Allen M. Kratz, PharmD is the founder of HVS Laboratories, a registered homeopathic medicine manufacturer, providing pure water-based formulations to health care professionals; the same mission for twenty five years. He explored the depths of both conventional and complementary medicine in his lifetime. He was a pharmacy professor when he became the first pharmacist to serve on the Editorial Board of The Merck Manual.

Allen received his BSc and MSc degrees in Pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science. After receiving a MSc in Radiological Health from Temple University, he returned to PCP&S to serve on its faculty. His Doctor of Pharmacy degree was conferred in 1968. Academically, Dr. Kratz is affiliated with two universities.

His interest in complementary medicine was piqued in the 1970's and he quickly became fond of the principles of homeopathy. He became a renowned author, contributor and columnist in the areas of complementary medicine, pharmacy and homeopathy.

He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the Medical University of South Carolina, College of Pharmacy and also a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Dr. Kratz was a contributor, editor or author of several professional reference texts including Remington's Practice of Pharmacy (14th and 15th editions) and the United States Dispensatory (27th edition). He was appointed to the Editorial Board of The Merck Manual (12th edition) as the first pharmacist to serve in that capacity. He was a board member for the 13th edition as well. Currently, Dr. Kratz serves as co-editor of the Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association (JANA) and was recently appointed editor of a new book titled Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals: An Integrative Approach to be published by CRC Press LLC.

He is a member of Advisory Boards to the International Academy of Nutrition and Preventive Medicine, The Society of Natural Pharmacy and the American Nutraceutical Association. He is also the co-author of a chapter on Complementary Health Care in the 19th and new 20th editions of Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy and is a frequent contributor to professional publications and peer-reviewed journals.

Alternative Medicine, Health & Wellness,