eventually included teas, herbal tablets, liquids (syrups, wines, and elixirs), liniments, massage oils, ointments, and other preparations, became a major force in Swiss health care that has persisted to this day. Many of the products were exported to other European countries and sometimes overseas. In 2004, this company won the Swiss Gold Marketing Award for its successful efforts to promote domestic use of the natural products. The company currently relies on about 80 herb cultivators who primarily employ organic farming methods. For the prior eight years, sales of the products were declining, as a reflection of overall trends in Europe, but the Künzle Company rebounded through its marketing in drug stores. Since 2000, some of these products, selected items in the form of herbal teas, became available in America. They are manufactured in Germany, with a new style of labeling suited to the U.S. FDA regulations.

The book Herbs and Weeds was intended as a quick reference for people interested in his work. According to Künzle, the writing of it came about because of the demand conveyed to him by persons who read his short herb essays that had been published in a magazine and/or from attendance at lectures he gave from time to time on household remedies. He was not, by profession or bent, a writer of technical works: the resulting book was popular, in part, because of its casual style.

The charge that a priest should stick to his own profession and not get involved in medicine was one that had been addressed to him. In his introduction to the book, he commented that there was historical precedence: priests in the Middle Ages were medicine men; monks and even bishops wrote tracts about herbs. Further, he noted that while some medical doctors would suggest to patients-who could not be properly treated by their available methods-to go ahead and use home remedies, the art of preparing and using those remedies was not usually known either by the doctor or the patient. So, there was evidently a need for this kind of information and hence, his lectures, magazines articles, and the small book.

It is a testimony to the deteriorating status of herbal medicine in Europe at the time that it was necessary for Künzle to present basic information about herbs for the lay public. Indeed, the last herbal guide in German that was widely accepted had been published four hundred years earlier. The rapid development of modern medicine during the 20th century-without much regard to herbal medicine and other healing techniques of earlier times-was made possible by this deterioration. Contrary to some popular views, modern medicine did not need to suppress a vigorous natural health care system; it filled what had become a virtual vacuum.

What differentiated Künzle's book from both the academic as well as several of the popular herbals that had been published previously was his inclusion of general health advice (non-herbal suggestions) and the description of the procedures for using herbs (collection, preparation, applications, duration of use, where appropriate). Most herb books austerely present the individual herbs with information about their characteristics and indications, but little or nothing more about the actual context of using them. In that sense, they are not practical, but simply a reservoir of information.


One of the things that has changed over the years since Künzle's passing is the improved quality control over herb product manufacturing and the greatly increased knowledge of herbal active constituents and their pharmacology. In Herbs and Weeds, Künzle was only able to mention the existence of general groups of ingredients (such as aromatic components) and only one chemical compound, salicylic acid (the basis of aspirin, found in the European herbs willow bark and meadowsweet). The chemical components in herbs were believed to be responsible for their medicinal effects then as now, but today we can identify many thousands of individual chemical compounds and provide detailed mechanisms of action by which they affect the body.

There has been some change in the context in which herbs are taken. There is greater emphasis on use of manufactured products rather than items collected by the consumer (or an herbal prescriber). Thus, for example, after describing the use of willow bark, Künzle mentions that this material is relatively easy to get from basket weavers. That may well have been so then, but not now.

While an effort has been made here to preserve the content and flavour of Künzle's presentation, there are some concepts he held that have been deleted. He believed that a group of five herbs included in his 9-herb formula called Professor's Tea, are 'slightly radioactive, which probably explains their healing power.' For one of the herbs, Benedict's Herb (Geum urbanum), he states that 'it contains radium.' I don't know the origins of the idea that the plants contain radium and are radioactive, but it may have been based on the use of indicator plants for finding mineral resources (some plants are better than others at absorbing certain minerals from the soil; examining the plants can suggest what minerals lie beneath). Regardless, in the modern context, radium content and radioactivity wouldn't be considered a benefit, but a distinct detriment.

Also deleted are some proposed therapeutic regimens in Künzle's original work that did not reflect actual cases he had observed. He presented a treatment for bubonic plague (should it ever arise again), using so-called pestilence roots (coltsfoot and the related herb petasites, also known as butterbur or sweet coltsfoot), with the statement that 'after being administered, the powder causes strong perspiration and only persons able to perspire freely can be cured.' This concept of perspiration curing a feverish disease is an old idea passed on over the centuries (and mentioned in many healing traditions). There is probably no viable evidence of efficacy for either the pestilence roots themselves, or for induction of perspiration, as a method of therapy for bubonic plague. These herbs are no longer relied on to treat infectious or epidemic diseases, nor is induction of perspiration any longer so assuredly believed to be a treatment for deadly infections as it was in his day. Nonetheless, proponents of natural healing often propose that 'cleansing' of the body by eliminating toxins through diuresis, laxative effects, or perspiration will resolve many symptoms and diseases. Petasites remains a popular herb, but mainly for treating pain, and has been researched as a potentially useful remedy migraine therapy. Both coltsfoot and petasites contain small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids which carry a minimal but potentially serious risk for liver damage; petasites extracts without this component are now marketed.

Künzle had learned from another priest (whom he did not name in his book) about the treatment of children's diseases and had passed on the concept he learned: many of these diseases were due to insufficient urination. Among the diseases he mentioned were eczema, skin eruptions, and measles as the main cases, but also eye and ear troubles and epilepsy as possible cases. He pointed out that 'the urine must be forced,' meaning that urination had to be attained in order to get the cure. One of his favoured herbs for this purpose was rhizomes of quickgrass (Triticum repens). This, and other diuretic herbs used at the time, may prove of some benefit to these diseases, even if the mechanism of action involves anti-inflammatory or anti-infection properties rather than solely the diuretic actions of the herbs. Naturopathic doctors today also give diuretic herbs as part of the natural therapy for these conditions, following the concept that the disease is due to accumulations of toxins that can be eliminated, in part, by stimulating urination. In China, the doctors indicate that many of these disorders are said to be due to 'damp' syndromes and are treated also with diuretic herbs. Modern knowledge of these diseases does not seem to imply a relationship between their occurrence or resolution and urinary excretion, but we don't know if that is simply a missed observation.

Künzle's small booklet was augmented in the last edition with brief descriptions of 30 herbs that were used in manufacture of his formulas but not included in the original Herbs and Weeds (many of those formulas had been designed by Künzle after his original book was published); 10 of those herbs are reviewed here, in Chapter 8. Also, a few illustrations were added, some corrections were made in the original text, and a listing was attached of all the preparations then being manufactured with brief description of their uses. This amended version was edited by staff members of PfafferKünzle AG, thirty years after Künzle's death. Thus, the practice of preserving but amending the original book is already a tradition.

In the current work, some of the herbs used by Künzle in Herbs and Weeds, especially those used topically, those applied as veterinary remedies (many of the people he tended to owned animals that also had various ailments), and those having some toxicity that makes them unsuited to widespread use, have not been included. Taking their place is an extended description of each of the major herbs that are available in the tea products.

Web: http://www.itmonline.org/kunzle/

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