Phytotherapy—scientific data and fields of application

Growing popularity and acceptance of phytotherapies can be found in patients and also in the treating physicians. Although in the field of oncology and even more in gynaecological oncology and breast cancer science-based information and research on safety and efficacy of phytomedicines is rare, approximately 40% of our patients consume these. Generally speaking the use of phytopharmaceuticals should not be an alternative, but an integral part of today’s modern and scientific orientated medicine. In the concept of an integrative philosophy, phytotherapy is one of the elements that can close therapeutic gaps and can provide an additional possibility in our multilevel treatment concept. Especially in oncology, phytotherapy can help to alleviate treatment-related side-effects and cancer-related complaints. In the following article an overview of the recent scientific data and potential fields of applications is given. © 2016, Springer Medizin Verlag Berlin.