DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
Herbal raw material. In German, a drug is also a dried medicinal plant or its parts (root, bark, leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits). The European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) defines "herbal drug" as generally unprocessed whole, crushed or broken plants, parts of plants, algae, fungi or lichens, normally used in a dried, sometimes also in a fresh state. The excretions of plants that have not yet been processed are also considered "herbal drugs", such as resins (e.g. frankincense) and balsams.
In the English-speaking world, "drug" refers to medicines in general, but then specifically limited to intoxicants. This interpretation is increasingly being adopted colloquially in Germany (e.g. "drug deaths" - as deaths caused by the misuse of drugs).
Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer
Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles