Journals and Publications - Robyn's Recommended Reading

Journals and Publications (Revised 10/13/99 Prices subject to CHANGE)

American Herb Association Quarterly
Subscriptions (4 issues): $20/yr regular member; $35/yr supporting member, $28/yr foreign (US Funds), $24/yr Canadian member. AHA, PO Box 1673, Nevada City, CA 95959

The AHA is an association of Medical Herbalists. Membership is open to anyone interested in herbs and includes the AHA Quarterly. The goals of the AHA are to promote the understanding, acceptance and ecological use of herbs.

Research for the AHA Quarterly is done primarily at the Medical Library, University of California, San Francisco. The AHA reviews over 60 medical journals, 40 international herb-related newsletters/magazines and 28 major magazines and newspapers to bring you the latest herb information. It amounts to many hours of research-all brought to your door four times a year.

Regular features: editorial, herbal views, herb report, news and network, legal status, international news, book reviews, herbal clippings, calendar, classifieds and ads. Averages 20 pages. 8 ½ x 11 inch format.

RRR-There are dozens of herb newsletters, but this is the very best of them. The AHA has been publishing since 1981 and is still going strong. This is a great publication to start with if you are new to herbalism, and one which professional herbalists eagerly read.
top

Australian Journal of Medical Herbalism
Yearly subscriptions by membership in the National Herbalists Association of Australia. Practitioners/$165; Students/$45; Companion/$75. All categories include an additional joining fee. Write: Office Manager, P.O. Box 61 Broadway, Australia 2007. Email: nhaa@nhaa.org.au

The Australian Journal of Medical Herbalism is a quarterly publication of the National Herbalists Association of Australia. The journal publishes material on all aspects of medical herbalism including philosophy, phytochemistry, pharmacology and clinical application of medical plants and is a peer review journal.

Regular features: Australian medicinal plant reviews, MEDPLANT abstracts, case studies, book reviews, calendar events, conference reports. Averages 30-35 pages. 7 ½ x 10 ½ inch format.

RRR-This journal contains lots of case histories, in-depth articles, and comments on recent research. Very excellent for clinicians and professional herbalists.
top

The British Journal of Phytotherapy
Subscription includes 4 issues: £27.50 (UK); £29.00 (European Union); £38.00 (USA & Canada). Published by the School of Phytotherapy (Herbal Medicine), Bucksteep Manor, Bodle Street Green, Near Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 4RJ ISSN 0959-6879.

Edited by Hein Zeylstra, one of the most respected herbalists in the United Kingdom. Past subjects include: posology, autoimmune disease, Eclectic female regulators, garlic, ginger, hawthorn and much more.

Regular features: editorial, case studies, herb monographs, conference reports, book reviews, news and notes. Averages 150 pages. 7 ¾ x 10 ½ inch format.

RRR-An excellent professional journal.
top

The European Journal of Herbal Medicine (Phytotherapy) - The Journal of The National Institute of Medical Herbalists
3 issues per year. Subscriptions: £29.50 (Overseas); £19.50 (UK); £24.50 (EC). All orders should be sent to EJHM, Medical Herbalists, 56 Longbrook Street, Exeter, Devon, EX4 6AH, United Kingdom. ISSN 1352-4755.

The European Journal of Herbal Medicine is the journal of The National Institute of Medical Herbalists. The articles are written by MNIMH members and other great herbalists.

Regular features: editorial, letters, herbal world, interviews, materia medica, clinicial notes, theory, traditions, book reviews. Averages 50 pages. 8 ¼ x 11 ¾ inch format.

RRR-An excellent professional journal.
top

HerbalGram: The Journal of the American Botanical Council and the Herb Research Foundation
Subscriptions: $25/yr; $45/2 yrs; $60/3 yrs. Foreign please add $10 per year. ABC, P.O. Box 201660, Austin, TX 78720. 512/331-8868, Fax: 512/331-1924. On the web at http://www2.outer.net/herbalgram/abcmission.html

A full-color magazine which offers an overview of herb research, herb market trends, herb news, and book reviews. Their mail-order book department offers an excellent selection of books on pharmacognosy, herbs, herbal history, and natural products science. The watchdog of the media, the staff at HerbalGram is intimately involved in the politics of the use of herbs in the U.S. A great resource for finding out what's happening in the legislative world of herbs and in the academic discipline of pharmacognosy.

Regular features: editorial, news features, herb blurbs, media issues, herb monographs, research reviews, legal and regulatory news, conference reports, market report, book reviews, letters, calendar, classifieds. Averages 80 pages. 8 ½ x 11 inch format.

RRR-A very informative publication for the general public and all professionals. Focus is on pharmacognosy and western scientific views of herbalism.
top

International Journal of Pharmacognosy
Subscriptions: $360/yr; $99/yr for Amer. Society of Pharmacognosy members. Swets & Zeitlinger Publishers, P.O. Box 613, Royersford, PA 19468. 800/447-9387 Email: pub@swets.nl

The purpose of IJP is to advance our knowledge and understanding of the efficacy and safety of natural product drugs. See http://sun.swets.nl/sps/journals/ijp.html for abstracts of articles.

