Herbal monographs including herbal medicinal products and food supplements

Abstract

This book aims to address the practical needs of all healthcare professionals, particularly pharmacists, who advice patients who take complementary medicines. The monographs provide information on the classification, indications, cautions, contraindications, side-effects, drug interactions and dose. The indications in the monographs are subdivided into principal, major, minor and others in order to give an indication on the actual and potential use of the herbal medicinal product. Such information is well referenced, with over 500 references. For a great number of herbs there is an abundance of research to draw on, whereas for some others the research is scarce and much is still speculative or based on traditional or historical use. To make the book more practical for use by pharmacists a comprehensive indications index is presented. The book was developed considering current evidence-based practice and was validated by a panel of experts and also by laymen through a one-to-one interview.