Terapia complementar : a utilização de plantas medicinais pela população na atenção básica à saúde.

Abstract

As old as the civilization itself is the use of medicinal plants, phytotherapy is, therefore, a millenarian practice among the population. The objective of this study was to analyze the use of medicinal plants/phytotherapics by the population of the northern region of Santa Cruz do Sul - RS; Evaluate which plants are most used by this population; Find out how they are introduced into these people's daily lives; To identify the forms of use of the medicinal/phytotherapeutic plants by this population.The study was carried out in four ESFs with rural characteristics of the northern part of the municipality, where 156 questionnaires. It was found that the use of medicinal plants starts mainly in childhood. The study resulted in 5 more used plants (Chamomile, Marcela, Lemongrass, Mint and Poejo), found as cause that more people take to the use of teas the treatment of diseases / signs and symptoms, being the main diseases treated with phytotherapics: The flu, colds and stomach problems, the population uses medication and teas differently and the mode of preparation of these plants is with green leaves and by infusion. Another fact is the large consumption of the chimarrão and common presence of teas in the drink. The research suggests new studies investigating the interaction of yerba mate and other plants and studies that speak of toxic effects that improper use of herbal medicines can bring. This demonstrates the importance of health professionals, especially nursing, in face of the new policy of Integrative and Complementary Practices of the SUS, and the medicinal plants count as a practice supported by this policy in basic health care.