Search

The article discusses current trends shaping home decor, emphasizing a move towards minimalistic aesthetics and the use of sustainable materials. It also discusses the growing preference for neutral color schemes, the integration of multifunctional furniture designs, and the adoption of eco-friendly building materials as key elements in modern interior design practices.

People seek complementary health approaches (CHAs) for a variety of health reasons, and high rates of CHA use among U.S. college students have been reported. Based on a 2012 study, researchers assessed trends in college CHA use by conducting an updated systematic review of studies published between June 2011–December 2022. For eight studies that met inclusion/exclusion criteria, weighted means were used to report CHA use, and changes in CHA use between two time points (2012 and 2023) were determined using Chi-square and Pearson's r. Overall CHA use in the past 12 months was 69.7%, and the most commonly used CHAs were NVNM/herbal medicine (55.8%), relaxation techniques (53%), supplements (42.3%), and yoga (37%). Statistically significant (p <.01) increases were shown for NVNM/herbal medicine (+25.2%, r = 0.23), yoga (+19.3%, r = 0.19), and meditation (+10.8%, r = 0.10). Use of megavitamins significantly (p <.01) decreased by 19% (r = 0.20), compared to 2012 data. Future research on college student CHA use needs to be comprehensive and consistent. Certified Health Education Specialists should study and understand trends in CHA use to educate students on the efficacy of CHAs for whole person health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbal-induced liver injury (HILI) continues to increase in prevalence each year due to the ongoing popularity of herbal supplements and complementary and alternative medicines. A detailed literature review of case reports and clinical studies published from March 2021 to March 2023 was performed. We discuss the epidemiology and diagnosis of HILI as well as the current and proposed laws and regulations. The 2021 ACG guidelines and 2022 AASLD practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of drug and herbal-induced liver injury are discussed. We describe updates to previously reported etiologies of HILI such as ayurveda, ashwagandha, turmeric, kratom, green tea extract, and garcinia cambogia. Newly described supplements resulting in HILI, such as tinospora cordifolia, horse chestnut, alkaline water, and more, are described. We discuss newly and previously identified hepatoprotective herbal supplements as they have been reported in the study of animal models and human liver cells. This review suggests the need for ongoing research on the causes and mechanisms of HILI to ensure its proper diagnosis, prevention, and treatment in the future. The goal of this review is to provide novice and expert readers with knowledge regarding the possible etiologies of HILI and a general overview. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Physicians may be asked to prescribe, recommend, or discuss foods, herbs, and medications for low milk supply. It is unclear how factors such as education, experience, and regulations influence clinical practice. The objective was to document physicians' clinical practice surrounding pharmacologic, nutritional, and herbal products for the management of low milk supply. Methods: Physicians from two Facebook groups completed an anonymous, online survey about their clinical use of pharmaceutical, supplemental, and nutritional substances perceived to increase milk production. The association between practice patterns and lactation medicine expertise or country for different perceived galactagogues was determined. Results: A total of 307 physicians completed the primary portion of the survey. There was no difference in the proportion of physicians in Canada or the United States (U.S.) who were defined as lactation medicine experts. Canadian physicians were more likely to prescribe metformin, levothyroxine, and domperidone for low milk supply compared with U.S.-based physicians. Canadians and experts were more likely than U.S.-based and nonexpert physicians, respectively, to include herbs in their practice. Patient request, personal and clinical experience, and lack of education, research, or access were frequently selected as reasons for or against using a specific substance. Conclusions: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ban on domperidone affects low milk supply management in North America. Though Canadian physicians prescribed domperidone without limitations, U.S. physicians were less likely to incorporate it into clinical practice. Despite a lack of evidence, physicians in North America frequently used herbs and foods to increase milk production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese medicine has a long history in the United