New Alliance for Phytotherapy founded

Future Phytotherapy: An alliance with concentrated expertise

25/08/2011

Germany was once considered the "pharmacy of the world". The herbal medicines developed in this country had a significant share in this reputation. But just these proven drugs are increasingly in distress. Renowned organizations in the field of herbal medicine have therefore joined forces to form an alliance that bears its most important goal in its name: „Future phytotherapy“.

For years, all surveys have confirmed the great popular confidence in herbal medicines. More than 80 percent of respondents believe that they are effective, and one in two praises them for their low side effects. Evidently, evolution has ensured that favorable mixtures of active substances have been produced in medicinal plants, which, in addition to their effectiveness, also ensure good compatibility. That's why most phytopharmaceuticals are over-the-counter.

However, it was precisely these positive characteristics that led to herbal medicines being largely taken out of the health insurance companies' obligation to pay: since 2004, non-prescription medicines - and therefore most phytopharmaceuticals - have not been reimbursed except for a few exceptions.

However, herbal medicines are still being pressed from another side: there are more and more herbal supplements on the market. They are legally food and are therefore only suitable for the maintenance of health, but often give the impression as if they were comparable to herbal medicines. This development threatens z. At present the phytotherapy in the whole EU massively. Participating in the future alliance are, among others, the German Pharmaceutical Society, the Society for Medicinal Plant Research, the Society for Phytotherapy, the Committee for Natural Medicine Research, the Phytopharmaceutical Cooperation, the Hufeland Society, the Central Association of Physicians for Natural Therapies and the two pharmaceutical manufacturers associations BPI and BAH. The federations and organizations have the alliance „Future phytotherapy“ formed, which wants to deal intensively with upcoming problems. Soon, the Bündins will inform the public about important facts from phytotherapy by means of its own homepage. (KFN)