Herbals to slow effects of aging?

Consumers will increasingly look to botanicals in an attempt to slow down the effects of aging, claims the herbal trade, which is organising a new seminar to educate healthcare practitioners on the role they can play.

The seminar, 'The Role of Botanicals in Healthy Aging: From Traditional Knowledge to Clinical Practice to Scientific Development', comes at a critical time, according to Wayne Silverman, chief executive of the American Botanical Council (ABC), as the elderly population grows and faces increasing age-related disease.

Leading researchers and health practitioners will discuss the impact of botanicals on longevity, cardiovascular health, depression, insomnia, cognitive function, diabetes, cancer, osteoarthritis, prostate and urinary issues and herb-drug interactions at the conference scheduled for August 9-10.

"More than 35 million Americans are 65 years of age or older. This population is expected to double by the year 2020. With life expectancy increasing, the issues surrounding quality of life and wellbeing for seniors needs to be seriously addressed,"​ said Silverman. "The prevention model is one that advocates conscious lifestyle choices to increase the body's resistance to a variety of debilitating, costly, and preventable diseases, diseases that tend to emerge as we age. Healthcare providers need to know about alternative botanical therapies for the sake of their older patients."​

The two-day program was developed by the Herbal Education Partnership (HEP), a joint project from ABC​, the AHPA and the American Herbalists Guild​, along with Rutgers, New Jersey. Taking place at Rutgers in New Brunswick, NJ, speakers will target healthcare professionals seeking to expand their knowledge of botanical medicine. Continuing education credits are available for dietitians (15 CPE), naturopathic physicians (16 CE general hours), nurses (20 contact hours), and pharmacists (1.6 CEU). Educated consumers are also welcome to attend.

Contact AHPA​ for more information.