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New studies on herbal medicines
The European Medicines Agency has published a report in which it reports on the current status of authorizations and registrations of herbal medicines in Europe. Accordingly, Germany is a leader in the approval and registration of phytotherapeutics.
Image: Gerhard Seybert - fotolia The Committee for Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is preparing the European harmonized monographs (Community Herbal Monographs), which form the basis for approvals and registrations of phytopharmaceuticals in Europe. There are currently around 160 of these monographs.
According to the latest report from the EMA, since the registration procedure for traditional herbal medicines in 2004, a total of 1577 traditional registrations have been issued by the end of 2015, as of the end of 2015. For registrations, the figures from 2012 to 2015 were between 75 and 100 per year. Germany leads the statistics with 278 approvals and 263 registrations, whereby in Germany the preparations are approved considerably more frequently than in the other European countries.
Devil's Claw, Pelargonium and Valerian root are the first places in the "traditional" registrations. Ginkgo, ivy leaves, St. John's wort and valerian root are top of the list for approved single herbal supplements. Combination preparations occur much more frequently in registrations than in the case of registrations.
Regardless of whether it is registered or approved, there are no differences in the indications: cough and cold, stress and mood swings, gastrointestinal complaints as well as disorders of the bladder function or gynecological complaints rank among the five most common complaints.
"Danger" may threaten Phytos in some countries through the food sector. Because in some countries, the products are used as dietary supplements in the food sector, which is less regulated than the pharmaceutical sector. The investigation can be found here.