[Self treatment through self medication].

Self-treatment of minor ailments is widespread. A lot of people seek advice from nonmedical counsellors or consult a "doctor's book" before applying to a medical practitioner. In Switzerland home made and natural remedies are rather popular whereas the treatment with chemical products is often met with scepticism. The greatest risk involved in uncontrolled self-medication and self-treatment is the unscrupulous consumption of medicines which can lead to addiction. The danger of important diagnoses being delayed is less considerable. From the health economic point of view reasonable self-medication and self-treatment are desirable. An important item is thereby the use of harmless natural remedies.