ESCOP herbal monographs (available for online consultation and instant download)
ESCOP, the European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy, is a recognised scientific authority in the field of herbal medicinal products. For more than three decades, ESCOP has brought together European expertise to develop evidence-based monographs that support the quality, safety and efficacy of phytotherapy.
Why ESCOP monographs matter — and for whom
ESCOP monographs provide a structured and scientifically grounded reference for the use of herbal medicinal products. By bringing together information on botanical identity, constituents, therapeutic indications, dosage, safety, pharmacology and clinical evidence, they help different users apply phytotherapy in a reliable and responsible way.
For healthcare professionals, including physicians, pharmacists, nurses and other clinicians, the monographs offer practical support for clinical decision-making, dispensing, prescribing and patient counselling. They make it easier to review indications, dosage, contraindications, precautions, interactions and adverse effects in a concise format.
For researchers, they provide an overview of the current evidence on medicinal plants and herbal preparations. The summaries of pharmacological, clinical and safety data can serve as a starting point for literature reviews, research planning and the identification of evidence gaps.
For educators and students, ESCOP monographs are a valuable learning and teaching resource. Their consistent structure helps connect botanical identity, main constituents, therapeutic use, pharmacological properties and safety considerations in a clear and logical way.
For companies and institutions, they offer a scientific reference to support product development, regulatory and medical affairs, quality assurance, professional training and responsible communication about herbal medicinal products.
In this way, ESCOP monographs contribute to evidence-based phytotherapy by supporting informed decisions across clinical practice, education, research and the herbal medicinal products sector.
Currently they are available in two ways:
– Subscription to online viewing (only read on screen)
- General public: subscription to online viewing monographs (€ 30 / year)
- Registration form for members of societies belonging to ESCOP (free access)
- Access to the monographs (with username and password)
– Download individual monographs, batches or the complete collection (PDF format).
Example of monograph: Psylli semen (Psyllium seed) Free access
Structure of the ESCOP’s monographs
The monographs follow the format of the Summary of Products Characteristics (SPC), wich is a part of the application for marketing authorisation of a medicinal product in the EU.
1. Definition, acording the European Pharmacopeia
2. Main constituents
3. Clinical particulars
- Therapeutic indications
- Posology and method of administration
- Contra-indications
- Special warnings and special precautions of use
- Interactions
- Pregnancy and lactation
- Effects on ability to drive and use machines
- Undesirable effects
- Overdose
4. Pharmacological properties
- In vitro and in vivo experiments
- Pharmacological studies in humans
- Clinical studies
- Pharmacokinetic properties
- Pharmacokinetic in animals
- Pharmacokinetic in humans
- Preclinical safety data
- Acute toxicity
- Chronic toxicity
- Mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity amb embriotoxicity
- Clinical safety data
5. References
Old format: ESCOP Printed Publications (not available)
ESCOP Monographs, published as a hardback book in 2003 with a Supplement in 2009, has been widely acclaimed for its authoritative information on the therapeutic uses of herbal medicines. Monographs covering a total of 107 herbal substances include extensive summaries of pharmacological, clinical and toxicological data, and copious references to scientific literature form an important part of each text. read more