Phytopharmacy: an Evidence-Based Guide to Herbal Medicinal Products

This book is an attempt to fill this knowledge gap, and is intended for use by the busy pharmacist, nurse, or doctor, as well as the ‘expert patient’ and students of pharmacy and herbal medicine. It presents clear, practical and concise monographs on over a hundred popular herbal medicines and plant-based food supplements. Information provided in each monograph includes:

• Indications
• Summary and appraisal of clinical and pre-clinical evidence 
• Potential interactions 
• Contraindications
• Possible adverse effects

An overview of the current regulatory framework is also outlined, notably the EU Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive. This stipulates that only registered traditional herbal medicinal products (THRs), which have assured quality and safety, can now legally be sold OTC. Monographs are included of most of the major herbal ingredients found in THRs, and also some plant-based food supplements, which while not strictly medicines, may also have the potential to exert a physiological effect.

1. Regulatory Frameworks and Definitions – UK, EU and world-wide
a. Traditional Herbal Registration Scheme
• Evidence of Traditional Use
• Quality 
• Profiling/Standardisation
• Safety
b. Food Supplements and Nutraceuticals
c. Unlicensed Herbal Medicinal Products
d. Homeopathy
2. Evidence Base
a. Traditional Use
• Western Herbalism and Rational Phytotherapy
• Ayurvedic Medicine
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
b. Efficacy
• Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics
• Clinical Trials
c. Pharmacovigilance
• Side Effects and Adverse Events
• Interactions
• Yellow Card Scheme
3. Herbal Medicines A-Z
• Herbal medicines included under the THR scheme & POMs
• Examples of herbal medicines not yet registered but commonly used in Ayurveda and TCM 
Summary information for each herbal medicine to include: Scientific plant names, plant parts used, traditional use/indication, pharmacological properties/mechanism of action, contraindications, side effects, safety, known interactions, dosage/ posology, clinical data, general plant information, references