Natural Standard

What is it?

Natural Standard is a highly esteemed online resource that provides authoritative, high-quality, evidence-based information about complementary and alternative medicine. This app provides monographs for the 400 most commonly used herbs and supplements from the Natural Standard database. Grades are provided for or against the use of each therapy for specific medical conditions.

How does it work?

The app opens in the search screen with a search field at the top of the screen. Below the search box are 4 buttons that allow you to perform the following searches: a Quick Search of words exactly as typed, a Fuzzy Filter that matches words by nearest spelling, a Keyword search of individual words within a compound’s name, and a Wild Card search that finds nearest matches by replacing individual letters or groups of letters.

Selecting a supplement opens its monograph. Each monograph includes a list of related terms for the supplement, a background section providing a general overview of the supplement, an evidence section providing detailed explanations of clinical trial data by indication, a dosing section, a safety section, and an interactions section. The evidence section provides a rating grade from A (strong positive scientific evidence) through F (strong negative scientific evidence).

How can it help me?

Patients come to my clinic every day with questions about herbs and supplements. I use the Natural Standard online resource whenever I want high-quality, evidence-based information on herbs and supplements. The app is not as extensive as the Web-based resource but provides more than enough information for discussing risks and benefits of herbs and supplements with patients bedside. Because Natural Standard is maintained by health care providers and researchers and is not supported by any interest group, professional organization, or product manufacturer, patients and providers can have high confidence in information provided by this app.

How can I get it?

Natural Standard can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad for $59.99; the Google Play Store for $59.99; or Skyscape for smartphones, personal computers, and other devices for $79.95.

If you would like to recommend an app, e-mail our Editorial Office.