Phytomedicines: the greening of modern medicine

Although available in the United States for little more than 10 years, phytomedicines represent an important class of natural therapeutics that possess significant scientific literature as well as broad use and acceptance worldwide. Until recently, such products were severely limited in the United States. Passage of the DSHEA has opened important new opportunities to communicate the use and benefits of phytomedicines as safe and useful natural health care products. Broader dissemination of the extant scientific literature on phytomedicines can and should have an important effect on the view of the conventional medical community that plant extracts specifically, and natural products generally, offer valuable and needed benefits to America's aging population, as well as to others. Although used since ancient times, plants are enjoying a renaissance of interest and use in the United States. As Pliny the Younger said, "Everything old is new again."