The use of phytotherapy medicines and medicinal plants by pregnant women

• Autor(a) principal: Pires, Cátia de Almeida
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Outros Autores: Andrade, Gabriela Braga, Oliveira, Ohana Luiza Santos de
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista Fitos
• Texto Completo: https://revistafitos.far.fiocruz.br/index.php/revista-fitos/article/view/1176
• topic: Fitomedicina; Gravidez; Terapias complementares; Conhecimento popular; Phytomedicine; Pregnancy; Complementary therapies; Popular knowledge

The use of herbal medicines and medicinal plants during pregnancy is the subject of discussions about their safety, especially in the first three months, which can lead to spontaneous abortions and malformations. Due to their popular use, these become an alternative, mainly for pregnant women, being used to treat infections, pain, anxiety, sleep disorders and pregnancy symptoms. Thus, the objective of this study was to verify which phytotherapics and medicinal plants may or may not be used for both treatment and prevention of pathologies in pregnant women in Brazil, correlating with the relevance of the correct guidance for safe use. It is an integrative review, with searches made in the PubMed, SciELO and VHL databases. It was noticed that the pregnant women showed confidence in using the herbs, not being a practice commonly informed to the professionals. The most used are: boldo, fennel, mint, chamomile, lemongrass, cinnamon, pennyroyal, capim santo and garlic, most of which are described by SES Resolution No. 1757 of February 18, 2002 as toxic to this group. Therefore, further studies are needed regarding the use of phytotherapy and its adverse effects on pregnant women, as well as the proper guidance to this target audience.