Phytotherapy is a set of treatments that has taken its place in the modern medical arena in recent years. In fact, treatment with plants has been a part of human life since centuries ago. However, with the introduction of chemical drugs, plants have been forgotten and herbal treatments have become less important as traditional methods.
Today, the beneficial knowledge of plants is combined with the possibilities of modern medicine. And new and alternative herbal treatment methods created with modern medical methods are emerging.
Phytotherapy is a very effective method especially in preventive treatment. As a field that requires expertise, training programs are also available. In Europe, phytotherapy is among the most popular alternative medicine practices. However, it is important to receive phytotherapy support only from experts in the field in terms of the success of the results. People specialized in this field are also called phytotherapists.
What is Phytotherapy?
Phytotherapy, a branch of pharmacology, is the use of herbal medicines in medicine. The question of what phytotherapy is can be answered as follows; "Phytotherapy is the science-based medical use of plants and preparations derived from them in the treatment, mitigation and/or prevention of diseases or injuries, according to certain standards of quality, safety and efficacy." The European Scientific Cooperative for Phytotherapy, ESCOP, represents the herbal medicine or phytotherapy communities in Europe.
Since the 19th century, scientists have researched and identified the active ingredients in plants, i.e. substances with active properties on the organism. These substances were isolated and transformed into chemical drugs (aspirin, cortisone, antibiotics, etc.). The emergence of these drugs led to the decline of herbal medicines in the West. In the 1970s, as attention began to be drawn to the undesirable effects of chemical molecules, there was a shift towards natural solutions. Phytotherapy is now used to treat many common diseases.
Phytotherapy Specialist
Contrary to popular belief, phytotherapy is a specialized field. For this reason, not every doctor can be a phytotherapist. In order to become a phytotherapist, it is necessary to be educated in the relevant field.
Those who have graduated from pharmacy can become an expert by doing their master's degree in this field. Likewise, those who study in the field of medicine can do their master's degree in this field. There are also certificate programs approved by the Ministry of Health in this field.
One of the main features of being aphytotherapist is the need to know plants very well. In pharmacy, this training is much more comprehensive. Phytotherapy training programs are quite common in Europe and are just becoming widespread in our country. For this reason, the number of phytotherapy specialists in our country is still not very high. Doctors specialized in this field successfully use herbal methods in the treatment of various diseases and can cure many people's problems.
Phytotherapy Education
Phytotherapy training, Ministry of Health approved certificate programs are offered at universities and approved educational institutions.
Doctors, pharmacists, nutritionists can participate in the trainings. In order to become a Phytotherapy and Natural Medicine Specialist, the training stages must be completed. Phytotherapy training requires closely following current developments. It is important to attend symposiums and conferences. Because innovations are emerging in this field every day. Some of the courses taken in phytotherapy education are as follows;
- Definition, history and development of phytotherapy,
- The origin of herbal medicines: The Science of Ethnobotany,
- Preclinical evaluation of herbal products,
- Herbal products and pharmacovigilance,
- The place of phytotherapy in the world and in Turkey,
- Standards for herbal drugs and preparations in the European Pharmacopoeia,
- Excursion (plant excursion),
- Effects or mechanisms of action of groups of active substances of plant origin,
- Design and development of pharmaceutical products of plant origin.
How is Phytotherapy Applied?
The main thing in phytotherapy applications is the patient's condition. After a professional examination, the herbal medicine possibilities that the patient needs can be determined. The answer to the question of how phytotherapy is applied varies according to the fields of phytotherapy. We can list some of the areas of phytotherapy as follows;
- Phytotherapy in eye diseases,
- Phytotherapy in gastroenterology,
- Phytotherapy in gynecological diseases,
- Phytotherapy in endocrinology and metabolic diseases,
- Phytotherapy in skin diseases,
- Phytotherapy in neurodegenerative diseases,
- Phytotherapy in oncology,
- Phytotherapeutics with immunomodulatory effects,
- Symptomatic treatment with phytotherapy.
Weight Loss with Phytotherapy
Herbs not only treat various diseases and wounds, but also have healing powers that can help with weight loss. Our metabolism ensures that fats and carbohydrates are burned.
Diet plays an important role in the proper functioning of the metabolism, as well as adequate exercise and sufficient sleep. Mineral and vitamin deficiencies, acidification of the body or hormonal changes can affect metabolism and cause obesity.
Those who want to lose weight can achieve success by getting weight loss support with phytotherapy. With certain herbs and plants, you can stimulate your metabolism and do good things for your body and health without unhealthy diet products. The weight loss plan is a plan that the phytotherapist will prepare according to the person. Those who want to lose weight with phytotherapy should definitely consult with a specialist in this field and create their programs accordingly, it is a necessary condition for the success of the results.
