The American Botanical Council's goals are to educate the public about beneficial herbs and plants and to promote the safe and effective use of medicinal plants.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is a nonprofit organization of professionals who provide health care for women, including teens. The ACOG Resource Center publishes manuals and patient education materials. The Web site has information on many women's health topics, including reproductive health, breast-feeding, violence, and quitting smoking.

Call the American Heart Association (AHA) to find your nearest local or state AHA group. The AHA can provide brochures and information on support groups and community programs, including Mended Hearts, a nationwide organization whose members visit heart patients and provide information and support. AHA's Web site also has health information on various heart-related conditions.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a U.S. government agency that provides up-to-date information about the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer. NCI also offers supportive care to people with cancer and to their families. NCI information is also available to doctors, nurses, and other health professionals. NCI provides the latest information about clinical trials. The Cancer Information Service, a service of NCI, has trained staff members available to answer questions and send free publications. Spanish-speaking staff members are also available.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) explores complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of rigorous science, trains complementary and alternative medicine researchers, and gives out authoritative information. Send all requests for information and questions about NCCAM to the NCCAM Clearinghouse.

The National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) is a service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health. NWHIC provides women's health information to a variety of audiences, including consumers, health professionals, and researchers.

The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) is a nonprofit organization that promotes the understanding of menopause and thereby improves the health of women as they approach menopause and beyond. NAMS members include experts from medicine, nursing, sociology, psychology, nutrition, anthropology, epidemiology, pharmacy, and education. The NAMS Web site has information on perimenopause, early menopause, menopause symptoms and long-term health effects of estrogen loss, and a variety of therapies.

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) sets standards for drug and dietary supplement quality to ensure that the general public receives good and safe pharmaceutical care. USP standards help to assure consumers that the medications they take are of high quality, consistent in ingredients and strength, and properly labeled and stored. In the relatively unregulated arena of dietary supplements, USP's verification program provides the answer to important consumer questions.