Chapter 5
BOTANICAL MEDICINES

Botanical (plant) medicines have been the basis of all medical traditions since the dawn of civilization. Throughout history, various cultures have handed down their accumulated knowledge of botanical medicines to successive generations. In the last 150 years, chemists and pharmacists have isolated and purified the “active” compounds in many plants in an attempt to produce reliable pharmaceutical drugs. Approximately 5,000 botanical plants have now been extensively tested for possible use as medicines. Currently, 25% of all prescription drugs are directly or indirectly derived from herbs, shrubs, or trees. Some pharmaceutical drugs are extracted directly from plants, while others are synthesized to duplicate the properties of natural plant compounds.

A wide range of research is currently being conducted in the United States, Europe, and Asia to investigate the chemical properties of another 5,000 botanicals for possible use in treating cancer, AIDS, diabetes, heart disorders, and many other diseases. This chapter discusses the more widely used botanical medicines whose effects have been studied in clinical trials. The English common name or popular name in the U.S. is given first, followed by the plant's botanical name.

Although botanical medicines have proven medicinal benefits, and are used throughout the world to treat many disorders, botanical medicines in the U.S. are currently not regulated by the FDA–which requires drugs to meet stringent testing and labeling requirements before they can be sold. Over-the-counter botanical medicines are offered in many different forms, and because their manufacture and labeling are not federally regulated, the only guarantee of their safety is to consult a knowledgeable expert. Some botanicals may contain toxic compounds in addition to the pharmacologically useful substances. Therefore, it can be harmful to take a botanical unless all of its potential side effects are fully known and understood. An additional problem is that certain people are at high risk of intoxification, including chronic users, children, the elderly, the sick, the malnourished or undernourished, and those on long-term medications. For these reasons, botanical medicines should only be taken under the supervision of a physician, herbalist, or health practitioner who will evaluate a patient's specific case, provide advice on dosage, and monitor the herb's effectiveness.