Uso de plantas medicinais e fitoterápicos por gestantes e lactantes: uma revisão.

Abstract

The biodiversity present in Brazil associated with a rich ethnic and cultural diversity. THE use of medicinal plants as a therapeutic form has been following the humanity through the ages and herbal medicine has been implemented over the years as an alternative to conventional medicines. During pregnancy the woman is subject to several morphological and hormonal changes that can generate some type of uncomfortable. To alleviate these discomforts, many resort to the use of medicinal plants or herbal medicines as a natural and less harmful alternative in the pursuit of well-being. However, adverse effects can occur due to the incorrect use of medicinal plants and herbal medicines by pregnant women. Therefore, this work aims to carry out a review of the literature on the use of medicinal and herbal plants during the period of pregnancy and lactation. It is expected that the results of this study can support actions that contribute to the rational use of medicinal and herbal plants by pregnant women. THE research this is an integrative literature review, with quantitative studies or qualitative aspects related to the use of medicinal and herbal plants during pregnancy and lactation, written in Portuguese, English and Spanish, from the year 2000 to 2021. With the performance of this study can be observed that the use of medicinal plants and herbal by pregnant women is a common practice in Brazil and worldwide. However they are still scarce the studies that assess the effectiveness and safety of these for pregnant and postpartum women, mainly in view of the woman's condition during these periods. for some plants such as chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), and ginger (Zingiber officinale) there are studies that show potential risks of consumption for mother and fetus. For others, it is necessary to carry out studies that demonstrate the safety and the risks of consumption for this target audience, so that the health professionals can guide pregnant and postpartum women on rational use and insurance for medicinal plants and herbal medicines.