O uso da fitoterapia na atenção primária à saúde: revisão da literatura.

Abstract

Phytotherapy is the study of medicinal plants, and its use consists of the healing power of plants for the treatment and prevention of diseases. Due to the effectiveness of phytotherapy and medicinal plants, scientifically proven, and taking into account their low operating cost, they become important in Primary Health Care Programs (PAPS), as it can replace some allopathic medicines. However, some articles present a lack of knowledge of phytotherapy and the policies related to it, on the part of the population and health professionals. Therefore, this study aimed to carry out a literature review in order to identify the challenges in the implementation of phytotherapy in primary health care, from electronic databases (Pubmed, Scielo, Google Scholar and the Virtual Health Library (BVS)) and national and international health committees, using pre-established descriptors, in the period from 2017 to 2022. 42 studies were found, of which 15 were evaluated and used. The main challenges for the use of herbal medicine in primary health care are: lack of knowledge of herbal medicine and policies related to it, on the part of health professionals and the population; deficiency in the training of these professionals; lack of incentive from managers, among others. Thus, making it difficult to accept this therapy, and consequently, its use and the prescription of herbal medicines. Therefore, even with the difficulties encountered in primary health care, it was possible to observe that phytotherapy is expanding in Brazil, with some implementation initiatives underway in different regions of the country.