Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals, Third Edition [Hardcover]

Max Wichtl (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0849319617 | ISBN-13: 978-0849319617 | Publication Date: January 26, 2004 | Edition: 3

An enormous increase in the knowledge of herbal drug constituents, their effects, and side effects has occurred in recent years. As a result, many herbal products are undergoing a transition from classic herbal teas to standardized extracts. This new edition of Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals takes the advances made in medicinal plants research and phytotherapy into account and offers reliable, highly pertinent information. This reference offers comprehensive information about the origins, constituents, effects, indications, and dosage of herbal drugs and phytopharmaceuticals. The text also includes phytopharmaceutical information such as types of extraction solvents, drug-to-extract ratios, and dosage recommendations for extracts.

Editorial Reviews

Review

. . . if youre involved with medicinal herbs and/or practicing herbal medicine, you cant afford to be without this one.
-The Herbal Connection
This text is one of the leading references on popular herbs and phytopharmaceuticals...an excellent tool for providing a high standard of information.
- The Source, Volume 1, Number 4, Winter 1995-96, a publication of the Association of Natural Medicine Pharmacists
This book is beautifully and imaginatively illustrated with colour plates ranging from details of seeds or parts of the plant to thin-layer chromatographic analysis of extracts.
-Joseph Chamberlain, J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 1995, 47: 349
The know-how that is provided by this book is immense...a handbook that should not be missed in any pharmacy.
Annette G. Beck-Sickinger, Pharmaceutica Acta Helvetiae, 70 (1995) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 708 pages
• Publisher: Medpharm; 3 edition (January 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849319617
• ISBN-13: 978-0849319617
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.8 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,751,545 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must" for those interested in quality control of herbs, September 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals (Hardcover)

This is one of those rare books that is so well researched and written that it is difficult to have any negative criticism about it! This English translation by the late Norman Bisset is a fine example of how it is possible to apply sound scientific knowledge with traditional herbal medicine. The book consists of 181 monographs on medicinal plants. What makes this collection of monographs rather special is that firstly most of the monographs contain colour pictures of each plant photographed in its natural environment. Secondly this is followed by careful photographs of the dried plant used in commerce. Along side this are chemical structures of the main phytoactives aswell an excellent section on common adulterants, pharmacology, phytochemistry, microscopy and also often included is a colour tlc plate. This is extremely helpful for quality control in small importers or herbal manufactures or for those herbalists interested in simple analytical techniques. There is also sections giving the regulatory status of the plant in different countries aswell the inclusion of trade names or proprietary medicines that include the plant material in question. For example on Angelica archangelica there includes information on its use in Euvitan ®, Carvomin®, and many others. A must for those involved in scientific research on contemporary herbal medicines, a reference source for libraries or those interested or involved in quality control.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A detailed scientific look at herbs and their uses., August 7, 1998

By 

Kate Page ([e-mail]) (Montrose, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals (Hardcover)

Translated from the German by Professor Norman Grainger Bisset, Department of Pharmacy, King's College, University of London, this large format, illustrated reference book covers 181 herbs that are used as teas or are components of herbal mixtures. The botanicals included were chosen based on a survey carried out in 180 German pharmacies. All of the herbal "drugs" in this book are "licenced" by the German government. The book is organized alphabetically by the Latin name of the herb, with an excellent subject index, that includes the English names in bold. Each herb listing, which is an average of three pages, contains the following information: illustration and description; common English name and scientific names; synonyms; place of origin; chemical constituents; therapeutic indications and historical use; side effects; making the tea; package inserts (includes dosage, mode of administration, interactions with other remedies); list of prepared rem! edies for consumers, including teas; phytomedicines: combined remedies containing the herb; diagnostic features of the drug; adulteration; citations to research. Each herb listing contains an abstract from the German Commission E monograph, which serves as a kind of snapshot. The "indications" feature gives a detailed history of the herb's use, from the clinical and empirical point of view, and is designed to link the doctor or pharmacist with additional research. The "List of Indications" index is particularly useful, describing conditions such as Coughs, Menstrual Disorders, and Kidney and Bladder Disorders, and listing herbs that have been used to treat them. The list makes a distinction between "folk" medicines and more standard medical herbs. Hundreds of color plates illustrate both the whole plant and the dried herb. This detailed, scientific look at herbs will be useful for physicians, pharmacists, herbalists, and manufacturers. from Healt! hInform the newsletter

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply amazing, November 30, 2006

By 

Jaime B. Seltzer "kirinin" (Columbia, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals, Third Edition (Hardcover)

This book is great; although I wish it were more affordable, it is most certainly worth the money to those who are interested in proper identification of plant materials.

The bulk of herbal 'adverse reactions' seems to be a case of mistaken identity. With Wichtl's amazingly clear and beautiful photographs of dried plant material, thorough listing of chemical markers and microscopic as well as macrocopic features examined with an eye for identification, this volume deserves every bit of its excellent reputation.