“Natural” information | |
Natural medicines comprehensive database. Third edition. Jeff M Jellin et al, editors. Stockton, California: Therapeutic Research Faculty, 2000 (1529 pp). http://www.naturaldatabase.com. ISBN 0-9676136-4-7. |
As its name suggests, this resource is very comprehensive. It covers approximately 1200 herbs and natural substances that are used therapeutically. The layout of each monograph is clear, making it easy to locate specific information. If little is known about a natural medicine the database will still include a monograph and clearly acknowledge the lack of information.
The hardcopy version (printed annually) can be used alone or in conjunction with the web version. All information is updated on a daily basis by the editorial team, comprising pharmacists, physicians, researchers, dietitians and pharmacologists, who regularly scan a wealth of medical journals. A practical system is employed to summarise evidence for the efficacy of substances in specific conditions and safety for different uses of products, including different routes of administration. As well as interactions between the natural medicine and drugs, interactions with other herbs or dietary substances, foods, laboratory tests and diseases or conditions are included. The database could be considered conservative in places. For example, the vitamin A monograph indicates that less than 5000 IU should be ingested daily during pregnancy, whereas the USA daily limit that is more widely quoted is 8000 IU. It is a United States resource but nevertheless valuable in other countries. The facility of checking ingredients of specific brand name products via an index at the back of the book can be useful either for imported products or those that have been the subject of case reports in the literature. It is thoroughly referenced; several charts summarise information such as interactions; and the main index allows the user to look up either scientific names or more familiar common names for plants/chemicals. To say “this is the most comprehensive, scientifically-based, and practical database on natural medicines available anywhere” is no idle boast, but to a health professional who has accessed it regularly for at least two years it has proven to be invaluable as well as reasonably priced. Anna K Drew
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