American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook [Hardcover]

Michael McGuffin (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0849316758 | ISBN-13: 978-0849316753 | Publication Date: January 30, 1998

The consumption of herbal products continues to increase, with an estimated sales growth of 10-15% per year projected through the end of the 1990s. As more and more consumers use herbs, it becomes that much more important to ensure that the herbs are used properly and safely. While herbs generally have a safe consumption history, information relevant to specific herbs and particular populations has not been easily available. The Botanical Safety Index Handbook provides readily accessible safety data in an easy-to-use classification system for more than 600 commonly sold herbs. The handbook also features additional information regarding international regulatory status, standard dosage, and certain common toxicity concerns. The editors of this book are among the most respected leaders in the herbal products industry. Their experience includes years of clinical practice, manufacturing and industry governance, and significant writing and lecturing about herbs. The Botanical Safety Index Handbook is for manufacturers of herbal products, health professionals who prescribe herbal remedies, and the consumer. This is a valuable resource for the safe dispensation of herbal products, and will help ensure the safe consumption of herbs through the 1990s and beyond.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...a very valuable reference for anyone selling, manufacturing or using medicinal herbs and perhaps will help clear the way for setting better legal and labeling standards of herbs.
-American Herb Association
A basic reference text which should be on every herbalist's shelf! . . . It is very complete and includes many Chinese and Ayurvedic herbs as well. Congratulations to AHPA on an excellent and much needed text. Thank you!
-Robyn's Recommended Reading
An absolutely necessary reference book, this book gives cautions and contraindications for more than 600 plants. Don't expect fun reading-it is strictly a reference book. BUY IT!
-The Herbal Connection
The Handbook is a very readable and authoritative reference for herbal products, their usage, toxicity, and contraindications.
-The Microscope

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: CRC Press (January 30, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849316758
• ISBN-13: 978-0849316753
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #903,913 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing Information from such an August Body, September 11, 2005

By 

Josi Martin (England) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook (Hardcover)

I feel somewhat presumptious criticising this publication of the American Herbal Products Association as a mere student. However it is not as comprehensive, or as easy to check, as I had hoped. The main body is a dry listing in botanical binomial categorisation only. Part of the chemical reactions of the active constituents have then to be extracted seperately from the text of appendix 2 (which are the herbal constituent profiles). Though it has a simple list of herbs inadvisable during pregnancy - which should be useful. I was also disappointed to see that feverfew merely mentions the potential mouth ulceration capability of fresh leaves (and gastric disturbances) but not that it can possibly cause increase photosensitivity in combination with other drugs.

Personally, within my limited experience of relevant publications, I prefer the Natural Standards Herb & Supplement Handbook by Basch and Ulbricht. Though this includes common supplements such as fish oil. This I have found far more comprehensive, for the herbs it does include, and more user friendly.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book!, July 7, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook (Hardcover)

I have this book and I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to have a key reference to using herbal products safely. It is not the only reference book I consult when looking up the safety of herbal products, but it is one of my main ones. I simply wouldn't think of being without it.

I congratulate the American Herbal Products Association for publishing this book and being on the forefront of wanting consumers to have access to accurate information about the safety of herbs when looking to purchase Herbal Products.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Handy reference for clinicians on herb safety, December 2, 2003

By 

Eric L., Yarnell (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook (Hardcover)

This book is a must for any practitioner of botanical medicine. It is a quick, concise guide to herbal safety. It clearly discusses controversial issues, rather than just randomly trashing herbs based on rumor and innuendo, as so many books in the mainstream medical establishment seem to do. A great work. The appendices at the back discussing important issues in more depth are particularly well done.