FAQs

• Ablauf

  • Can phytotherapy be combined with other naturopathic methods?

    Yes, phytotherapy can be easily combined with other naturopathic treatments – such as manual therapies, acupuncture, kinesiology, or general lifestyle changes.
    
    In my practice, I combine methods tailored to your needs and, of course, only in consultation with you and, if necessary, with other treating physicians and therapists. Herbal medicines can have a regulating effect on a physical level, while methods such as kinesiology help identify and resolve energetic blockages.
    
    This creates an individually tailored treatment concept that not only alleviates symptoms but also sustainably strengthens your self-regulation.
    
    

    Who else is treating you?

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    This is a very important question. All treating physicians and therapists must know what is being done and be able to consult with you if necessary. One well-known reason is undesirable interactions. Another is observation phases in which your practitioner wants to find out with you what a persistent illness is reacting to or what is triggering a digestive problem or allergy. External influences must be excluded as far as possible or at least be known.

  • How does your phytotherapeutic treatment work?

    During the initial consultation, I will gain a holistic understanding of your health situation, your symptoms, and your lifestyle. I will then recommend targeted herbal supplements or supportive measures – individually tailored to your needs. Upon request, I can also provide long-term support.
    
    

    Only in combination

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    For organizational and hygienic reasons, phytotherapy is always used in conjunction with my other treatments in my practice. Therefore, I do not treat acute infections or illnesses that require exclusive phytotherapeutic treatment.

• Begriffe

  • What is the difference between phytotherapy (de: Phytotherapie) and herbal medicine (de: Kräuterheilkunde)?

    In Germany the term "phytotherapy" (de: Phytotherapie) is not legally protected, so there is no reliable distinction. However, there is a clear effort to establish phytotherapy as a term for responsible, scientific herbal medicine, whereas herbal medicine is then devalued as an unvalidated tradition for which neither harm nor benefit can be clearly identified.
    
    According to ChatGPT 4 (2025), herbal medicine (de: Kräuterheilkunde) belongs to folk medicine and is primarily based on traditional empirical knowledge – e.g., teas, compresses, or home remedies. Phytotherapy, on the other hand, uses standardized herbal preparations with precisely defined active ingredients. Their effectiveness is often scientifically proven, and it is also used in conventional medicine.
    
    This is not entirely true, as these are not legally protected terms, but it does demonstrate the desired distinction. Therefore, check in every context, if possible, why the terms are used in this way and what this means in terms of content and about the author.
    
    There is also the term "herbal science" (Heilkräuterkunde), which refers more specifically to knowledge about herbs and does not focus on the application of therapeutic methods and medicines. Thus, it's more about the questions "Which medicinal herbs can I find, how and when?", "Which medicinal herbs are there, and what properties do they have/are they attributed to?"
    
    

    Phytotherapy and herbal medicine on this website

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    I also use phytotherapy as an expression of my desire to handle medicinal herbs and the medicines made from them responsibly and knowledgeably. However, I use herbal medicine with great respect for traditional empirical knowledge, which may have once been considered "conventional medicine" in its time. Why this is no longer the case today needs to be evaluated from various perspectives in order to achieve responsible use.

  • What is the difference between phytotherapy and homeopathy?

    In Germany Phytotherapy and homeopathy are not legally protected terms. However, there is a legal definition for herbal medicinal products, also known as phytopharmaceuticals, and a legal definition of homeopathic medicinal products.
    
    Phytopharmaceuticals are remedies made exclusively from plant components. Physical identification of the active ingredients is possible. Phytopharmaceuticals are generally subject to the same legal requirements as synthetically produced medicinal products, particularly with regard to quality, efficacy, and safety. However, there are simplified procedures for the approval of traditional herbal remedies.
    
    Homeopathic remedies are remedies prepared according to an approved, established method known as homeopathic. This can be, for example, starting from almost any substance (including plants) and producing a medicinal product through potentization (dilution and "energetically condensing" in several stages). Beyond a certain level of potentization, no active ingredients are detectable in this medicinal product. The effects are therefore based on different principles than those of phytopharmaceuticals and are controversial. The underlying idea is to cure like with like.
    
    However, the legal treatment of homeopathic remedies also includes mixed forms of phytopharmaceuticals and homeopathic remedies, as well as spagyric and anthroposophical remedies, if their manufacturing process is defined and approved as a homeopathic procedure. However, the active principles here are not necessarily homeopathic, and active ingredients can be identified if necessary.
    
    Conclusion: If one assumes that phytotherapy refers to the use of phytopharmaceuticals and homeopathy to the use of homeopathic remedies, a difference can be deduced:
    Phytotherapy uses substances that follow allopathic principles of action (the effect is directed at a symptom, e.g., numbing pain).
    Homeopathy uses non-material remedies that follow homeopathic principles of action (homeopathic pain helps the body cope with pain).
    