States, dating back to its colonial period and extending up to the present. This essay focuses on the earliest generation of practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine in the United States. Although acupuncture is the modality most commonly associated with Chinese medicine in today's medical marketplace, up until the 1970s, Chinese healers in the United States typically specialized in herbalism. Well before mass emigration from China to the United States began, Chinese material medica crossed the oceans, in both directions: Chinese medicinal teas and herbs came west while Appalachian ginseng went east. Beginning in the 1850s, Chinese immigrants came to the United States and transplanted their health practices, sometimes quite literally by propagating medicinal plants in their adopted home. Over time, Chinese doctors learned how to sell their services to non-Chinese patients by presenting herbalism as "nature's remedies.". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this qualitative study was to understand how licensed acupuncturists determined treatment strategies for patients with symptoms likely related to COVID-19 using Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) and the impact of the pandemic upon their clinical practice. Methods: A qualitative instrument was developed with questions aligned with when participants started treating patients with symptoms likely related to COVID-19 and the availability of information related to the use of CHM for COVID-19. Interviews took place between March 8 and May 28, 2021, and were transcribed verbatim by a professional transcription service. Inductive theme analysis and ATLAS.ti Web software were used to determine themes. Results: Theme saturation was achieved after 14 interviews lasting 11–42 min. Treatment predominantly started before mid-March 2020. Four themes emerged (1) information sources; (2) diagnostic and treatment decision-making; (3) practitioner experience; (4) resources and supplies. Conclusion: Primary sources of information informing treatment strategies came from China through professional networks and were widely disseminated throughout the United States. Scientific studies evaluating the effectiveness of CHM for COVID-19 were generally not deemed useful for informing patient care because treatment had been initiated before they were published and because of limitations associated with the research and the ability to apply it to real world practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the prescribing of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) by licensed acupuncturists in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A 28-question survey with nine branching questions was disseminated through collegial networks, paid advertisements, and a study website in April–July 2021. Participants indicated that they were licensed acupuncturists who treated more than five patients for symptoms likely related to COVID-19 to gain entry to the full survey. Surveys were undertaken electronically through the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) system. Results: The survey was undertaken by 103 participants representing all US geographic regions and had an average of 17 years in practice. Sixty-five percent received or intended to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Phone and videoconference were the predominant methods of patient contact; granules and pill forms of CHM were the most prescribed. A wide variety of information sources were used in devising patient treatments inclusive of anecdotal, observational, and scientific sources. Most patients were not receiving biomedical treatment. Ninety-seven percent of participants reported that they had no patients die of COVID-19, and the majority reported that <25% of their patients developed long hauler syndrome (post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that licensed acupuncturists were treating COVID-19 infected individuals in the United States during the early stages of the pandemic, and for many such patients this was the only therapeutic intervention they had access to from a licensed health care provider. Information disseminated from China through collegial networks, along with published sources including scientific studies, informed the approach to treatment. This study provides insight into an unusual circumstance in which clinicians needed to establish evidence-based approaches to the treatment of a new disease during a public health emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the Botanical Excellence Awards presented at the 18th Annual Celebration Ceremony held at the Hilton Anaheim during the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California. Additionally, it highlights the recipients of these awards and their contributions to the botanical and medicinal plant communities.

