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Herb Guides Get AHPA Blessing

SANTA CRUZ, Calif.—The American Herbal Pharmacopoeia's (AHP) herbal monographs have been officially endorsed by the Silver Spring, Md.-based American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) as being the gold standard for botanical information.

The AHP, based here, has published eight monographs providing exhaustive, peer-reviewed information on authenticity, purity, quality, efficacy and safety of botanicals. Plans call for 300 monographs including the majority of Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic herbs most frequently used in the United States. Herbal manufacturers and suppliers, health practitioners, pharmacists, retailers, educators, regulatory agencies and consumers all should find the information useful.

"Endorsement by the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia by AHPA is an important step for the AHP as well as the entire industry," says AHP Director Cathirose Petrone. "Official recognition by AHPA reconfirms its commitment to quality assurance and the safe and effective use of botanicals, while further establishing the role of the AHP in these pursuits."

AHP monographs already produced include astragalus root, cramp bark, hawthorn berry, hawthorn leaf with flower, St. John's wort, schisandra berry, valerian root and willow bark. Six new monographs, which average 28 pages, are published per year. Annual subscriptions cost $119.70 and individual monographs may be purchased for $19.95. Nutrition Science News will begin publishing excerpted monographs beginning in June 2000.