RRR-An academic journal which publishes scientific research on natural products.
top

Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Yearly subscription includes 12 issues: $1191 $US; Elsevier Science, Customer Support Department, P.O. Box 945, New York, NY 10159-0945. http://www.elsevier.nl/inca/publications/store/5/0/6/3/5/

The Journal of Ethnopharmacology publishes original articles concerned with the observation and experimental investigation of the biological activities of plant and animal substances used in the traditional medicine of past and present cultures. An abstract section of about 50 abstracts per volume is published at the end of the journal on a regular basis, covering the most recent literature in the field. Audience: Ethnopharmacologists, Medicinal Chemists, Pharmacologists, Toxicologists, Anthropologists, Botanists.

RRR- For herbalists, this is one of the most valuable scientific journals relating to the medicinal use of plants. The table of contents for some back issues is available at their website. http://www.elsevier.nl/estoc/publications/store/1/03788741/

top

Medical Herbalism
Subscriptions: $36/yr - $60/2 yrs (U.S.); $39/yr - $65/2 yrs (Canada, U.S.D.); $45/yr - $80/2 yrs (Overseas, U.S.D.); $25/yr (Student, with photocopy of I.D.). Medical Herbalism, P.O. 20512, Boulder, CO 80308. (303) 541-9552. http://medherb.com

A newsletter for the clinical practitioner. Well known herbal author, Paul Bergner, researches and writes about herbs and their clinical use. He currently teaches [and directs the clinical education program] at the Rocky Mountain Center for Botanical Studies in Boulder, CO. He offers case studies from naturopathic physicians and licensed herbalists.

Regular features: editorial, case histories, clinical comments, herb monographs, classifieds, display ads. Averages 24 pages. 8 ½ x 11 inch format.

RRR- A very informative quarterly which offers case histories and lengthy herb articles for professional herbalists. The Medical Herbalism website has very useful links.
top

The Modern Phytotherapist
Published 3 times a year by MediHerb. Subscriptions: MediHerb Pty Ltd, P.O. Box 713, Warwick, Queensland, 4370.

Regular features: editorial, articles on herbal subjects, case histories, herbal monographs, book reviews. Averages 28 pages. 8¼ x 11 3/4 inch format.

RRR-An excellent publication for clinicians and herbalists. Articles written mostly by Australian clinical herbalists. With Kerry Bone at the helm, this publication never ceases to impress me with its very useful information and attention to current issues in herbalism.
top

Nutrition Science News
Published monthly. Subscriptions: $36/year U.S. Single copies $6 plus $3 s/h. International inquire. Published by New Hope Communications, Inc., 1301 Spruce St., Boulder, CO 80302. 303/939-8440. http://www.nutritionsciencenews.com/

Their mission statement: Nutrition Science News is a comprehensive and definitive information source for businesses interested in improving the quality of health and health care through the use of food and supplements. Nutrition Science News supports the growth of business with news, trends, product information and scientifically validated nutrition research vital to successful industry development.

Regular features: main articles, news, science briefs, industry analysis, new products, display ads. Averages 50 pages. 8 ½ x 11 inch format.

RRR-Though focused on the industry, I find many of the articles very informative and useful. Insights on the use of supplements, foods and herbs. Sometimes the articles are written by seasoned freelance writers, sometimes they are really experienced clinicians and herbalists. A very good reference source. New Hope also published the Natural Foods Merchandiser which covers herbal politics as well as herbal products.
top

The Review of Natural Products
Published by Facts and Comparisons, 111 West Port Plaza, Suite 300, St. Louis, MO 63146. 314/878-2515. Subscription fees: $65/yr. ISSN 1089-5302

This publication is made up of short monographs on various medicinal plants and substances. These monographs compile the latest research on the subject.

Regular features: separate monographs on herb and natural products including the following information: scientific names, common names, botany, history, chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, summary, patient information, uses, side effects, literature citations. Averages 10-15 pages. 8 ½ x 11 inch format.

RRR-Informative monographs on herbs, dietary supplements, and natural products from the western scientific viewpoint.
top

Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients:
The Examiner of Medical Alternatives
10 issues yearly. $49/1 year; $88/2 years. Students with ID copy $32/year. Inquire for international rates. Sample or back issue $8. Index (1983-1996) $6. Townsend Letter, 911 Tyler Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368. 360/385-6021. http://www.tldp.com

Regular features: editorials, in the news, special features, features, letters to the editor, book reviews. Averages 150 pages. 8 ½ x 11 inch format on newsprint paper.

RRR-This publication is chock full of articles covering the whole range of alternative medicine subjects. Most authors are MDs, NDs and PhDs. Some articles by seasoned freelance writers. I haven’t found it to cover herbs very often. Though there are a few really good articles on phytotherapy by NDs now and then. A good place to learn about western medicine treatment and its critics.
top