The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines (Book with CD-ROM) [Hardcover]

Mark Blumenthal (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0967077273 | ISBN-13: 978-0967077277 | Publication Date: April 15, 1999

In 1978, the German government established an expert committee, the Commission E, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of over 300 herbs and herb combinations sold in Germany. The results were published as official monographs that gave the approved uses, contraindications, side effects, dosage, drug interactions and other therapeutic information essential for the responsible use of herbs and phyto-medicines, For the first time, the complete set of all Commission E monographs has been complied, translated into English and edited for use by physicians, pharmacists, health professionals, researchers, regulatory agencies, consumers and the herb industry.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 685 pages
• Publisher: Integrative Medicine Communication (April 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967077273
• ISBN-13: 978-0967077277
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.2 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,197,411 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Five stars for breadth; four stars for depth, January 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines (Hardcover)

This English translation of the German Commission E monographs belongs in every hospital drug information center. Its high price probably prohibits many people from buying it for their personal libraries. The monographs are relatively short; each includes a section of composition of the drug, use, contraindications, side effects, interactions with other drugs, dosage, mode of administration, duration of action, and actions. Depending on the drug, some monographs include information on pharmacological properties, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, use in pregnancy/lactation, and (I like this as a special section!) "effects on operators of vehicles and machinery". In addition, products which are NOT recommended for use have a final section entitled "Evaluation", which explains the reasoning. There are many charts and tables laying out uses/approved indications, taxonomic references, side effects, etc etc etc. This is not exactly your light bedtime reading, but it's a great reference.

44 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Solid and Dependable Work on the Market, December 29, 2000

By 

Susanne (CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines (Hardcover)

I have worked with herbs for many decades and have shelves and shelves full of works on Herbs and Healing. The German Commission E Monographs is still an often used Reference that in my oppinion belongs on everyone's shelf who works with Herbs. True, it does not cover all that the herbs are capable of and due to lack of proof, many wonderful herbs are not approved, BUT, and this is most important, whatever you find in this book is scientifically proven and you can believe it. I VERY strongly recomend this book, and the CD as well. Whenever you explore a new herb, or need to know facts, check it out in the Commission E Monographs. Then you have a very good outline from where you can start to work with, and together with other herbals get to know and experiment to arrive at your own conclusion. And that is not to mention the inclusion of interaction with other drugs, side effects, mode of administration, active composition for each monograph and different chapters that cover all that is important. A MUST for every practitioner and professional. A MUST for Everyone involved in healing, period. If you can only buy one book on herbs, I would recomend this one. Herbs are gentle and effective healers as a rule. That does not mean that when handeled and prescribed wrong they can't be fatal and dangerous as well. Due to a long time of suppression, there's much information that is doubtful at best, plain wrong and harmful at worst. So even if it's not always approving old favorites, and not mentioning all properties of all herbs, it is an amazing work. Non Nonsense and you can count on everything it says to be true. Five Stars? No way, but that's the maximum available. I would give it many more if I could. But YOU be the judge. Check it out for yourself in a store if in doubt. But don't let this work pass you without giving it a chance. It is truly a treassure.

43 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! A Terrific Reference based on years of research, June 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines (Hardcover)

I love this book. I have yet to come across such a comprehensive manual that covers all of what we know about herbs to date. The German Commission E has been the leading group to study and report the beneficial effects and bad side effects, in some cases, of herbs since the 70's. With the explosion of alternative medicine in America, and with everybody and their brother claiming to be a nutritionist or herbalist (whatever that means) and understand herbs, we need a manual like this that tells the truth. This book also standardizes what the appropriate dosages of certain herbs are to help with certain ailments. I don't know about you, but I get a different dosage recommendation on every bottle and from every so called herbalist I meet. This is because the FDA does not require studies to be done on herbs and supplements in the US. Thus, we can only turn to what Germany has been doing for over 20 years to study these wonderful plants, because Germany does require that their use, dosage information and side effects be studied before they can be given to the public. Just because someone claims wonderful benefits from an herb or that it has been used for years does not mean there are no side effects. Marijuana and cocaine are natural and have been used for years too - I think the side effects have been well demonstrated. It is nice to have a reference that puts my mind to ease about whether what I'm putting in my body will help or harm me.