The article reflects on the 40-year history of HerbalGram, highlighting its evolution alongside the herbal medicine movement and the contributions of key figures, and includes the publication's origins, early contributors, and the challenges of distributing information in its early days.

COVID-19 poses a challenge beyond the virus itself, in that lockdown has been associated increased use of the internet and social media. Disinformation about prevention and treatment strategies for COVID-19 can have lethal consequences. The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) is currently monitoring the compliance of manufacturing firms as well as medicinal product advertisers to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 USC § 321(h) regulations. In the event of noncompliance in the form of advertising products without prior USFDA approval for specific indications, doses, or route of administration, warning letters (WLs) are issued. WLs are intended to address the concerns identified by USFDA and encourage the recipient to take corrective steps to avoid similar instances in the future. We analyzed 182 WLs that were issued for noncompliance with drugs/devices related to either treatment, prevention, or testing of COVID-19 infections. The medicinal product website was identified as the major source of disinformation, followed by disseminated information on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Nearly four-fifths were related to drugs, followed by devices and biologicals. Several biologicals, as well as allopathic, herbal, and non-herbal drugs were identified in the WLs. We observed that noncompliance with the USFDA regulations in terms of advertising a variety of products for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection was widely prevalent. More efforts are required by the respective national drug regulatory authorities to initiate or continue their monitoring of disinformation that may have lethal consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botanicals are among the fastest growing segments of the dietary supplement industry in the U.S. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA; Public Law 103-417 [Oct. 25, 1994]) provided a regulatory classification for the trade of numerous botanicals and botanically-derived products as dietary supplements. The global supply chain, the adoption of many botanicals that are also recognized as traditional medicines around the world as dietary supplement ingredients, and the differing recognition of the national and international pharmacopeias as sources for voluntary or mandatory quality standards present challenges in ensuring the quality of the ingredients and products. The complexity of quality assurance by compliance with pharmacopeial standards is illustrated in this article with a brief history of pharmacopoeias including their official recognition in national laws, their approaches to the science behind the standards, the use of reference standards for quality assessment and regulatory compliance, the use of pharmacopeial standards by the industry and regulators within the DSHEA framework in the United States, and a discussion of the global supply chain. Pharmacopeial standards can help regulators and the industry adapt to the new technologies that present both opportunities and challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews the American Botanical Council's achievements in 2023, highlighting its 35th anniversary celebrations, recognition for its Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program, and Mark Blumenthal being named "Person of the Year" by WholeFoods Magazine. It also discusses the launch of the HerbalGram40 Project & Fund, underscoring ABC's commitment to fostering sustainable practices and advancing botanical education globally.

Kava is a neuroactive medicinal herb that can induce pharmacological effects when ingested. As an herbal remedy, kava exhibits sedative, anesthetic, euphoriant, and entheogenic effects. Kava is used as a relaxant, pain reliever, and remedy for anxiety and insomnia. In the United States, kava is marketed as a safe dietary supplement. Kava's popularity is on the rise due to heightened awareness and interest in natural plant-based health alternatives. Although meta-analyses and systematic reviews of kava use in treating anxiety are favorable, results remain inconsistent. Due to poor quality control, diversity of kava products, and lack of standardization, health care professionals, such as nurses, advanced practice nurses, physicians, physician assistants, and pharmacists, need to be familiar with the pharmacology, possible polydrug interactions, and management of kava use as a remedy for anxiety-related conditions. The purpose of the current article is to provide an overview of kava and its use as a remedy for psychological issues, such as anxiety and nervousness. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 60(12), 17–24.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on increment in retail sales of herbal dietary supplements in the United States in 2021. Topics include notable sales increases for products in categories such as digestive health, mood support, and sleep, discussion on the mainstream retail products such as Elder berry or Ashwagandha, and decrease in sales of four herbal supplements such as oregano.

Close to half of adults in the United States have hypertension (HTN), a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke. Current guidelines recommend lifestyle change as a primary target in addressing HTN, including initiation of healthy diet and exercise. This review examines the evidence for nutrition and specific dietary factors (such as garlic), exercise, botanical medicines, and nutrients in the management of HTN. Lifestyle interventions and other integrative supports may have a strong impact on blood pressure control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that the American Botanical Council Adopt-an-Herb Program provides a mutually beneficial opportunity to support ABC nonprofit educational efforts and promote a company most important herbs. Topics include examines one of the benefits of supporting the Adopt-an-Herb Program is that it ensures that the most current information on the adopted herb is available through ABC's powerful HerbMedProTM database.

The article discusses the 40th anniversary of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), which represents key areas of the herbal products industry, including analytical laboratories, sustainability, and works for self-regulatory efforts in the industry. The mission of AHPA is to protect the integrity of the high-quality herbal products industry, thereby protecting consumers, plants, and the environment.

