Blumenthal was awarded the Ethnopharmacologist of the Year award from the Society for Ethnopharmacology-India (SFE-India). Blumenthal received the award last week at the society’s annual scientific conference which took place in Surat, in Gujarat state in northwestern India.
According to ABC, ethnopharmacology is a branch of ethnobotany and pharmacology focused on the traditional knowledge and customs concerning medicinal substances, especially those of plant origin, and their use in traditional medicine. Ethnopharmacology pertains not only to traditional ethnobotany, but also to the modern scientific and clinical research investigating the safety and activity of historically used medicinal substances, particularly from plants and fungi. It also involves quality control of these substances as they are used in modern societies (e.g., as foods, dietary supplements, and/or drugs).
Blumenthal, who is a self-taught herbalist, has more than 45 years of experience in the fields of herb and medicinal plant education, research, publishing, quality control, regulation, market dynamics, and related areas. In addition to founding and directing ABC since 1988 and serving as editor-in-chief of the nonprofit’s peer-reviewed journal HerbalGram, which he launched in 1983, Blumenthal is the senior editor of three highly regarding reference books on medicinal plants and co-editor of two additional reference books. He is also editor-in-chief of ABC’s HerbClip series of summaries and critical reviews of thousands of clinical studies and other scientific publications on herbs, medicinal plants, phytomedicines, teas, essential oils, plant-based foods, and fungi.