Modern phytotherapy (Greek phyton: plant; therapeia: care) involves the prevention (prophylaxis) and treatment of diseases as well as disorders by administering plants or their components (e.g., flowers, leaves, roots, fruits, and seeds). These plants are also called medicinal plants. A distinction is made between rational phytotherapy (based on scientific knowledge) and traditional phytotherapy. Traditional herbal medicine is one of the oldest medical systems and includes, for example, Chinese or Indian-Ayurvedic medicine. So-called phytotherapeutics or phytopharmaceuticals differ from normal conventional medicines. The plants used are considered in their entirety as a mixture of substances, since this is the only way they can develop the desired effect. Isolated plant ingredients, which are usually produced chemically, are not phytopharmaceuticals (e.g. atropine or digitoxin). Phytotherapy is not an “alternative medicine” and it must be clearly distinguished from homeopathy. The more herbal agents are given, the stronger the effect. With homeopathy, it is the other way around.
Indications (areas of application)
Phytotherapeutics are mostly used for mild or chronic diseases. Traditional phytotherapy is also suitable for self-administration by the patient. The therapy is not suitable for the treatment of severe diseases (especially metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus) or in emergency situations. The possibilities in the application of phytotherapeutic mixtures of active substances are very wide. Each plant has its individual healing power and can be used in combination with other plants. Phytotherapy is characterized by high tolerance and few side effects.
The process
Phytotherapy is based on the use of phytopharmaceuticals, which are often referred to as “drugs” and are subject to the same strict regulations as synthetic chemical medicines. For this reason, it is of rather secondary importance in the clinic. Many factors play a role in the selection of plants. These include the time of harvest, the location of the plant, storage and preparation. The following list shows a number of active ingredients that are part of phytopharmaceuticals:
- Alkaloids These are mostly highly toxic substances with strong physiological effects (for example, morphine from the opium poppy or atropine from belladonna).
- Bitter substances e.g. gentian, milk thistle or pepper.
- Essential oils These oily plant secretions are particularly suitable for inhalation. They have a disinfectant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, expectorant and diuretic effect (The following plants contain essential oils: thyme, juniper, caraway, ginger, sage, peppermint, rosemary and fennel).
- Emodins These are derivatives (variants) of anthraquinone or anthracene. These substances have a laxative effect (laxative, for example, alder or senna).
- Tannins These substances have an anti-irritant effect on the skin and mucous membranes (eg, oak bark, blueberries or bloodroot).
- Flavanoids Flavanoids have a very wide range of effects, they are, among other things, anti-edematous (help against water retention) and enzyme inhibitory (eg ginkgo, milk thistle, woolly flower or hawthorn).
- Glycosides Here it is partly toxic substances (eg chamomile, St. John’s wort, horseradish, cress, primrose and hawthorn).
- Silica Silica is an essential component of connective tissue, tendons, ligaments, hair and skin. A deficiency can cause cellulite or varicose veins (eg, ribwort and field horsetail).
- Hormone stimulants These substances have a stabilizing effect and gently control the hormone secretion of the endocrine glands (eg pumpkin seeds, bean shells and bladderwrack).
- Salicylic acid Salicylic acid (known as acetylsalicylic acid/ASS) is an antipyretic agent that helps against headaches, toothaches and rheumatic complaints (e.g. marigolds, primroses or silver willow).
- Mucilages These active ingredients are carbohydrate and stimulate the immune system or have an anti-inflammatory effect (eg marshmallow, linseed and red coneflower).
- Sapoins This is a subgroup of glycosides (eg ginseng root, horse chestnut, primrose root, mullein or primrose).
- Steroids These substances have multiple functions and serve z.B. as a starting material for hormones (eg ginseng or licorice root).
- Vitamins Vitamins are essential food components and are also found in medicinal plants (eg barley, spelt, sea buckthorn, watercress or rosehip).
The spectrum of mixtures of active plant ingredients is very large and the forms of preparation are varied. Here are some examples:
- Infusion (Infusum) – fine parts of plants such as flowers, seeds or leaves are infused.
- Decoction (Decoctum) – coarse, very solid plant parts (eg roots, wood or bark) are boiled up
- Macerate (Maceratio) – cold water extract.
- Extract (Extractum) – dry or liquid extracts (tinctures).
- Pressed juice (succus)
- Syrup (Syrupus)
- Aromatic water (Aqua aromatica)
- Spirit solution (spirit) – for external use.
- Ointments (unguentum) – made from extracts or tinctures.
- Finished medicines – capsules, tablets, dragées, drops or juice.
The plants used come from:
- To 50% from wild collections (here the quality is often different).
- To 40% from plant cultures
- To 10% from wild collections and plant cultures
Benefit
Phytotherapy is a versatile alternative to treatment with conventional medicines. Especially the good tolerability makes this procedure a useful therapy.