Chronic illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, are on the rise throughout the world due to modern diets and other factors. Western medicine has been ineffective in preventing or treating them. Thus, members of the public have sought alternatives. In the past 50 years, two social movements in the United States have shared an understanding of health in relation to the natural world. Chinese herbal medicine and practitioners of ecological agriculture agree that the nutritional requirements of complex living organisms are interconnected. Empirical findings in these applied sciences are supported by recent discoveries. However, economic constraints inhibit development. Each field is described separately, with notes from the author's direct experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the reasons why office-based physicians do or do not recommend four selected complementary health approaches to their patients in the context of the Andersen Behavioral Model. Design: Descriptive estimates of physician-level data from the 2012 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) Physician Induction Interview, a nationally representative survey of office-based physicians (N= 5622, weighted response rate = 59.7%). Setting/Location: The United States. Outcome measures: Reasons for the recommendation or lack thereof to patients for: herbs and other non-vitamin supplements, chiropractic/osteopathic manipulation, acupuncture, and mind--body therapies (including meditation, guided imagery, and progressive relaxation). Differences by physician sex and medical specialty were described. Results: For each of the four complementary health approaches, more than half of the physicians who made recommendations indicated that they were influenced by scientific evidence in peer-reviewed journals (ranging from 52.0% for chiropractic/osteopathic manipulation [95% confidence interval, CI = 47.6-56.3] to 71.3% for herbs and other non-vitamin supplements [95% CI = 66.9-75.4]). More than 60% of all physicians recommended each of the four complementary health approaches because of patient requests. A higher percentage of female physicians reported evidence in peer-reviewed journals as a rationale for recommending herbs and nonvitamin supplements or chiropractic/osteopathic manipulation when compared with male physicians (herbs and non-vitamin supplements: 78.8% [95% CI = 72.4-4.3] vs. 66.6% [95% CI = 60.8-72.2]; chiropractic/ osteopathic manipulation: 62.3% [95% CI = 54.7-69.4] vs. 47.5% [95% CI = 42.3-52.7]). For each of the four complementary health approaches, a lack of perceived benefit was the most frequently reported reason by both sexes for not recommending. Lack of information sources was reported more often by female versus male physicians as a reason to not recommend herbs and non-vitamin supplements (31.4% [95% CI = 26.8-36.3] vs. 23.4% [95% CI = 21.0-25.9]). Conclusions: There are limited nationally representative data on the reasons as to why office-based physicians decide to recommend complementary health approaches to patients. Developing a more nuanced understanding of influencing factors in physicians' decision making regarding complementary health approaches may better inform researchers and educators, and aid physicians in making evidence-based recommendations for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that American Botanical Council (ABC) presented seven Botanical Excellence Awards during its 17th annual ABC Celebration and Botanical Excellence Awards ceremony on March 9, 2022. Topics discussed include United Plant Savers has got ABC Steven Foster Award; book "A History of the Korean Ginseng Industry" has got ABC James A. Duke Excellence in Botanical Literature Award and professor Guido F. Pauli has got ABC Norman R. Farnsworth Award.

Introduction: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact workforces in the United States, the Acupuncture and Telehealth Survey was released to assess the acupuncture profession's use of telehealth and workforce response to a changing regulatory landscape. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey of licensed acupuncturists in the United States was conducted in May 2020 for 4 weeks. Novel online recruitment strategies were successfully implemented including social media pages, digital media marketing, and webinar presentations. Statistical analyses were used to ascertain varying impacts on acupuncturists with telehealth training, and the use of online health care platforms, stratified by age, and history of licensure. Results: One thousand forty-five respondents from 46 states completed the survey. The majority of respondents noted a significant reduction in working hours regardless of telehealth training history (mean -18.7 h/week, p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval [-19.5 to -18.0]); however, acupuncturists managing patients online reported a lesser magnitude of impact (mean -17.3, p = 0.004). Respondents noted stress, immune support, and pain as the most common conditions managed through telehealth. Acupuncturists using telehealth primarily educated patients on nutrition- or herbal-based therapies and acupressure techniques, similar to acupuncturists managing suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases. Although only 21% of acupuncturists reported receiving telehealth training, 38% were providing telehealth, and 13% were considering it in the future with concerns for quality patient care. Discussion: Acupuncturists' working hours were significantly reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic although many pivoted to a variety of online health care techniques and profession-specific modalities for continued patient care. This effect could be minimized by the use of telehealth platforms, necessitating adequate training on telehealth in the acupuncture profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parents' beliefs about and approaches to their child's health vary with culture and change within cultures over time. To provide an updated understanding of folk and traditional medicine (FTM) among Hispanic parents in the United States, we surveyed 200 caregivers identifying their child as Hispanic in a pediatric primary care clinic about their cultural health beliefs and practices. Overall, 84% of participants believed in ≥1 folk illness, with foreign-born participants more likely than US-born to endorse folk illness beliefs. Eighty-three percent had used cultural remedies for their children. Of those, although just 15% had discussed such practices with their child's provider, 86% would feel comfortable doing so. No demographic factors predicted use of cultural remedies/healers or comfort talking to providers. Beliefs and practices related to FTM are prevalent among Hispanic parents and cannot be predicted using demographics; providers should routinely ask all families about FTM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of being accompanied on searches for rare plants was Richard H. Davis (1946–1983), a field ecologist for The Nature Conservancy under contract with the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission.

