As an avid reader (and writer) of books on herbal medicine, I have to say that Blumenthal, Goldberg, and Brinckmann's Herbal Medicine is simply the most authoritative reference for the use of Western herbs on the market today. Herbal Medicine--Expanded Commission E Monographs augments the "gold standard" of scientifically oriented herbal therapy, the Commission E Monographs, with histories, in-depth and comprehensive discussions of scientific research, color photos, and practical recommendations for the use of herbs in therapy, some of which are to be found in no other book. While the tone of the book is academic and the scientific complexity of the subject matter may scare away some potential readers, anyone who uses any of the herbs most commonly available in the USA today can profit by referring to this book.