The Review of Natural Products

ISBN: 978-1-57439-314-9, 1672 pages, Soft Cover. Edition: 6th. Copyright: 2010. Editors: Ara Dermarderosian, PhD; John A. Beutler, PhD. Specialties: Pharmacy, General Medicine, Alternative Therapies. Publisher: Wolters Kluwer Health. List Price: $86.95 DESCRIPTION This is the foremost source of current natural product information for health care professionals. PURPOSE To provide clinically relevant, evidence-based information regarding more than 400 natural products that are distributed throughout world. This includes details about botany, history, chemistry, pharmacology, medicinal uses, toxicology, patient information, and documented drug interactions. AUDIENCE This book is written for health care professionals who recommend natural products in their clinical practice or for students enrolled in a natural products course. This user-friendly book will be useful in a physician's office or pharmacy. FEATURES A box entitled "Clinical Overview" in each monograph provides clinically important information about dosing, indications, contraindications, pregnancy, lactation, adverse reactions, and toxicology. Each monograph contains an overview of relevant scientific literature. A very comprehensive herb-drug interaction table provides recommendations for the management of potential interactions with other drugs. Unfortunately, information regarding currently marketed formulations and reliable manufacturers is absent, but would be a relevant addition to these monographs. ASSESSMENT Natural products are used frequently today by consumers who want safe/healthy alternatives to traditional medications. With evidence-based recommendations and comprehensive information on more than 400 herbal products, this is a useful addition to the library of any health care professional who encounters natural products in clinical practice. Each monograph contains extensive, current references (i.e., 74 for green tea and 132 for St. John's wort). This is an accurate, objective, all-inclusive natural pharmaceutical resources. The monographs are peer-reviewed, and the editors have an extensive background in complementary medicine. RATING: ★★★★★ Reviewed by:Melissa Ranieri, PharmD (Temple University School of Pharmacy, PA)