(AUSTIN,Texas,June10,2015)TheAOACINTERNATIONAL®(formerlyknownastheAssociationofOfficialAgriculturalChemists)hasendorsedtheABC-AHP-NCNPRBotanicalAdulterantsProgram.TheendorsementfollowsaunanimousvotebytheAOACBoardofDirectorsinApril.
AbouttheABC-AHP-NCNPRBotanicalAdulterantsProgram
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(AUSTIN,Texas,Jan.29,2015)TheNationalInstituteofMedicalHerbalists(NIMH)andtheBritishHerbalMedicineAssociation(BHMA)haverecentlyendorsedthe
“ThereisalongandrobusthistoryoftherationalandresponsibleuseofherbsasaformofselfcareandhealthcareintheUK,goingbackcenturies.SupportforoureducationaleffortsabouthowtodetectadulterationandfraudintheherbalmarketwillnotonlyhelpenhancethequalityofherbproductsintheUK,butwillprovidegreatlywelcomeaddedimpetusandcooperationtotheinternationaleducationaleffortsofourProgram,”Blumenthaladded.NIMH’sendorsementoftheABC-AHP-NCNPRBotanicalAdulterantsProgramfollowssimilarendorsementsmadebyotherprofessionalorganizations,includingtheInternationalSocietyforMedicinalPlantandNaturalProductResearch(knownbyitsGermanacronym,GA)andtheAmericanSocietyofPharmacognosy(ASP),bothhighlyrespectedinternationalorganizationscomposedofleadingmedicinalplantresearchexperts.TheGAandASParethetwolargestorganizationsofprofessionalresearchersinthefieldofmedicinalplantsanddrugsofnaturalorigin.
“Aspeoplecontinuetouseherbalmedicines,theroleofqualifiedpractitionersinsupportingtheminmakinginformeddecisionsisessential.Thishasneverbeenmoreimportantthannowwiththeongoingchallengeofadulterationsofingredientsusedintheproducts.TheendorsementofthisprogrambyorganizationswiththeexpertiseandreputationoftheNIMHandBHMAwillonlystrengthenaccesstohigh-qualityherbalmedicinesglobally,”saidMichaelSmith,ND,memberoftheWorldHealthOrganizationExpertAdvisoryPanelonTraditionalMedicinesandtheABCAdvisoryBoard.OtherendorsementsoftheBotanicalAdulterantsProgrambyhealthcare-orientedorganizationsincludethosefromtheAmericanAssociationofNaturopathicPhysiciansandtheCouncilofCollegesofAcupunctureandOrientalMedicine.BHMA’sendorsementalsofollowstheendorsementsofotherleadingtradeorganizations,bothinternationallyandintheUnitedStates.Internationally,theseincludetheInternationalDietary/FoodSupplementTradeAlliance(IADSA),theAustralianSelfMedicationIndustry,ComplementaryMedicinesAustralia(formerlytheComplementaryHealthcareCouncil),theAustralianTeaTreeOilAssociation,and,justrecently,NaturalProductsNewZealand.IntheUnitedStates,thetradeassociationsunderwritingtheBotanicalAdulterantsProgramincludetheConsumerHealthcareProductsAssociation,theCouncilforResponsibleNutrition,theNaturalProductsAssociation,andtheUnitedNaturalProductsAlliance.Todate,theABC-AHP-NCNPRBotanicalAdulterantsProgramhaspublishedfiveextensivelypeer-reviewedandreferencedarticlesonthehistoryofadulteration,theadulterationoftheherbsblackcohoshandskullcap,andadulterationofextractsofbilberryfruitandgrapefruitseed.Theseopen-accessarticlesareavailableontheProgram’swebpage: