Diretrizes Terapêuticas de Tratamentos com Plantas Medicinais

Abstract

Since ancient times, medicinal plants have played a fundamental role in the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health, with their uses preserved through popular knowledge passed down across generations and currently enhanced by scientific advancements. In Brazil, this traditional knowledge has been increasingly valued through public policies aimed at integrating phytotherapy into the Unified Health System (SUS), notably with the establishment of the National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices (PNPIC) in 2006, which officially recognized phytotherapy as a legitimate therapeutic practice within the SUS, and the National Policy on Medicinal Plants and Herbal Medicines (PNPMF), which fostered research, regulation, and the sustainable and safe use of these plants. In the state of Bahia, the incorporation of phytotherapy into SUS has been driven by initiatives such as the now-defunct FITOBAHIA Center and the State Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices (PEPICS), both of which significantly contributed to the consolidation of this therapeutic field. In this context, the development of evidence-based therapeutic guidelines is essential to ensure the safe and effective clinical use of herbal medicines. This work proposed the creation of a strategic model of guidelines that integrates traditional knowledge with science, aiming to guide healthcare professionals and improve the quality of care provided to the population. The guidelines were developed based on a scoping review, following standards established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and regulations from the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA), and adapted to the regional realities of Bahia and Rio de Janeiro. Research was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and the Virtual Health Library (BVS), prioritizing relevant articles and official documents. The resulting clinical guidelines include standardized information on scientific and popular nomenclature, plant part used, pharmaceutical form, preparation method, dosage, route of administration, therapeutic uses, claimed benefits, physical and chemical characteristics, contraindications, adverse effects, precautions, and additional guidance. The document will undergo validation with both prescribing and non-prescribing healthcare professionals and will be made publicly accessible through an institutional repository. The creation of these guidelines represents a significant milestone in consolidating phytotherapy within the SUS, promoting its safe, qualified, and culturally sensitive use, while strengthening the integration of scientific and traditional knowledge in the context of Brazilian public health.