[Phytotherapy in chronic dermatoses and wounds: what is the evidence?].
Phytotherapeutic preparations and synthetic derivatives of plant origin have been used in conventional dermatology for a long time. A further spectrum of phytotherapeutic agents for the treatment of dermatological diseases and wounds is known from alternative medical treatment. To the efficacy of these phytotherapeutic agents only few data from studies are available. Own studies and studies published in the specialist literature, especially on chamomile, arnica, calendula, hamamelis, Aloe vera, cardiospermum, Mahonia aquifolium, oak bark, bittersweet stalk, and capsaicin indicate that these plants may be of value in selected dermatological indications. Other controlled clinical efficacy studies and pharmacological studies are needed to prove the assumed effects, to record the spectrum of side effects, and to clarify the mechanisms of action.