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ECLECTIC MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS Eclectic Medical Publications |
Publisher: Edward Alstat, R.Ph., N.D.
Controller: Sandy Nutile (800) 865-1487
Production and Editorial: Nancy Stodart (804) 453-6394
The Eclectic Era of American Botanical Medicine
For most of the l800's and into the 20th Century, America enjoyed an era of medicine known as the Eclectic. The Eclectics as physicians were guided by certain rules in choosing their medicines. First, do no harm. Second, provide the body with balancing suppoorts that will aid its return to normal function. Medical schools, private practices, clinical investigations, and botanical pharmacies were developed and functioned on empirical and scientific standards. Documentation of this work was published, including materia medica and botanical dispensatories. By 1940, this golden era of botanical medicine had declined, due to pressures from contemporary economics and scientific politics, to the point that the Eclectic Medical Institute had graduated its last class and had closed its doors forever.
From this point until about 1970, little if any research was conducted on botanical medicine in the United States. In Europe, principally in Germany, some work on standardized echinacea was underway with Madaus. The materia medica of note during this period was Rudolph Weiss's Herbal Medicine. First published in German in1960, this work was translated to English in 1988 as a herbal primer for Medical Doctors who are without formal training in botanicals.
In 1989, the Eclectic Institute of Sandy, Oregon began to support independent research into botanical medicines under the direction of Edward Alstat, owner.
Preserving the Past and Serving the Future of Botanical Research
Eclectic Medical Publications originated in 1983 to keep in print the great botanical references of the Eclectics, beginning with such works on those on this site (see Historical -Research)
In 1989, EMP initiated its own original titles. Naturopaths, Dr. Alstat, Dr. Brinker, the late Dr.Wade Boyle, Christopher Hobbs and others, began to present modern independent research. Their first effort,The Eclectic Dispensatory Of Botanical Therapeutics, Vol. 1, is an expansive 3 ring binder with five sections (Historical, Clinical, Pharmacology. Materia Medica and Monographs). In 1995, Dr. Brinker wrote The Eclectic Dispensatory Of Botanical Therapeutics, Vol 2. Again, a 3 ring binder in 5 sections, this volume includes three full length books, five published articles and a condensed Botanical Medicine Research Summary section which highlights studies performed on humans in bold type.
Formulas For Healthful Living, a major primer on the healing principles and botanical formulas of naturopathic medicine, was published by Eclectic Medical Publications as a quality paperback in 1995. The second edition, released in l998 continues to sell well to physicians and public readers interested in supporting the body's healing processes.
In 1997 Dr. Brinker completed the immensely popular Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. A quality paperback now in its third expanded edition, this book is unique in the organization of research information on the interactions between plant medicines and pharmaceuticals. The Third Edition is the only resource of its kind that catagorises the referenced research study next to the body text. Hence, readers know as they read what kind of study resulted in the reported findings in vitro, human, oral in rats, speculative, empirical, etc.
In early 2000, EMP released Interactions Between Drugs & Natural Medicines What the Physician and Pharmacist Must Know About Vitamins, Minerals, Foods and Herbs by Chris D. Meletis, N.D. and Thad Jacobs, N.D. Developed from clinical needs, this book is organized for quick access to information by catagory group and individual name.
The Toxicology of Botanical Medicines, Third Edition, by Dr. Brinker, was published as a quality paperback in 2000. An ongoing work for 15 years, this material provides a concise complilation of past and up-to-date information on the toxic effects of plants and their medicinal extracts along with suggested treatments for poisoning. This book is intended to support needs generated by an uneducated consumer misusing herbal extracts which are currently gaining popularity in stores and pharmacies.