    However, this distinction is not binding for therapists, as it is not a legal requirement. However, the therapist has a duty to inform you about what they are doing. It's difficult to determine exactly how this should be done. Ask, as there are too many details and they can't know what's important to you.
    
    For example, I would definitely consider plant-based homeopathic remedies, spagyrics, and anthroposophical medicines to be part of phytotherapy if I see them being used responsibly in your context. This is because I consider myself neither a homeopath, nor a spagyricist, nor an anthroposophist, as these are even more specific in their respective fields (diagnosis, philosophy, and possibly worldview).
    
    

    As of April 2025

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    This information is based on researched legal statements, but is secondhand at the time of publication. These statements may contain errors or be out of date. Please check for yourself and notify me of any errors.

• Rechtliches

  • Is phytotherapy scientifically recognized?

    Yes, phytotherapy is scientifically recognized and is also used in many areas by conventional medicine. Numerous herbal active ingredients – such as St. John's wort, ginkgo, milk thistle, or artichoke – are well researched, and their effects have been proven by clinical studies.
    
    In Germany, herbal medicinal products are subject to the same quality standards as conventional medications: their manufacturing, dosage, and efficacy must be verifiable and safe. Many of these preparations are available as approved medicinal products in pharmacies.
    Phytotherapy is also part of continuing medical education in naturopathic medicine and is used by physicians, alternative practitioners, and pharmacists alike.
    
    A sometimes controversial area is traditional herbal remedies, for which there is a simplified approval process. Here, long-term experience with the remedy is paramount for approval. Criticisms include the lack of mandatory proof of efficacy, missing or weak studies, and the resulting safety concerns. In many cases, however, evidence is difficult to obtain. The necessary funding for this cannot be "simply" obtained by patenting the active ingredient. Therefore, such remedies could potentially be lost to patients, even if they are effective.
    It also cannot be ruled out that competing economic interests play a role in this criticism.

• Wirkung

  • Are herbal medicines as effective as chemical medicines?

    Herbal and chemical medicines differ significantly in their mode of action. Chemical medicines are specifically developed to act quickly and specifically, but are rarely holistically oriented. They also face criticism that it is more economically viable to combat symptoms than to address their causes. Herbal medicines, on the other hand, are based on complex mixtures of active ingredients that originated in nature for the benefit of the plant. Tradition and observation make them medicines. They often work more slowly and less specifically, but can be more sustainable and have fewer side effects.
    
    Ultimately, both groups of medicines have their place – chemical medicines especially for acute conditions and emergencies. Herbal remedies should always be considered as an alternative or supplement, unless emergencies are involved. They often offer good options in preventative therapies (i.e., maintaining health) and in non-critical acute or chronic conditions.
    
    

    Note: In the past, critical conditions were also treated with herbal remedies (they were once "conventional medicine"), but due to current scientific evaluation, they are generally not considered suitable for this purpose. Whether the reasons for this are sound is another matter, one that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. However, we currently have no better assessments to make legally sound and responsible decisions in these cases.

  • Are there side effects to herbal medicines?

    Yes, herbal medicines can also have side effects or interact with other medications. Therefore, expert advice is important. You are also encouraged to inform your doctor, alternative practitioner, or pharmacist about taking herbal remedies.
    In my practice, I carefully select preparations and tailor them to your individual situation.

  • How does phytotherapy work?

    Phytotherapy works on a substance level through the natural constituents of medicinal plants – such as essential oils, bitter substances, tannins, or flavonoids. These substances influence bodily processes, e.g., by calming the nervous system, stimulating digestion, or exerting anti-inflammatory effects. However, this does not automatically make all phytotherapy harmless. Crucial factors include the dosage, duration of application, method of application, and, of course, the appropriate application for the right medicinal herb.
    
    A distinction must also be made between extracted individual active ingredients and the active ingredient mixtures found in minimally processed plant products. Individual active ingredients can be more easily tested using standardized tests and may offer advantages for pharmaceutical companies. However, direct conclusions from studies of individual active ingredients in high doses regarding the effects and side effects of the original plant, for example, as a tea, should be viewed with caution. The effect or even the tolerability of a plant can be determined by its active ingredient mix, its dosage, and perhaps also by its energetic level (see, for example, spagyrics, homeopathy).
    
    In terms of application, one should differentiate between acute applications (if necessary, short, not regular), treatments (over a longer period, but not permanently), continuous applications, and specifically time-limited applications (due to the risks of prolonged use). The most important distinction is probably between internal and external application, although the boundaries are fluid for some active ingredients, as they can also be absorbed through the skin.
    
    Herbal medicines often not only support a single symptom, but – when chosen skillfully – help holistically restore the body's balance.
    
    In my practice, I work with preparations and herbs from the pharmacy. These meet certain standards, and pharmacists can also advise you on interactions and intolerances. I use drops, capsules, teas, and creams.