Medicinal plants have been used for centuries. Thousands of herbal medicines are currently available on the German market. Here you can find out how they differ from other medications, how the effectiveness of herbal supplements is checked and why it can be worthwhile to use them.
In contrast to chemical-synthetic drugs, herbal drugs are usually multi-substance mixtures. These can be dried parts of plants from leaves, flowers, bark or roots or else extracts that can be administered in the form of tablets, drops or ointments.
Preparations of these drugs can therefore be very different. However, they always contain certain substances to which their pharmaceutical effect is attributed. In fennel, for example, it is the essential oils with the Components Anethole and fenchone, which have an expectorant effect. In the birch there are certain flavonoids that provide relief for minor complaints in the urinary tract. But: There are only a few of these agents in controlled clinical studies.
How is it approved for the market?
Herbal medicinal products, like all other medicinal products, are approved by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) authorized. However, only very few herbal products use the so-called full proposal, which requires extensive laboratory tests and clinical studies. Instead, most products get their approval – to put it simply – because the manufacturers can prove that the active ingredients have been used for a long time and that their effectiveness is recognized (“general medical use” or “traditional use”).
Ultimately, many herbal medicinal products do not go through a real testing and approval process, but come onto the market by referring to other, already established products.
Do herbal medicines work?
For consumers, it is not immediately clear which medicinal product is behind a full application, because the manufacturers usually do not publish the studies. However, you can tell from the packaging label whether it is a “traditional herbal medicine”. It then also has a registration number.
So are traditional medicines that do not go through a proper approval process possibly less effective than those that are approved? “You can’t really put it that way,” says Professor Robert Fürst, who researches herbal active ingredients at the Goethe University in Frankfurt. “The best example is chamomile. Just because there aren’t any clinical trials doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. Laboratory studies show their anti-inflammatory effects. Nobody has ever done the work to investigate it clinically. ”
Even without clinical studies, evidence of its effectiveness must be available. In any case, you can get advice from the pharmacy.
Can herbal medicines replace antibiotics?
In individual cases it may be possible to fight infections with herbal medicines instead of antibiotics. Respiratory infections, for example, are often not bacterial in nature, but rather caused by viruses. In this case, antibiotics usually do not help. But herbal medicines can help here. In particular, combination preparations made from medicinal plants such as thyme and primrose or thyme and ivy can alleviate the symptoms. At the same time you act Antibiotic resistance if you replace an antibiotic.
If you use a herbal alternative to antibiotics, you avoid damaging your intestinal flora. On the other hand, no antibiotic residues get into the wastewater.
In addition, herbal remedies can often replace chemical pain relievers. Here, too, it is worthwhile to test the herbal alternatives first.
Medicinal plants – just in case
Most herbal medicines do not require a prescription and are suitable for self-medication. This means that they can also be used without medical supervision. This explains why they have a rather gentle effect and hardly have any serious side effects. Otherwise, they would require a prescription.
The largest areas herbal medicines are used in are colds and respiratory infections. “Herbal remedies even have better evidence here than chemical-synthetic remedies,” says Fürst.
Another area is gastrointestinal diseases. “Often it is a question of functional disorders for which no real organic cause can be determined. Here, too, the herbal medicines are suitable because they put less strain on the body than synthetic chemical agents, which have a much stronger impact on the body. Bitter fennel tea can also help.
There are also preparations for urinary tract infections that contain goldenrod, centaury, lovage root or rosemary leaves. Teas made from nettle or birch can also relieve symptoms.
Finally, there is also a significant proportion of sedatives and sleeping pills among the herbal medicines. Typical plant representatives are valerian roots, hop cones or lemon balm leaves.
The highest quality standards in the pharmacy
If you want to be on the safe side that all medicines meet the requirements of the German Pharmacopoeia, it is best to buy them in the pharmacy. There very specific quality standards are adhered to, for example the amount of active ingredients, and you will be advised. Usually the levels in drugs from the drugstore are lower. Although they have no side effects, they may not have any effects beyond the placebo effect.
With teas, you should also make sure that “medicinal tea” is written on the packaging, because only this guarantees that the chamomile tea actually contains real chamomile in the appropriate purity with a certain active ingredient content.
But that doesn’t mean that you can’t collect medicinal herbs or wild herbs yourself. A herbal hike to medicinal plants is definitely worthwhile, but note that the quality is not guaranteed or checked here. In addition, you should inform yourself carefully, take a course beforehand or call an expert: in to make sure that you are collecting the right herbs.
Utopia says: Herbal medicines often offer a good alternative to traditional medicines, which you can fall back on in many cases first – for example in the case of minor infections and minor complaints. If you are unsure, have a doctor clarify whether and when herbal remedies are a good alternative. Many doctors are open to herbal medicines. In the case of persistent or chronic complaints and (supposedly) more serious illnesses, please always have a medical examination before resorting to medication on your own.
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