About 20 years ago I met my today’s guest as a newly graduated pharmacist. His knowledge and expertise in the field of herbal industry and advocacy have impressed me a great deal. Today, you’re meeting someone who has been serving as an incredible force in this industry helping to shape its many facets. This introduction is only highlights of his work.
My guest is Mark Blumenthal. Mark is the Founder and Executive Director of the American Botanical Council (ABC). An independent, nonprofit organization, ABC is dedicated to disseminating accurate, reliable, and responsible information on herbs and medicinal plants.
Mark has been serving as the Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of HerbalGram, an international peer-reviewed quarterly journal, the contents of which reflect the educational goals of organization.
He is also Founder and Director of the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program, created by the ABC, American Herbal Pharmacopeia and the University of Mississippi’s National Center for Natural Product Research, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center of Excellence in botanical laboratory analysis.
Since 1998, Mark served as the senior editor of the English translation of several important German herbal medicine textbook translations, and in his role as an educator and a researcher he has written hundreds of articles, reviews, book chapters, and forewords on herbal subjects.
Earlier in his life Mark was a founding board member of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) and he helped co-found the Herb Research Foundation (HRF).
Mark currently serves, or has previously served, on the editorial boards of many prestigious publications.
In recognition for his research, educational, and advocacy work, Mr. Blumenthal has received two honorary degrees and is also the recipient of numerous awards in the fields of medicinal plants, natural foods, and natural health.
A popular speaker on herbal issues, Mark has made hundreds of presentations to universities, professional and trade associations, and numerous consumer, and industry groups. He has been a sought-after guest on radio and television talk shows. He and ABC are also major sources of information for journalists, editors, and freelance writers. He is quoted extensively in articles for the trade and popular press.
By the end of this episode, you’ll get an appreciation for the current state of herbal education, research and advocacy.
TAKEAWAYS
- How did American Botanical Council start, where Herbalgram fits in
- What are some of the current projects for ABC like Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program, Sustainability efforts
- How ABC’s work was inspired by work of European scientists, and some of the ABC’s databases and their unique features
FAVORITE QUOTES
“Self-medication requires self-education.”
“Learning about herbal medicine is exciting, inspiring and challenging – there are so many different plants and plant parts and preparations made from them. Start by learning 5 different herbs.”
“Adulteration and fraud is the biggest problem in the global botanical market place. I’ve always tried to promote the idea of rational and responsible herbal medicine, medicinal plant products properly manufactured from materials that have been grown and harvested appropriately, good quality control and manufacturing practices, ethically marketed with the claims that can be documented appropriately.”
CONTACTING OUR GUEST
American Botanical Council/Herbalgram website, Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (free with registration), ABC’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube accounts
ABC’s databases – Herbalgram, Herbal E-Gram, Herb Clips, HerbMedPro, Commission E monographs, Expanded Commission E monographs, MedPlantID, Healthy Ingredients
WEB RESOURCES
Herb Trade Association later becoming American Herbal Product Association
University of Mississippi’s National Center for Natural Product Research
Sustainable Herbs Program, Numen
Sustainability related Herbalgram stories – 2009 – adapting to global warming; 2018 – Goldenseal
BOOKS
The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines
Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs
THANKS FOR LISTENING!
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BROUGHT TO YOU BY
This episode is proudly brought to you by the American Herbalist Guild.
Image courtesy of Mark Blumenthal
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