PHYTOTHERAPY

Phytotherapy

Phytotherapy is the treatment and prevention of diseases through the use of medicinal plants. According to the definition from the WHO, “A medicinal plant is any plant that contains, in one or more of its organs, substances called active principles, capable of exerting therapeutic activity and therefore can be used for therapeutic purposes.” The history of phytotherapy is ancient, and today it represents an important aspect of scientific medicine. Phytotherapy should be understood as an integral part of modern pharmacological therapy, of which it was a precursor, and it allows for intervention in numerous diseases. In recent years, it has been particularly reassessed, both due to the discovery of new plants (and thus new active principles) and the interesting experimental and clinical research that has demonstrated and confirmed their therapeutic properties. Phytotherapeutic products (or phytomedicines) can be prescribed in various pharmaceutical forms and may serve as a valid alternative to traditional medications, but they can also be advantageously combined with them. It is important to use standardized, titrated, tested, and scientifically supported phytotherapeutics. Carefully evaluating their properties and indications is the first step in setting up an effective and safe treatment. According to recent regulations, the prescription of phytotherapeutics should be under the responsibility of a physician. Currently, many public healthcare facilities and hospitals in Italy have established Phytotherapy clinics.

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