The article presents the discussion on World of Aromatherapy X, Beyond Aromatics IV Conference being held as a livestream event June 15-18, 2021 including variety of essential oils and herbal extracts for the prevention, treatment, and management of common age-related neurological health condition.

Objectives: Complementary health approaches include herbal products and mind–body practices. Several studies have identified predictors for complementary health approach use, yet there are two gaps: (1) How does use change? (2) Do factors associated with use influence this change over time? Using the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS), we examined how sociodemographic factors affected use longitudinally, and whether these associations differed between new and continued/discontinued use of herbal products, meditation, chiropractic, and massage therapy. Design: MIDUS is a national probability sample of adults aged 25 or older that has collected more than 20 years of longitudinal data, including the use of complementary health approaches. We employed the Andersen Model as a framework to identify predisposing, enabling, and health need factors associated with complementary health approach use based on previously identified and hypothesized factors. We ran Chi-square analyses to first test bivariate associations between our independent variables and four modalities to further guide logistic regression models. Results: Each of the four approaches examined saw substantial increases in prevalent use. However, only about 25% to 38% of individuals continued use from one wave to the next, whereas only 2%–9% of individuals who did not use a given approach in a wave reported use in the subsequent wave. Age, spiritual importance, and previous wave one use were all significantly associated with new use across all four modalities. Previous wave one use was associated with continued/discontinued use for all modalities. Age and education were significantly associated with discontinued use of chiropractic. Conclusion: We present the first longitudinal analysis of complementary health approaches in a nationally representative sample. These data distinguish between new and continued/discontinued use of complementary health approaches over time and provide insights into the interpretation of complementary health approach prevalence data, as well as important predictors of use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the compilation of the list of the ten most popular HerbalEGram articles from 2021 by the American Botanical Council based on the number of individual link clicks. The list includes the topics liked by the researchers, educators, and health care professionals. The most-clicked article was Assistant Editor Connor Yearsley's report on the government of Thailand's approval of a pilot study of Andrographis extract for the treatment of COVID-19.

