Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health Care Professionals

A general disillusionment with conventional medicines, coupled with the desire for a natural' life style has resulted in an increasing utilization of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) across the developed world. The global market for herbal products has grown rapidly in the past decade, yet the majority are not assessed for their quality, safety and efficacy. This completely revised and updated edition of Herbal Medicines aims to answer the questions raised for the health-care professional by providing scientifically rigorous, impartial information on medicinal herbs. Herbal Medicines: * Reliably informs on quality, safety and efficacy * Provides an overview of UK and European legislation concerning herbal products * Deals with 148 herbs detailing phytochemical, pharmacological and clinical aspects of herbal medicines commonly present in herbal remedies sold by Pharmacies. All have been revised, over 30% extensively. * Enables the health-care professional to advise the public on the rational and safe use of medicines * Presents various appendices grouping together herbs with specific actions highlighting potential interactions with conventional medicine This text will prove invaluable to all who deal with herbs used for medical treatment.