Author Guidelines
Our Author Guidelines provide a comprehensive framework for preparing and submitting manuscripts. Covering journal‑specific requirements, supporting authors in presenting clear and well‑structured research contributions.
Journal Specific Instructions
Author Guidelines Specific to Heilpflanzen
Dear Authors,
Heilpflanzen is a professional journal for healthcare practitioners (alternative practitioners, physicians, nurses, midwives, etc.) as well as individuals interested in medicinal plants who lack a medical background but possess in-depth training in herbal medicine. Our editorial team consists of proven experts with a wealth of experience and is committed to ensuring the high quality of this journal’s content.
In the journal Heilpflanzen, we share knowledge about medicinal plants—from cultivation to preparation—across various sections covering different topics. Each issue focuses on a specific theme. We derive potential applications from scientific findings. We translate traditional plant knowledge into the modern era. We introduce plants ranging from native to exotic species and demonstrate how they can be used. Plant parts and their active ingredients are presented in detailed, visually appealing graphics. The goal is to provide practical value and the greatest possible support with every article. For this reason, all texts are written in an accessible style and offer plenty of useful additional information.
Would you like to write an article?
Please note: In the journal Heilpflanzen, we publish only original articles that have not been submitted for publication elsewhere or published elsewhere. Since the journal’s content for each issue is determined well in advance, we recommend consulting with the editorial team before writing an article. Please contact: redaktion.heilpflanzen@thieme.de
We want our readers to take something away from every article that they can apply to their daily lives. This is one of the primary goals of our journal. Therefore, every article
should
- identify the active ingredients of the medicinal plants discussed, explain how they work, and specify how these active ingredients can be applied.
- Include new scientific findings alongside traditionally handed-down knowledge of medicinal plants—to the extent that such findings exist.
- Convey knowledge not found in every reference book, such as historical traditions, as well as the use of the featured medicinal plants in other cultural contexts.
- Take into account the nutritional aspects of the featured medicinal plants whenever possible.
- Address the topic of sustainability, provided it is relevant to the medicinal plants discussed.
- Include recipes and formulations for the medicinal plants discussed and provide detailed information on their preparation, dosage, and application.
- List side effects, interactions, and risks that may arise from the medicinal plants discussed.
The editorial team will inform you of the scope of the planned article.
Outline/Structure
Please structure your article as follows:
Tips for structuring your article
- Title of the article (as short and informative as possible).
- A brief summary (2 to max. 3 short sentences) that conveys the content of the article and the most important facts without repeating the text verbatim.
- This is followed by the main text …
- Please include your name, full address, email address, and website (if available) at the end of the article.
Readers decide within the first few lines whether to continue reading an article or not. Therefore: Stimulate their thirst for knowledge right at the beginning of your article; pique their curiosity! Here are some tips on how to do this most effectively:
Writing Style
- Start with a brief anecdote on the topic, a quote, or historical facts.
- Ask a question that you’ll revisit and answer later in the article.
- A thesis or a controversial topic also makes for an interesting opening.
After a successful opening, readers should naturally stay engaged. To achieve this, the article must be as reader-friendly as possible. You’ll achieve this best by following a few stylistic rules:
Organize your knowledge
- Make it easy for readers; write short sentences (12–15 words). Avoid long or convoluted sentences.
- Write in the active voice. Not: Medicinal plants must be extracted with the correct solvent; otherwise, you won’t benefit from their active ingredients. Instead: Always extract medicinal plants using the correct solvent. This is the only way to benefit from their active ingredients.
- Write as you would speak or explain. Not: A lack of glucose means that the brain, which relies on glucose as an energy source when consuming a mixed diet of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, requires a substitute substrate. Instead: When a person consumes a mixed diet (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats), their brain derives energy from the glucose supplied. If there is a glucose deficiency, this means that the brain requires a substitute substrate to provide the necessary energy.
- Make only one statement per sentence. Follow only one line of thought per section. Statements go in the main clause.
- Avoid modal auxiliary verbs such as: may, can, might, must, should, want.
- Eliminate filler words such as: even, yes, so.
- Avoid abbreviations.
- Grab attention with signal words (Don’t forget! Pay attention!).
- Ask questions; this piques curiosity about the next section. Example: Which medicinal plants are contraindicated during pregnancy? Or: What must you absolutely keep in mind when using adaptogenic medicinal plants?
- Analogies make a text more lively. Example: The list of medicinal plants to treat ailments is just as long as the list of ailments themselves.
- Are all your colleagues really familiar with the technical terms? If not, explain them.
- Break up sections of text with subheadings.
Some content is better presented as bullet points or short phrases rather than continuous text, such as contraindications or ingredients. You may also want to highlight certain parts of your article or provide background information on a topic. The following structural elements are available to you:
We’re here to help!
- Bulleted lists convey information clearly and concisely (no more than 4 items).
- Key points emphasize important and noteworthy statements such as warnings, recommendations, common mistakes, and risks.
- Info highlights enliven and structure the text. Take advantage of this option. Content can include: practical instructions, background or additional information, and tips.
Once your manuscript is with the editorial team, our part of the work begins. We first coordinate it with the editorial team and gather their feedback. The manuscript is then extensively edited. This applies not only to structure and organization but also to writing style. We therefore edit all manuscripts to ensure they match the style of Heilpflanzen as closely as possible. This may require linguistic and stylistic changes of varying scope. To ensure the article contains no technical errors, you will receive the revised manuscript for review and correction once more before typesetting. Any questions or requests for additions from the editorial team and the editorial staff will also be noted in this manuscript.
Author Biography
Each author is introduced with a photo and a brief biography (exception: the “One Medicinal Plant – Three Perspectives” section, which includes only the author’s photo, name, and email address). Please write a biography of 3–4 lines (approx. 300 characters including spaces) and also include your email address and/or website. Please send us the author photo as a digital file (with a resolution of at least 300 dpi and a size of 4 × 4 cm).
Photos
As a rule, our photo editorial team provides the images for the articles. If you have specialized photos that, for example, show specific details of a medicinal plant (leaf, flower, etc.), you are welcome to suggest them for the article. Please submit these as digital files with a resolution of 300 dpi. Send us original files with clear labeling. Acceptable file formats are *.jpg or *.tif.
Copyright and usage rights: Copyright and usage rights must be clarified for submitted images. Images for which you hold the copyright and usage rights
can be used in the article. If this is not the case or if you have assigned the usage rights, you must obtain written permission to reproduce the image. You can request the appropriate form from the editorial team.
Graphics: Do you have your own graphic designs that you would like to use in the article? You can send us sketches as electronic files. If the graphics are accepted, our graphic designers will create the final artwork. Acceptable file formats are *.jpg or *.PDF.
Please also note the copyright and usage rights here!
Captions: Please provide photos and graphics with explanatory captions. Write captions in two parts. Part 1: Describe what is shown in the image. Part 2: Make a statement that goes beyond the image and relates to the content of the text.
Thieme Policies
This section summarizes the Thieme-wide standards and guidelines. They provide a consistent framework, ensure uniform quality, and support clear, aligned workflows across the organization.