Presenter: Paul Bergner

Original Date: May 19, 2018

An Herban Legend is a persistent, widely and firmly held belief about a plant and its medicinal effects which is not true. The origin of the Legend or its rationale is obscure or forgotten, and is usually based on misinterpretation of some fact of science or tradition. It is repeated, believed and repeated again from textbook to textbook, teacher to teacher, article to article and herbalist to herbalist, across a generation, and guides regular practice. A large number of such Legends, most arising in the last 30 years, infect the modern North American materia medica and weaken the effectiveness of our clinical practice. Each of the herbs, however, have some potent “clinical pearl” unrelated to the legend itself. We discuss Herban Legends and Clinical Pearls for Devil's Club (Oplopanax), Lomatium, Saw Palmetto (Serenoa), Feverfew (Tanacetum), Juniper (Juniperus), Lobelia, Echinacea, Goldenseal (Hydrastis), and Wild Yam (Dioscorea).

2.0 General CEUs approved by OBNM