Human babesiosis is a CDC reportable disease in the United States and is recognized as an emerging health risk in multiple parts of the world. The current treatment for human babesiosis is suboptimal due to treatment failures and unwanted side effects. Although Babesia duncani was first described almost 30 years ago, further research is needed to elucidate its pathogenesis and clarify optimal treatment regimens. Here, we screened a panel of herbal medicines and identified Cryptolepis sanguinolenta , Artemisia annua , Scutellaria baicalensis, Alchornea cordifolia , and Polygonum cuspidatum to have good in vitro inhibitory activity against B. duncani in the hamster erythrocyte model. Furthermore, we found their potential bioactive compounds, cryptolepine, artemisinin, artesunate, artemether, and baicalein, to have good activity against B. duncani , with IC50 values of 3.4 μM, 14 μM, 7.4 μM, 7.8 μM, and 12 μM, respectively, which are comparable or lower than that of the currently used drugs quinine (10 μM) and clindamycin (37 μM). B. duncani treated with cryptolepine and quinine at their respective 1×, 2×, 4× and 8× IC50 values, and by artemether at 8× IC50 for three days could not regrow in subculture. Additionally, Cryptolepis sanguinolenta 90% ethanol extract also exhibited no regrowth after 6 days of subculture at doses of 2×, 4×, and 8× IC50 values. Our results indicate that some botanical medicines and their active constituents have potent activity against B. duncani in vitro and may be further explored for more effective treatment of babesiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a traditionally "western disease", has recently been reported to have risen in incidence in China. We summarize differences between Chinese and Western IBD based on relevant literatures published in both Chinese and English. Subject and methods: Relevant references published in English were collected from an electronic database via PubMed and relevant references published in Chinese were also collected. Results: Emerging clinical epidemiological data have shown a striking rise in the incidence rate of IBD in Mainland China over the last two decades. Although the current incidence rate of IBD in Mainland China is still lower than that in Western countries, the associated disease burden might be much heavier than previously thought due to the huge population. Clinical data have shown that disease characteristics (e.g., age of onset, male/female ratio, and location and disease severity) of Chinese IBD patients are different to those of Western IBD patients. Unlike the widely used bioimmunotherapeutic agents in Western countries, the management of IBD in China relies predominately on aminosalicylates and corticosteroids. The use of bioimmunotherapeutic agents is limited to a small number of IBD patients in China. Currently, many challenges remain, including the lack of properly trained IBD specialists, poor information availability to support patient self-management, and inappropriate treatment of some patients. Conclusion: Based on the current findings, the disease burden, characteristics, and treatment of Chinese IBD patients are slightly different to those of Western IBD patients. There are still great improvement requirements for the clinical management of IBD in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article centers on the 17th Annual HerbDay Celebration organized by the American Botanical Council (ABC) in May 2023, featuring presentations by herbalists on topics like ginger cultivation, herbal medicine, and the connection between people and plants.

The article focuses on osteoarthritis (OA) the most common type of arthritis being a highly prevalent condition, affecting an estimated the U.S. adults or older. Topics include OA being a major cause of debility, pain, and loss of productivity, and has strong impacts on activities of daily living (ADLs), and the majority of which has performed for OA being the second costliest cause of hospitalization in the U.S.

Peppermint (Mentha × piperita L) is a perennial, glabrous and strongly scented herb belongs to the family Lamiaceae. It is cultivated in a temperate region of Europe, Asia, United States, India and Mediterranean countries due to their commercial value and distinct aroma. In addition to traditional food flavouring uses, M. × piperita is well recognized for their traditional use to treat fever, cold, digestive, anti-viral, anti-fungal and oral mucosa and throat inflammation. The scientific studies provide awareness on the use of M. × piperita for biological effects such as anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, biopesticidal, larvicidal, anticancer, radioprotective effect, genotoxicity and anti-diabetic activity have been ascribed. A wide spectrum of bioactive phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolics lignans and stilbenes and essential oils are expected to be responsible for the aroma effects. In this sense, this present review provides an extensive overview of the traditional medicinal, phytochemical and multiple biological activities of this "Peppermint." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the association between anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) use among U.S. Chinese older adults. Data was obtained from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (N = 3157; mean age = 72.8). Anxiety symptoms were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS‐A). Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). TCM modalities included herbal products, acupuncture, massage therapy, Taichi, and other types of TCM. Although not significant, there was a trend indicating that higher levels of anxiety symptoms showed a higher rate of acupuncture use and massage therapy. Older Chinese Americans with depressive symptoms were more likely to use acupuncture and massage therapy; and they were less likely to use other TCM. Future research is needed to identify reasons for TCM use; and how these factors mediate or moderate the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and TCM use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on Pharmacopoeia of the United States of America has published in 1820 and has intended to bring nationwide uniformity to the quality of drugs, most of the time were based on botanical and mineral ingredients. Topics inlcude the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention has adapted to evolving technologies and products, the continued to provide public quality standards for biological medicines, and the article examines the history of the evolution of botanical quality standards.

