[Therapeutics using plants: medications based on plants].

There has been renewed interest in the age-old practice of using plants to treat disease. The general public prefers to emphasize the side effects of modern drugs rather than consider the efficacy of the revolutionary changes in therapeutics over the past forty years. So the need to implement protective measures to prevent the uncontrolled use of herbal remedies is being discussed throughout Europe. It is impossible to confirm whether the suggested plants are just placebos but even if they were, the need for the doctor to resort to this form of therapy must be stressed because of its unquestionable success rate. However, it is vital that the doctor's and perhaps public education allow the precise recognition of cases in which this form of treatment should be formally prohibited.