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Research Botanical Medicine

“Of the 200 most important drugs recognized by the World Health Organization, 20 come from plants. We currently have 5000 plants in commerce today – but that represents just one-percent of the half million plants in the plant kingdom. We have 99% of the rest of the plants in the world for us to be able to find new medicines and new cures. For an institution that’s grounded in naturopathic principles to be at the forefront of this research, is really profound.” – Dr. Paul Mittman, CEO & President

Advancing Botanical Medicine into the 21st Century

The Research Department at Sonoran University of Health Sciences works with the Ric Scalzo Institute for Botanical Research to bridge the gap between traditional and evidence-based medicine.[1]

Our research is fueled by the efforts of naturopathic students, faculty and clinical staff utilizing cutting edge technology to investigate the validity of natural, botanical-based treatments and it gives us the option of expanding our basic science findings into clinical trials.

Research at Sonoran University means:

  1. Students have a chance to understand the value of research, techniques used, and the integration of historical, cultural and traditional naturopathic philosophies.
  2. Publish results in peer-reviewed journals and present research at scientific conferences to educate scientists, practitioners and the public on evidence-based botanical medicine.
  3. Learn how to submit patent applications, when applicable, to protect Intellectual Property.

Botanical Research Institute

In collaboration with the natural products industry and other academic institutions, Ric Scalzo Institute for Botanical Research is a state-of-the-art molecular biology/phytochemistry laboratory is dedicated to developing new products and improving existing botanical therapeutics through scientific exploration grounded in clinical herbalism’s rich tradition.

Mission: “Explore traditional medicine at the cellular, molecular and cultural level to create novel botanical solutions that support people, plants and planet.”

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