Printer friendly versionPhytotherapy
Phytotherapy (natural medicine) aims to improve or restore health by means of medicinal herbs.
On the basis of active substances in medicinal herbs, the phytotherapist works with restoring the balance of the body and stimulating the self-healing mechanisms of the organism.
In addition to this, phytotherapists often give advise on nutrition and exercise.
In Denmark phytotherapy is used as an element in the treatment of many different symptoms.
According to the Danish association ‘Practising Phytoterapists’ users typically approach phytoterapists with the following problems:
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Skin disorders
- Hormonal disorders
- Inflammations and infections
- Headache and migraine
- Immune system diseases
- Urinary tract problems
- Circulatory problems
According to the Danish association ‘Practising Phytoterapists’ usually you will soon experience an effect of phytotherapeutic treatment.
In case of acute symptoms you will usually observe an effect within a few days. In case of chronic symptoms you can experience an effect after a couple of weeks or a month.
Herbal and dietary supplements
The Cochrane Library is an international database, which collects and assesses scientific studies on the effectiveness of a treatment.
Via the link below you can see what Cochrane concludes about the effects of herbal and dietary supplements. 
Effect of Herbal and Dietary Supplements
According to the Danish association ‘Practising Phytoterapists’ you may experience the following adverse effects:
- Temporary aggravation of your symptoms
- Increased secretion of mucus
- Change in character of urine and faeces
- Tendency towards fatigue
These reactions are acute and fairly brief.
Herbal and Dietary Supplements
Phytotherapy can involve herbal and dietary supplements. Some of these products can produce adverse effects.
Herbal and Dietary Supplements
Phytotherapy can involve harbal and dietary supplements. Some of these products can influence the effect of conventional drugs.
Alcohol
You should bear in mind that the phytotherapist may employ plant extracts, which contain alcohol.
Thus these extracts are for external use only if you are on antabuse or allergic to alcohol.
Phytotherapist is a protected title. This means that a therapist can use this title only if he or she has completed the required training.
In Denmark phytotherapists are not authorized.
When admitted to a Danish hospital you can choose to receive treatment from a phytotherapist from outside.
You will have to pay for the treatment yourself.
As yet there exist no surveys on the use of phytotherapy in Denmark. Thus there are no statistics in this field.
Here you will find other statistics on the use of alternative therapies in Denmark:
Here you can read about the Danish phytotherapy association:
(Links only available to associations with an English version of their websites).
Praktiserende Phytoterapeuter
Praktiserende Phytoterapeuter is an association for phytotherapists.Read more about the Registration System for Alternative Practitioners (RAB)