Introduction: Turmeric is a popular culinary spice and herbal remedy, and there is a growing body of research relating to its therapeutic use. However, it is not clear which preparations of turmeric are most effective and for which disorders. The aim of this paper was to conduct a meta-review of systematic reviews (SRs) to provide a status update for practitioners and researchers on the use of turmeric as a therapeutic option. Methods: Reviews were selected that evaluated the use of oral turmeric products versus a placebo or standard care for the treatment of different health conditions. Two reviewers screened the SRs for inclusion, extracted and analysed the data. Review quality was assessed by R-AMSTAR and the quality of evidence expressed according to GRADE. Results: Overall 65 SRs were retrieved covering 20 disease topics. There was moderate quality evidence to support the use of turmeric/curcumin for relieving pain and improving physical function in osteoarthritis. There was low quality evidence for its use in metabolic syndrome, inflammatory conditions and other diseases. The SR data suggested that whole turmeric and bioavailability-enhanced preparations may be useful for different conditions. Turmeric was safe and well tolerated. Conclusions: There are multiple SRs that have examined the use of oral turmeric/curcumin for treating noncommunicable diseases. Further primary studies on targeted patient groups would strengthen the evidence in areas that show most promise including osteoarthritis and metabolic syndrome. Future research should accommodate the complexity of turmeric medicines when designing studies to inform research and clinical decisions.

Background: Curcuma longa L. (root and rhizome), commonly known as turmeric, is a plant of high medicinal and economic value globally, including within the EU where it is mainly used as a spice and food supplement. Its key active ingredients have been studied extensively, but concerns remain about the composition and thus the quality of extracts and products on the market. Recently, problems of adulteration with other Curcuma species and general poor quality have been detected within crude turmeric powders and final products. This study aimed to investigate the chemical variation of turmeric finished products available in the UK and identify the quality of turmeric products obtained from specific stages of the supply chain, with a focus on quality differences in the UK. H-1-NMR spectroscopy metabolomics coupled to Principle Component Analysis (PCA) and HPTLC methods were used for the phytochemical and metabolomics investigation of 72 turmeric samples, including crude powders, intermediate products from different manufacturing stages and commercial products obtained from health food stores and the Internet. A significant variation in the chemical composition of turmeric finished products, especially in the ones containing turmeric extracts, was found. Several products were found to contain only curcumin or curcuminoids, while the other active ingredients and marker compounds of C. longa were lacking. Products obtained from different stages of the Pukka value chain presented similar chemical composition, with the intermediate products (S57-59) showing the highest amount of active ingredients. Consequently, the manufacturing practices involved in the production of turmeric food supplements are critical stages to obtain high-quality final products. Often the focus has been only on the primary material, its natural variation and forms of production. This study highlights the importance of developing well-controlled integrated systems for the quality assurance of dietary supplements throughout the supply chain from seed to final product.

Herbal teas are used as therapeutic vehicles in many forms of traditional medicine and are a popular global beverage. The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the evidence relating to the clinical efficacy and safety of herbal teas, and to identify the main research themes and gaps in knowledge to inform further work. A scoping review methodology was followed that set out the research question and described the sourcing, selection and analysis of studies. Overall, a total of 145 research publications were retrieved from global bibliographic databases, and after applying exclusion criteria, 21 remained. These studies looked at herbal tea use in female health, diabetes, heart disease and weight loss, with plant species including lavender, chamomile, fenugreek, stinging nettle, spearmint, hibiscus, yerba maté, echinacea and combinations of herbs. Observational studies explored associations between herbal tea consumption and cancer risk, liver health, and the risks linked to the consumption of environmental contaminants in the plant material. Despite plant materials being the basis for drug discovery, and the popularity of herbal teas, the number of articles exploring clinical efficacy and safety is small. In this review we discuss how herbal teas may be beneficial in some areas of clinical and preventative health, and what further research is required to understand whether regular consumption can contribute to healthy living more generally.

The use of herbal medicines as a form of primary and adjunctive healthcare continues to grow internationally. It is therefore important that healthcare practitioners stay abreast of potential contraindications that may arise when these medicines are taken together with orthodox treatment or are prescribed during pregnancy. This article analyses the most popularly cited clinical research concerning the use of Glycyrrhiza spp. during pregnancy. It also aims to serve as guidance for healthcare professionals who either prescribe herbal medicines or have cause to advise patients in relation to the use of glycyrrhiza by women during pregnancy.

The issue of data protection is one to be considered and addressed by all medical practitioners. In the UK the main legislative instrument that sets out the data protection requirements that apply to those in business is the The Data Protection Act (1998). This is by no means a straightforward statute but this article aims to set out clearly the basic principles to which Medical Herbalists and other medical practitioners should adhere.

The practice of herbal medicine is evolving. Medical Herbalists are trained in much of the same academic material as orthodox medical doctors, they are increasingly sophisticated in their approach to patients and more rigorous in their scientific evaluation of the medicines applied for the therapeutic benefit of their patients. This is felt by many to be a necessary evolution if herbal medicine is to remain relevant to the practice of medicine during the 21st century.