This is one of those “must‐have” reference books that is of as much use to the interested as a home reference book as it is to any library. Considering that much of today’s most reliable information about herbal medicine is only available in scattered sources such as trade journals, pamphlets, conference proceedings, and market research reports, customers have a definite need for direction. Many of these information sources are available online but it is often difficult to find authoritative and worthwhile ones. This book will show the reader how. It lists hundreds of reliable Internet sites and what you will find there. It explains how to:
assess the quality of health information on the Internet;
use online indexes and databases such as MEDLINE;
find mailing lists, chat rooms, and newsgroups;
examine evidence about specific products;
access Internet resources in specialised health areas; and
research a product’s side‐effects, adverse reactions, drug interactions … and much more!
The main chapter headings are:
(1) Herbal Medicine and the Internet
(2) A Herbal Renaissance
(3) Identification, Cultivation, and Conservation: Botanical and Agricultural Resources
(4) The Traditional Herbalist Movement and the US Herbal Industry
(5) Herbal Associations and Organisations
(6) The Mainstreaming of Herbal Medicine
(7) Traditional Medicine, Folklore, and Ethnobotany
(8) Laws, Regulations, and Standards
(9) Clinical Evidence and Clinical Trials
(10) Adverse Effects, Adverse Reactions, and Drug Interactions
(11) Quackery, Health Fraud, and Consumer Protection
(12) Information for Consumers and Patients
(13) MEDLINE and Other Online Indexes/Databases
(14) AIDS, Cancer, and other Specialised Health Areas
(15) Aromatherapy
(16) Mailing Lists, Newsgroups, and Chat Rooms
The book is complete with easy‐to‐read tables and charts as well as a glossary of terms often encountered on these Web sites; this is a resource that puts the power in the Internet in the hands of the reader. This is an excellent and interesting resource for those who want to start out with herbal issues or those of considerable experience. And, apart from anything else it is a great read.