Objective: There are no nationally representative studies using a probability sample that have been published examining whether physicians recommend complementary health approaches (CHAs) to their patients, as previous research has focused only on selected medical specialties or a particular U.S. region. This article fills a void in the current literature for robust data on recommendations for CHAs by office-based physicians in the United States. Design: Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression analyses of physician-level data were from the 2012 Physician Induction Interview of the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS PII), a nationally representative survey of office-based physicians. Weighted response rate among eligible physicians sampled for the 2012 NAMCS PII was 59.7%. Setting/Location: United States. Outcome measures: Recommendations by physicians to their patients for any CHA, and individual CHAs: massage therapy, herbs/nonvitamin supplements, chiropractic/osteopathic manipulation, yoga, acupuncture, and mind–body therapies. Differences in recommendations by physician demographic characteristics were identified. Results: Massage therapy was the most commonly recommended CHA (30.4%), followed by chiropractic/osteopathic manipulation (27.1%), herbs/nonvitamin supplements (26.5%), yoga (25.6%), and acupuncture (22.4%). The most commonly recommended CHAs by general/family practice physicians were chiropractic/osteopathic manipulation (54.0%) and massage therapy (52.6%). Of all U.S. physicians, 53.1% recommended at least one CHA to patients during the previous 12 months. Multivariable analyses found physician's sex, race, specialty, and U.S. region to be significant predictors of CHA recommendations. Female physicians were more likely than male physicians to recommend massage therapy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.40–2.20), herbs/nonvitamin supplements (aOR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.46–2.35), yoga (aOR = 2.16, 95% CI = 1.70–2.75), acupuncture (aOR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.27–2.13), and mind–body therapies (aOR = 2.63, 95% CI = 2.02–3.41) to patients. Psychiatrists (aOR = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.07–0.23), OB/GYNs (aOR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.24–0.60), and pediatricians (aOR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.18–0.38) were all less likely to recommend chiropractic/osteopathic manipulation than general and family practitioners. Conclusions: Overall, more than half of office-based physicians recommended at least one CHA to their patients. Female physicians recommended every individual CHA at a higher rate than male physicians except for chiropractic and osteopathic manipulation. These findings may enable consumers, physicians, and medical schools to better understand potential differences in use of CHAs with patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated lead concentrations in blood and related factors among the South Korean population based on data from the Korea National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) II (2012–2014) conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Research and the Ministry of Environment. Personal data were obtained from non-institutionalized civilian Korean individuals in an interview with trained community surveyors using a structured questionnaire (n = 6,455, aged 19 or older, mean age 49.7 years). The lead concentrations in whole blood were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) with a Zeeman-effect-based background corrector. The precision and accuracy of the analytical methods were verified by internal and external quality controls (G-EQUAS, Germany). Statistical analysis was performed using weighted KoNEHS II data separated by sex, and the lead concentration was expressed as a geometric mean (GM). Multiple linear regression was performed using the SPSS 23.0 software package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The total GM of lead concentrations was 19.5 µg/L. Lead concentrations increased with age and were higher in males (22.8 µg/L) than in females (16.6 µg/L). Smokers and drinkers had higher concentrations than non-smokers and non-drinkers of both sexes. People who used herbal medications had higher concentrations than those who did not among females. People of both sexes living in rural areas had higher lead concentrations than those in urban areas. Lead concentrations also varied with educational level, total family income, the type of water regularly consumed, and occupation. The average lead concentration of the general adult population in Korea has rapidly decreased over time from 45.8 µg/L (1999) to 19.45 µg/L (2012–2014); however, it remains higher than that of the United States, Germany, and Canada. The factors significantly related to lead concentration in South Korea were age, sex, smoking and alcohol drinking status, herbal medication usage by females, residential area, drinking water at home, and occupation. These factors could be used to improve occupational and environmental hygiene among the Korean population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest botanicals are a subset of medicinal herbs that require special considerations in regard to sustainability, based on their unique growth patterns, supply chains and trade history, and the complex and sensitive ecosystems in which they grow. This article introduces sustainability concepts and definitions in the context of the herbal products industry, and forest herbs in particular, and discusses the general trends and issues of forest-derived medicinal products in the eastern United States. Particular focus is given to Appalachia and several herbs native to the region that illustrate important concepts and factors affecting sustainability of the forest herb supply chain. The authors outline key requirements for sustainable production and introduce forest farming as a potential solution to many of the challenges faced within the current forest herb supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented in which author discusses on rapid loss of biodiversity due to climate crisis. Topics discussed include information on issues like anthropogenic contamination such as vehicle exhaust, heavy metals from industrial pollution; need for awareness about overpopulation and overconsumption; and impact of wild flowers from climate change and global environmental contamination.

