Phytotherapy
/ˌfaɪtoʊˈθɛrəpi/noun
The use of plants or plant extracts to treat disease.
Did you know?The first element comes from Greek phyton, meaning “plant,” from a root tied to growth and sprouting, while the second comes from Greek therapeia, “attendance, service, healing,” so the word originally carries the idea of serving the body with plants.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
φυτόν (phyton)
“plant, something that grows”
Ancient Greek
Greek
θεραπεία (therapeia)
“attendance, service, treatment, healing”
19th Century
French/Scientific Latin
phytothérapie
“treatment using plants or plant preparations”
Modern English
English
phytotherapy
“the medicinal use of plants or plant extracts”