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| Government
and Public Affairs ASPET POSITION STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF HERBAL MEDICINE AND PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) supports an increase in scientifically sound and well designed basic and clinical research on herbal medicines. Plants and plant-derived drugs play key roles in the therapy of human disease and strict standardization guidelines concerning the efficacy and safety of herbal remedies must be rigorously enforced. ASPET supports peer reviewed pharmacological examination of medicinal plants mechanisms of action and supports the work of the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), especially as it relates to promotion and funding of the highest quality research in herbal medicine. Pharmacologists and the discipline of pharmacology can contribute effectively to developing strategies for scientific review of supportive literature. This role is critical as pharmacologists can undertake studies aimed towards understanding the mechanisms of action of these agents. These studies will also be especially important in considering the interactions between herbal remedies and prescription medicines. An emphasis on evidence based research and standardization of herbal remedies will help to responsibly meet the growing public interest in the use of herbal remedies. Scientifically valid data about herbal remedies will also allow medical students in training and practicing physicians to determine which herbal therapies might be beneficial alone or as a complement to other therapies for their patients. ASPET supports the need for increased peer reviewed investigator-initiated studies on herbal remedies funded by the National Institutes of Health through the NCCAM and other Institutes. Through the NIH, research into the safety and efficacy of herbal products can be conducted in a rigorous and high quality manner. Sound pharmacological studies will help determine the potential interactive effects of herbal products with prescription drugs. ASPET supports a strong Federal investment and commitment to evidence based studies in herbal medicine that will make important contributions in the fight against human disease and disability. |