Quality consistencies of drug products are essential to guarantee expected therapeutic activities, and achieving consistent qualities for herbal products is challenging because of their physicochemical complexities and inherent variabilities. Regulatory authorities worldwide have issued regulations or guidelines for stability testing parameters and testing procedures for herbal products stored in proposed conditions. These testing parameters and methods for finished herbal products are detailed in the guidelines and regulations issued by 5 global authorities and 15 countries, that is, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), the World Health Organization (WHO), Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Kenya, Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Qatar, Switzerland, USA, and Zambia. Physical, chemical, and biological stability tests were compared between different dosage forms, and the testing conditions (temperature and relative humidity) used for long-term, accelerated, or intermediate testing were included in the guidelines and regulations. Comparisons of global regulations and guidelines addressing stability testing are fundamental for the international harmonization of herbal product quality assessments. This review aids understanding of the global situation regarding the testing of herbal product quality with respect to storages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the practice of Chinese medicine in the frontier Western United States in the late nineteenth century. The author profiles C.K Ah Fong, a Chinese herbalist from Rocky Bar, Idaho. Ah Fong successfully treated patients during an outbreak of influenza where hundreds of people died. The author also discusses Chinese migration to the U.S. and immigrant communities.

The article reports that the American Botanical Council recognizes Lisa Lachs as its 2022 volunteer of the year. Topics include examines Lachs has a gardening certificate through the New York Botanical Garden which has worked on many organic and biodynamic vegetable farms in New York and Maryland, and was a community horticulturist for the Horticultural Society of New York in New York City.

The article reports that on January 31, 2023, the American Botanical Council published its 9,000th HerbClip. Topics include examines an essential research and educational resource for scientists, researchers, health professionals, industry members, and others HerbClips are two to three-page summaries and critical reviews of scientific journal articles that cover medicinal plant-related human clinical research.

An American study has concluded that people with cancer who receive complementary medicine (CM) have a twofold greater risk of death compared with patients who had no CM. The Yale University study is presented as an assessment of 'complementary' rather than 'alternative' therapies, but this critical analysis suggests it fails to differentiate between the two approaches to the use of unconventional interventions. It also fails to address the complex factors involved in its authors' question: 'What patient characteristics are associated with the use of CM for cancer and what is the association of CM with treatment adherence and survival?'. By considering the US study in the context of conditions and developments in the UK, this article offers insights into ways appropriately trained and regulated complementary therapists could play a useful role in new models of care. It also identifies areas for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on growth in herbal supplement sales in the U.S., according to the Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ.) Topics discussed include information on SPINS sales data that reflect sales of dietary supplements in which that herb or fungus is the primary functional ingredient; top-selling goji berry products in the 2018 which were marketed for weight loss; and information on top-selling herbal supplements in 2018.

The article offers information on copalchi, also known as hintonia latiflora, a tree whose bark has been used in Mexican traditional medicine. Topics discussed include information on use of copalchi as active ingredient of registered remedios herbolarios; isolation of a neoflavonoid glucoside from copalchi bark; and antidiabetic effect of the neoflavonoid coutareagenin from H. latiflora bark in streptozotocininduced diabetes in rats.

This article examines American perceptions of Chinese herbalism as natural medicine in the Progressive Era. In doing so, it uses the lens of environmental history to consider three meanings of nature for Chinese medicine in the United States: First, as amaterial, trans-Pacific environment where medicinal ingredients were procured, distributed, and consumed; second, as part of the evolving distinction between modern, scientific "regular" medicine and anti-modern, unscientific "irregular" medicine that reached a moment of crisis at the turn of the twentieth century; and third, as a reflection of the racialization of Chinese health practices co-created by Asian practitioners and their American patients, who were conditioned by Orientalist stereotypes to perceive Chinese culture as close to a pastoral or primitive nature. The close association between herbs and nature enabled Chinese doctors to thrive as "irregular" or "alternative" practitioners in the American medical marketplace. While American patients may have perceived Chinese medicine as closer to nature, the many meanings of nature reveal the extent to which the association was a deliberate strategy for survival and success adopted by Chinese doctors in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]