In February (2025) the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy headed by noted ethnopharmacologist Dr. Dennis McKenna and in collaboration with renowned ethnobotanist Wade Davis and BPRA, will host a Wisdom of the Leaf summit that will emphasize the need to differentiate between the traditional use of coca leaves and its importance in traditional culture, and cocaine, one of the primary alkaloids derived from the leaves, the consequences of which most all are aware. While coca leaves and cocaine represent an extreme example of what happens when traditional medicines are used out of cultural context, the social, economic, and political consequences of how botanical medicines are used or exploited, are broadly applicable to many plant-based medicines.

The efforts of BPRA are consistent with the recent Gujarat Declaration that summarizes the findings of the World Health Organization’s Global Summit on Traditional Medicine. The Gujarat Declaration announced to the world that the combination of integrative and traditional knowledge with modern medicine, is the medicine of the future. The mission of BPRA is also strongly aligned with the newly forming Global Alliance on Integrative Health and Medicine (GAIHM) spearheaded by AHP that will work towards the development of unified strategies to further advance botanical and integrative medicine.

We encourage all those interested in the future of individual and planetary health, and specifically the role botanical medicines play in that transformation, to provide financial support of BPRA and join in the efforts by becoming a BPRA collaborator through the following link. https://www.bpra.org/how-we-work

Those interested in the Wisdom of the Leaf Summit can find more information at the following link: https://mckenna.academy/mka-programs/wisdom-of-the-leaf-coca-summit/

The American Herbal Pharmacopoeia® (AHP) is pleased to announce the release of a Monograph and Therapeutic Compendium for Lemon balm Leaf; Lemon Balm Aerial Parts (Melissa officinalis subsp. officinalis L.). This is the first of a series of publications planned in AHP’s Monographs Without Borders initiative and was a joint effort of AHP and researchers at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashad, Iran with special contributions by Dr. Mary Hardy of the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine, San Diego, CA. As with all AHP monographs, this was reviewed by a multidisciplinary cadre of experts representing traditional herbal medicine, botany, chemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, and lemon balm cultivation and specifically included experts in Iran where Melissa is considered a very important herbal drug.

According to AHP President and monograph editor Roy Upton:

“Lemon balm is one of those underutilized and perhaps underappreciated botanicals. It has been used for relieving anxiety, digestive upset, nervous conditions, spasms, sleeplessness, headaches, among other uses, some of which have been forgotten or neglected, for several hundred years. Among these uses, its effects on reliving nervousness, anxiety, and the many conditions that follow these two reigns supreme in the traditional literature. In modern investigations, its topical use for relieving herpes outbreaks is well-established in human clinical trials.”

AHP’s monographs without borders is meant to facilitate scientific cooperation with researchers in countries with whom the US may otherwise have challenging relationships, in this case with Iran. Far from being political, Monographs Without Borders is meant to highlight that the use and love of plant medicines can serve to unite us all as they have done historically through ancient trade routes and medical development. The team of researchers from Mashad University developed a comprehensive review of lemon balm in 2017 (Shakeri et al.). They generously allowed us to build upon what they began into the AHP-style monograph.

The HPTLC method was developed by CAMAG, Switzerland. The HPLC methodology was developed by Dr. Anna Rita Bilia of the University of Florence, Italy and was developed for the European Pharmacopoeia, who generously allowed us to use it to promote international harmonization between standards setting organizations. The chromatograms were generated by Alkemists Labs, Garden Grove, CA, all of this reflecting a true spirit of collaboration internationally.

Development of the AHP Lemon Balm Monograph and Therapeutic Compendium was made possible by the generous contributions of:

• EuroPharma USA, Green Bay, WI
• Herb Pharm, Williams , OR
• Joanna Miller, Bonny Doon, CA
• Natreon Inc., New Brunswick, NJ
• Nature’s Way, Green Bay, WI
• Planetary Herbals, Scotts Valley, CA
• Traditional Medicinals, Sebastopol, CA
• Vitality Works, Albuquerque, NM

“This is wonderful, [Lemon balm Leaf Monograph] full of information, detailed and thorough monograph!!!! AHP has done themselves well and added to the bar height for monographs!!!!”
— Edward Fletcher Native Botanicals Banner Elk, North Carolina

“Another absolutely gorgeous Monograph! I could almost smell the fragrance from the Melissa leaves coming off the pictures [Lemon balm Leaf Monograph]. The scientific reviews will be super useful too as always. Congratulations!”
— Amala Soumyanath BPharm PhD Oregon Health Sciences University Portland, OR

The AHP Lemon balm Leaf; Lemon Balm Aerial Parts (Melissa officinalis subsp. officinalis L.) Monograph and Therapeutic Compendium (PDF) is available by ordering from the AHP Shop website >

For those wishing to buy copies in bulk for dissemination to customers or health practitioners, please contact us directly.

ABOUT AMERICAN HERBAL PHARMACOPOEIA

American Herbal Pharmacopoeia^® (AHP) promotes the responsible use of herbal medicines and ensures they are used with the highest possible degree of efficacy and safety. Our primary way to accomplish this is through the development of standards of identity, purity, and analysis for botanicals, as well as to critically review traditional and scientific data regarding their efficacy and safety. These works will be disseminated through a variety of AHP publications such as monographs, textbooks, and other educational materials; workshops and conferences; electronic media, and other avenues of distribution as are appropriate.

AHP
PO Box 66809
Scotts Valley, CA 95067 (USA)
Tel: 831-461-6318 (direct); Fax: 831-438-2196
Email: ahp@herbal-ahp.org

Dear Friends of AHP,

AHP is pleased to announce the release of a Monograph and Therapeutic Compendium for Devil’s Club (Oplopanax horridus).

Devil’s Club is one of the most important botanicals for Native Americans throughout the plant’s growing range, most especially in the Pacific Northwest. While never a superstar in the herbal products industry, perhaps rightfully so due to its ecological sensitivity, it is important to catalogue its known benefits. This is the first monograph of its kind on Oplopanax, and we are happy to be able to highlight some lesser known uniquely North American natives.

According to Eric Yarnell ND, Associate Editor and sponsor of the monograph, “Devil’s club is such a revered herb traditionally in the Pacific Northwest, and I find it so useful in my clinical practice that I was excited at the possibility of sponsoring the development of this AHP monograph and therapeutic review. The monograph will help practitioners to better understand how to effectively use devil’s club for their patients.”

AHP wants to express sincere thanks to the following individuals and companies who provided support in the development of this monograph:

• Heron Botanicals
• Dr Moses D Goldberg
• Joanna Helms (Mama Jo’ Sunshine Herbals)
• Samuel Dunbar
• Kara Noyes
• Marina Khusid
• James Greene

By individuals, companies, and organizations who graciously assisted us in gathering the authentic samples needed for the development of this monograph:

• Anna Sitkoff
• Jo Wendel
• Laura Murphy

The AHP Devil’s Club Monograph and Therapeutic Compendium (printed hardcopy and/or PDF) is available from the AHP Shop website:  https://herbal-ahp.com/collections/frontpage/products/devils-club-bark-bark-of-decumbent-stem-root-and-lower-stem

For those wishing to buy copies in bulk for dissemination to customers or health practitioners, please contact us directly.

ABOUT AMERICAN HERBAL PHARMACOPOEIA

American Herbal Pharmacopoeia^® (AHP) promotes the responsible use of herbal medicines and ensures they are used with the highest possible degree of efficacy and safety. Our primary way to accomplish this is through the development of standards of identity, purity, and analysis for botanicals, as well as to critically review traditional and scientific data regarding their efficacy and safety. These works will be disseminated through a variety of AHP publications such as monographs, textbooks, and other educational materials; workshops and conferences; electronic media, and other avenues of distribution as are appropriate.

AHP
PO Box 66809
Scotts Valley, CA 95067 (USA)
Tel: 831-461-6318 (direct); Fax: 831-438-2196
Email: ahp@herbal-ahp.org