Phytotherapy is the oldest method of treating various diseases. It existed long before the advent of pharmacology. Now it has many supporters. They believe that plants are safer than medicines produced by chemical industries. From this material you will learn about the place of phytotherapy in modern medicine and whether it is really possible to treat it with herbal medicine.

Herbal Treatment Methods

Administered Orally (Usually by Drinking): People have adapted recipes for almost every occasion for thousands of years. Consequently, it is difficult to define the scope of use for drinkable herbal preparations.

Topical (Hot Compresses, Cold Compresses, Ointments): These are used in the treatment of skin diseases, fungal diseases, and injuries. Specifically, they address issues affecting the skin and underlying tissues.

Inhalation: This method is applied in respiratory diseases; it promotes the discharge of phlegm and relieves bronchospasm. Thus, it can help alleviate symptoms associated with respiratory conditions.

Rinse: This method is specifically used for women with gynecological diseases. Therefore, it targets issues related to women’s health.

Microelectrolyte: Although these are not cleaning procedures, they are medical procedures that help treat inflammation of the rectal mucosa, dysbiosis, and hemorrhoids. Thus, they play a role in managing various conditions affecting the rectal area.

Injections and Intravenous Infusions: These are not used in herbal medicine. On the one hand, it is unsafe, and on the other hand, it is not in line with the natural treatment concept.

Types of Herbal Preparations

Decoction: Take hard raw materials (roots, bark, and less often twigs) and place them in a water bath for at least half an hour. If stored in an airtight container, it needs to be cooled, filtered, and used within two days.

Infusion: Take soft raw materials (leaves, stems, buds, flowers) and pour boiled water (the temperature depends on the recipe). The product needs to sit at room temperature for an average of 4 hours. Do not keep it for longer than one day. For herbal collection, brew the dried raw materials with boiling water (similar to tea) and use them immediately.

Alcohol Tinctures: Pour the plant material with alcohol or vodka and leave the container in a dark place for a month. Tinctures are used in small doses and the base allows you to preserve them for a considerable period of time.

Ointments: Crush the plant material, mix with a fatty base, and bring to a boil over low heat.

Extracts (Plant Extracts): The active substance is obtained by water-glycerol or oil impregnation.

Selection of Herbal Preparations

People select herbal preparations based on different criteria. Some people follow known formulas and instructions for use, while others base their choices on the availability of suitable ingredients under the required conditions

An herbal medicine manufacturer often follows these criteria to ensure the efficacy and quality of their products.

Types of medicinal plants

Those representatives of plants containing biologically active substances beneficial to humans are considered medicinal. Of the nearly three hundred species, only twenty thousand possess such properties.

The medical community has pharmacologically tested and officially recognized 250 medicinal plants as suitable for treating diseases.

We call them pharmacopeias and divide them into three groups:

• Effective: used in medicine;

Promising: Research has demonstrated its effectiveness, but barriers hinder widespread use.
Potential: Studies have shown pharmacological effects, but further research is necessary.

Pharmacologists actively use representatives of the first group alongside synthetic drugs. Doctors approve the use of herbal preparations based on them.

What active substances can plants produce?

Leaves, bark, buds and other plant elements contain substances of special value:

• Alkaloids. Affects the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and regulates blood pressure.
• Tannins. Has anti-inflammatory and hemostatic properties.
• Cardiac glycosides. Good for the heart: improves blood flow, normalizes pulse and rhythm.
• Saponins. Reduce cholesterol levels, promote phlegm excretion, have laxative and diuretic effects.
• Bitters. Normalizes gastrointestinal function and stimulates appetite.
• Polysaccharides. Used to relieve respiratory and digestive tract irritations.
• Fatty oils. When taken orally, they thin the blood, normalize stools, and consequently protect the liver. Used as a base for therapeutic ointments.
• Essential Oils: Volatile compounds like eucalyptus oil and lavender oil have therapeutic effects.

They contain essential oils, resins, vitamins minerals. The main thing is to know which substance is present in which plant.