Nasal insertion of St John’s wort: an unusual cause of epistaxis.:
Crampsey DP, Douglas CM, Cooke LD J Laryngol Otol. 2007 Mar;121(3):279-80

We report a case of severe unilateral epistaxis requiring surgical arrest of bleeding, via endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation and anterior ethmoidal artery ligation. This followed recreational nasal insertion of St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum). Interactions between this substance and prescribed drugs have been described following oral ingestion. However, this unusual case highlights a further, worrying potential rhinological side effect of this substance.

PMID: 17125578 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Well well. Check this out…hilarious. Destined to become a much quoted reference in the future….

Matched-pair study showed higher quality of placebo-controlled trials in Western phytotherapy than conventional medicine
Nartey L, Huwiler-Müntener K, Shang A, Liewald K, Jüni P, Egger MJ Clin Epidemiol. 2007 Aug;60(8):787.e1-787.e15

OBJECTIVES: Herbal medicine (phytotherapy) is widely used, but the evidence for its effectiveness is a matter of ongoing debate. We compared the quality and results of trials of Western phytotherapy and conventional medicine. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A random sample of placebo-controlled trials of Western phytotherapy was identified in a comprehensive literature search (19 electronic databases). Conventional medicine trials matched for condition and type of outcome were selected from the Cochrane Central Controlled Trials Register (issue 1, 2003). Data were extracted in duplicate. Trials described as double-blind, with adequate generation of allocation sequence and adequate concealment of allocation were assumed to be of higher methodological quality. RESULTS: Eighty-nine herbal medicine and 89 matched conventional medicine trials were analyzed. Studies of Western herbalism were smaller, less likely to be published in English, and less likely to be indexed in MEDLINE than their counterparts from conventional medicine. Nineteen (21%) herbal and four (5%) conventional medicine trials were of higher quality. In both groups, smaller trials showed more beneficial treatment effects than larger trials. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings challenge the widely held belief that the quality of the evidence on the effectiveness of herbal medicine is generally inferior to the evidence available for conventional medicine.

PMID: 17606174 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Cannabis tea revisited: A systematic evaluation of the cannabinoid composition of cannabis tea
Hazekamp A, Bastola K, Rashidi H, Bender J, Verpoorte R; J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 May 24;

Cannabis is one of the oldest known medicinal plants, and a large variety of biological activities have been described. The main constituents, the cannabinoids, are thought to be most important for these activities. Although smoking of cannabis is by far the most common way of consumption, a significant part of medicinal users consume it in the form of a tea. However, not much is known about the composition of cannabis tea, or the effect of different parameters during preparation, handling or storage. In this study we used the high-grade cannabis available in Dutch pharmacies to study the cannabinoid composition of tea under standardized and quantitative conditions. Experimental conditions were systematically varied in order to mimic the possible variations made by medicinal users. During analysis there was a specific focus on the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol and its acidic precursor, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. Also the role of non-psychoactive cannabinoids as components of cannabis tea are discussed. The results obtained in this study provide a clear quantitative insight in the phytochemistry of cannabis tea preparation and can contribute to a better appreciation of this mode of cannabis administration.

PMID: 17604926 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa [L.] Nutt.): safety and efficacy for cancer patients
Walji R, Boon H, Guns E, Oneschuk D, Younus J, Support Care Cancer. 2007 Jun 30;

GOALS OF WORK: Black cohosh is commonly used to treat hot flashes and other symptoms associated with menopause. It is thought to have multiple mechanisms of action, including potential phytoestrogenic properties. This has caused some concern about its use by patients with hormone-sensitive cancer. This paper will present the results of a systematic review of the safety and efficacy of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa [L.] Nutt.) in patients with cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A critical assessment of clinical (n = 5) and preclinical (n = 21) studies of black cohosh and cancer (breast and prostate) to treat hot flashes and other related symptoms is presented. In addition, clinical studies, case reports, animal studies, and in vitro assessments of the safety of black cohosh for patients with hormonally sensitive cancers is summarized and interpreted. MAIN RESULTS: In general, the research assessing efficacy of black cohosh for the treatment of hot flashes in women with breast cancer is inconclusive. There is laboratory evidence of antiproliferative properties but no confirmation from clinical studies for a protective role in cancer prevention. Black cohosh seems to have a relatively good safety profile. Concerns about liver toxicity are inconclusive. With relevance to cancer patients, black cohosh also seems not to exhibit phytoestrogenic activity and is in fact possibly an inhibitor of tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS: The use of black cohosh appears to be safe in breast cancer patients without risk for liver disease, although further research is needed in this and other populations.

PMID: 17602247 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Despite continuing mainstream hysteria, there are some balanced reports appearing that review the data on BC toxicity in a rational way. Latest is an Italian summary in a German journal - Research in Complementary Medicine. Full text is free - follow the link.

Is Black Cohosh a Hepatotoxic Medicinal Herb?

L. Gori; F. Firenzuol Forsch Komplementärmed 2007;17:109-110 (DOI: 10.1159/000101352)

Edward Bach is a compelling example of a physician/healer was far ahead of his time. This talk attempts to illuminate the biographical and psychoanalytic basis of Bach’s discoveries, using extensive quotations from Bach’s own texts, as well as autobiographical data from the presenter, a long time user of the English Flower Essences. This is transcript of a talk and slide show presented at AHG Symposium, Portland, 2006. The slides, helpful for listening to this talk, will be available at iPod resolution as a quicktime movie from herbological.com.

If you subscribe to Herblog podcasts via iTunes, you should receive this when you refresh subscriptions. Otherwise download the link below for MP3 ( ~38 Meg) ~ 1 hour 22 mins.

Edward Bach and The Discovery of The English Flower Essences