Society for Phytotherapy

The Society for Phytotherapy (German: Gesellschaft für Phytotherapie e.V., GPT) is a German non-profit scientific association dedicated to the research and clinical use of herbal medicinal products. Founded in November 1971 and headquartered in Cologne, it is a registered association (eingetragener Verein) that brings together physicians, pharmacists, pharmacologists, and other researchers in the field of phytotherapy. Its stated mission is to promote both basic pharmaceutical and pharmacological research on medicinal plants and, in particular, clinical research with herbal medicines within the framework of evidence-based medicine. The GPT is a member of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften (AWMF), the umbrella organization of German medical scientific societies, which allows it to contribute to the development of clinical guidelines. It is also a member of the European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCOP) and maintains close ties with the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA). The society publishes the peer-reviewed journal Zeitschrift für Phytotherapie (ZPT), which has been issued bimonthly by Thieme Verlag since 1980 and is aimed at physicians, pharmacists, and alternative practitioners. It organizes the annual Phytokongress, sometimes in cooperation with similar organizations from Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands, and awards the Phytotherapy Prizes. Since 2020, it has run the annual Tag der Arzneipflanze (Day of the Medicinal Plant) on the first weekend of June, with local events and a painting and photography competition. The GPT also provides continuing education for doctors and pharmacists, offers patient brochures such as "Phytotherapie im Krankenhaus" and "Phytotherapie – Medizin aus der Natur," and maintains online resources including the Arzneipflanzen-Lexikon and a directory of herbal medicines. Its current chair, since 2025, is Andreas Hensel; previous chairs include Karin Kraft (2010–2025), Fritz Hubertus Kemper (1992–2008), and founding chair Rudolf Fritz Weiss (1971–1973).

The Society for Phytotherapy (Gesellschaft für Phytotherapie e.V., GPT) was founded in November 1971 in Germany as a registered association. Its founding chair was Rudolf Fritz Weiss, a professor of phytotherapy in Berlin and Tübingen and founding editor of the Zeitschrift für Phytotherapie. The society was established to advance the scientific study and clinical application of herbal medicinal products, bridging pharmaceutical, pharmacological, and medical disciplines. In 1980, the GPT began publishing the Zeitschrift für Phytotherapie (ZPT), a peer-reviewed journal issued bimonthly by Thieme Verlag, which became a central platform for phytotherapy research in the German-speaking world. Over the decades, the society expanded its activities to include annual congresses, often organized in cooperation with sister organizations from Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands, and the awarding of Phytotherapy Prizes. It became a member of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften (AWMF), enabling it to contribute to the development of clinical guidelines. The GPT is also a member of the European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCOP) and maintains close relations with the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA). In 2020, the society launched the Tag der Arzneipflanze (Day of the Medicinal Plant), held annually on the first weekend of June, featuring local events and a painting and photography competition. The society has been led by several prominent figures: after Rudolf Fritz Weiss (1971–1973), Claus Ruppert (1973–1982), Hans D. Reuter (1982–1990, and again 1991–1992), Volker Fintelmann (1990–1991), Fritz Hubertus Kemper (1992–2008), Volker Schulz (2009), Karin Kraft (2010–2025), and since 2025 Andreas Hensel. Throughout its history, the GPT has issued statements and publications on topics such as the differentiation between herbal medicinal products and dietary supplements, and the quality of observational studies, contributing to the scientific and regulatory discourse on phytotherapy.

• 2025

  Andreas Hensel becomes chair.

• 2020

  First Tag der Arzneipflanze (Day of the Medicinal Plant) held.

• 1980

  Zeitschrift für Phytotherapie first published by the society.

• 1971

  Society founded in November as a registered association.

Scientific society promoting evidence-based phytotherapy and integration into clinical guidelines.

• Zeitschrift für Phytotherapie

  Bimonthly peer-reviewed journal published by Thieme Verlag, aimed at physicians, pharmacists, and alternative practitioners.

• Arzneipflanzen-Lexikon

  Online database of medicinal plants, also available for smartphones.

• Pflanzliche Arzneimittel Verzeichnis

  Online directory of herbal medicinal products.

• Tag der Arzneipflanze

1. 1Gesellschaft für Phytotherapie e.V. | Deutschphytotherapie.de
2. 2Gesellschaft für Phytotherapie - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Society for Phytotherapy - Wikidatawikidata.org