The herbal remedies include plants, fungi, and lichens with therapeutic properties and they are used – in many cases since antiquity – as healing herbs. The techniques of modern medicine have made it possible to identify the real medicinal herbs distinguishing them from herbal remedies and simple herbs.
The herbal medicines are all those medicines – officially approved by the Italian Drug Agency (AIFA), which are of verified quality, effectiveness and safety – capable of treating a disease or medical condition, whose active ingredient is a plant substance. These medicines are sold exclusively in pharmacies: some of them require a doctor's prescription, while others can be purchased as over the counter medications. The herbal products, by contrast, do not have market authorization and cannot be defined medicines, although in some cases there a few of their pharmacological activities are recognized.
How should Phytotherapy be taken?
As it is the case for many other drugs, phytotherapeutic agents are commercially available in the form of tablets, capsules or suspensions to be taken orally. Although at their base they are plant substances, their pharmacological effect is demonstrated and confirmed, as well as the possible side effects. Phytotherapeutic drugs should therefore always be used under prescription and by strictly following the instructions regarding dosage and mode of application. Not doing so can reduce the absorption of the drug or render the treatment useless.
Contraindications and warnings associated with the use of Phytotherapy
Although the active ingredients at the base of the herbal remedies are plant substances, their pharmacological effect is demonstrated and confirmed. Therefore, one should offer the same consideration for phytotherapy that is dedicated to the assumption of all other medicines. It is therefore of fundamental importance that the amount of product taken is different according to the characteristics of the person (weight, age, health conditions, etc.) same as with traditional medicines. It is also good to remember that the active herbal ingredients, similar to any other drug, can cause side effects, have contraindications, cause allergic reactions, cause harmful interactions with other drugs or with certain foods, and it may not be a recommended treatment during pregnancy and/or lactation.
