Tyler's Honest Herbal: A Sensible Guide to the Use of Herbs and Related Remedies, 4th Edition

American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, Spring 2000 by Grant, Kathryn L

STEVEN FOSTER AND VARRO E. TYLER. Tyler's Honest Herbal: A Sensible Guide to the Use of Herbs and Related Remedies 4th Edition. Binghamton NY.. The Haworth Herbal Press, Inc., 1999. xxi 442 pp., 1 summary chart. $49.95.

Varro E. Tyler became dismayed by the proliferation of "inaccurate and deceptive information" about herbals and wrote the first edition of The Honest Herbal in 1982 for the general public. Dr. Tyler stood out among other publications about herbals not only because of his expertise as a respected pharmacognosist who bothered to reference his information, but also because of his obvious enthusiasm about the appropriate use of herbs. Each subsequent edition has continued the tradition he began and we are not disappointed with the fourth edition despite a change in authorship to include a new primary author. Steven Foster's credentials are as an "author, photographer, and consultant in the field of medicinal and aromatic plants." His education is implied to be self education because no degrees or academic affiliations are provided.

The book begins with two introductory sections. The first section called Pros and Cons outlines the authors' opinion on the current interest in and misinformation about botanicals. The authors take to task such common notions as natural sources cannot cause harm, whole plants have physiological properties different from the active constituents isolated from the same plant parts, and organically grown botanicals are preferable to those grown using inorganic or synthetic fertilizers. The authors then put forth the opinion that the popularity of herbs stems partly from these agents actually functioning as placebos. This brings the authors to Dr. Tyler's favorite alternative medicine to discredit, homeopathy. He concludes the chapter with the promise to the reader that the information provided is based on the latest scientif is information to help them decide whether they want to take a particular herb or not. I can hardly blame Dr. Tyler for his often stridently stated messages because of his almost single-handed bid to be the one source of scientifically based information. I certainly agree with most of his statements, but not all. I find his supposition that the whole plant and the active constituents "usually display activities that are quantitatively similar, if not quantitatively identical" a little misleading and would emphasize his use of the word `usually." Take Panax ginseng, for example. One of the ginsenosides, Rg, raises blood pressure and is a central stimulant, while another, Rb,, lowers blood pressure and is a central depressant [see Bisset, N.G., Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals: A Handbook for Practice on a Scientific Basis, Medpharm Scientific Publishers, CRC Press, Boca Raton, GA, (1994)]. The resultant effect on blood pressure and the central nervous system will rely on the balance between these two ginsenosides and neither taken alone would reflect the pharmacology of the whole plant.

The second section on Laws and Regulations is a credible relating of the issues that led to the various federal acts that now regulate the pharmaceutical industry and the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. Each monograph begins with a brief physical description of the plant providing the Latin binomial and the plant part used. A monograph often also begins with an interesting anecdote about the historical use or discovery of the medicinal properties of the plant. The authors then provide a listing of its uses as well as a "non-- technical" discussion of the chemistry and pharmacology of the plant. Next is provided an evaluation of the information concerning the efficacy and safety of the plant. The authors conclude each monograph with their opinion on the overall utility of the botanical. Each monograph is referenced with between two to 32 references with an average of five to nine references. Keeping in mind that this is a book for the general public, it is still a little disappointing to see that some of the ref erences have not been updated. For example, the monographs on fenugreek, ginger and licorice do not site the most recent updates in Review ofNatural Products. However, the monographs on botanicals that I am most familiar with do appear to have been updated with the latest published information. Dr. Tyler, for example, has slightly altered his view on the usefulness of ginseng based on more recent published data.

The book concludes with a section called Summary Chart, which is also arranged alphabetically by common name with tabular headings providing the source (Latin binomial), the part of the plant used, and the principle uses. The chart ends with columns assessing the botanical's "apparent efficacy" and "probable safety" using a plus/minus scale.

One of the most common criticisms I hear about The Honest Herbal is that it has never included drawings or photographs of the plants reviewed. Perhaps with Mr. Foster's involvement that will change with the 5th edition.