Phytotherapy

Herbal Treatment (phytotherapy) of plants to treat patients using the approach explained in the form of "phytotherapy," the term for the first time, the French physician Henri Leclerc, who lived between the years 1870-1953 by the journal La Presse Medical use has been claimed. However, long before this date, no matter under whatever name, to protect or restore the health of the plants to win every period of history, we see being used by each community.

This is the first written document about the Nineveh tablets dating from 3000 BC, Mesopotamia in Sumerian established, Akat, Assyrian civilizations in the vegetable and animal drugs, therapies are proving to be present. BC In a parallel development of Chinese medicine in 2500 with the major representatives of Indian Medicine, are still valid today in a continuing stream of medicine (Ayurvedic Medicine), giving the name, the Rig Veda, nearly 1000 medicinal plants mentioned in his works. BC Eber Papiruslarında in Egypt for the years 1500 and mummification techniques described herbal treatments, which in those days Amoebic dysentery (bloody diarrhea) is believed to be protective against the onion and garlic, daily meals due to lack of sufficient amounts of the workers engaged in the construction of the pyramid are mentioned refused to work. Eskulap important figure in Greek Medicine and modern medicine, Hippocrates, adopted as the basis of close to 400 books, described the herbal medicine. Diascorides Byzantine period 'Medicines Information' wrote the book, this book includes information on medicinal plants in Anatolia and the Eastern States gave. The period of Islamic civilization, talking about nearly 200 medicinal plants, with a copy of the Orhan Gazi Library of Medicine, in his book Kitab-al Saydalafi Abu Reyhan al, 1650, adopted as a reference book with up to 800 years of animal and plant therapy mentioned the 'Medical Act' by his work, Ibn-i Sina (Avicenna) and Al Gafini sign up to the major monuments in herbal medicine. 16. After a century in Europe, John Gerard, Nicholas Culpeper, John Parkinson, and as the doctors / pharmacists also worked on the treatment plants.

During the same period (still finds support in some sections), The Doctrine of Signature (sign doktirini) theory was put forward. According to this theory, the shape and color of the plant, signaled the medical effects. For example, a plant similar to the heart, heart diseases, blood diseases and the other used a red color.

Chemistry and biochemistry, pharmaceutical sciences industry developments in 19-20 centuries, a large accelerated, so that event, the adoption of the principles of harmlessness and quality analytical, toxicological, pharmacological and clinical studies, many drugs were developed in laboratories that meet the needs of medicine.Nevertheless, many of them, especially during the past century, but plant-based drugs may well have been produced. For example, aspirin, willow bark produced, obtained yüksükotundan digoxin, quinine from cinchona plant, from poppy such as morphine.Currently available drugs in the 1 / 4 of vegetable origin i and a majority of them desired to be obtained from plants of the active substance, are copies in the lab.

In recent years, synthetic drugs caused serious side effects may happen with the medical and economic problems, "creators" of the international healthcare industry, including the industrialized countries to strengthen environmental pollution and ecological approaches to movement, curative treatments are not yet available and a lot of the threat posed by chronic disease The idea of ​​spontaneity is not always effective, and free from side effects, depending on many factors, such as herbal medicine has become popular again. In 1997, sales of herbal medicines in the United States by 59% over the previous year 'hood have shown an increase, a 5% of patients with 3-partition is the basic treatment is the only herbal therapy, these treatments not only in America for 3 years , 24 billion dollars, 40 million pounds spent in Britain, the World Health Organization that 80% of people believed that the natural explanation of the treatment, this is a good indicator of popularity. Currently, many patients who fell in love herbal medicine herbal medicines, the plants or plant parts aktardan own kitchen to prepare and usually without consulting a doctor or a specialist for other uses. On the other hand, the quality and standards in the production of synthetic drugs on the basis of the number of companies producing herbal medicines is increasing.
Herbalists (herbal medicine specialists) in the treatment plant, only the active substance can be isolated and treatment is aimed at giving the contrary, the maximum effect appeared in a holistic, positive impact on all components of the plant argue that a share.According to them the use of purified plant, the plant which reduces the likelihood of side effects due to substances that neutralize each other.

However, it should be remembered that natural does not always mean safe. Many plant is highly toxic and complement other methods of treatment side effects and toxicity in terms of phytotherapy is a lot more risk. In a study conducted in North America, the number poisoned by plants than by animals has been demonstrated for the wounded persons. In the literature, some of the herbs used in the hepatotoxic (liver toxic), and from time to time, various studies proving that the fatal case reports showing that it is possible to find. This kind of direct toxic effect of a treatment to another, other conventional medicines used by the patient is known to interact dangerously. The best known of these interactions are shown in the table. Various organizations can be toxic, and equally so in the popular medicinal plants and phytotherapy in particular to bring the standards of a "ototerapi" (self-treatment) to be tried to remove the shape. This kind of initiatives in the country of most United Kingdom. Exeter University and the National Institute of Medical Herbalist, a data bank of recorded adverse events reported by practitioners in the 'green card' system strives to create. Again, some of the same institute, and other centers of pathology, biochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, physiology, botany, nutrition, clinical diagnosis and other treatment methods complement and organizes a course covering the 4 years herbalist diploma graduates is valid in all countries. Similar studies carried out in America and some other European countries.
So what is the purpose of this effort? America by the National Cancer Institute, cancer research in the last 10 years to find effective treatment studied 37,500 53,000 substance-third of plants (36,000 of them black, 1500, one sea plant) that, between 1983-1993, 40% identified drugs of plant origin America to take their prescribed drugs and 50% of the create, Germany 7 the best-selling prescription drug licensed Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort) in medical circles to be preparations, phytotherapy, although we agree with their methods of alternative medicine in, herbal 'healing' is believed.

After all, one side all the basics of modern medicine bilimselliÄŸe him sit on the other scientific / remote resources based on quality, expert started without control, the treatment standards specified incorporates phytotherapy drugs. This landscape, precision-drawn border between the two must also surprising.

To change this situation in recent years, published in internationally recognized journals, setting out precisely the effectiveness of plants in some scientific studies have been conducted:

Despite these efforts fully proved safety and efficacy of phytotherapy is still a method of treatment. So while a herbal medicine prescribed or informing people about it a few simple but important rule to remember:


Serious diseases, use of herbal therapy
Stay away from the plants you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
Do not breast-feeding a baby herbal medicine
Do not give your baby these kinds of drugs is strictly
If drinking alcohol, or a previous history of jaundice, you approach the herbal remedies without consulting your doctor
Get reliable places where plants
Substances contained in unlabeled or if you do not buy packages specified plant
Do not believe what was typed on the label 100% accuracy of the European model: The package may contain foreign materials not listed may vary, and concentrations of specified substances.
Preparation of any long period of time, do not use on a regular basis
Herbal medicines do not start using a new medication without resorting to a doctor

As a result, our garden ornaments, plants, soframıza color, a taste of our lives interesting and aesthetic string, some well-known, some ekzotiktir. Some of them can be therapeutic, but all of them are at risk of being toxic.

Prepared by: Dr. Kerem Day, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology
Prof. Dr. M. Karagülle intelligent, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Head of Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology.