Fitoterapia no auxilio ao controle e tratamento da ansiedade – uma revisão integrativa de literatura

Abstract

The use of phytotherapy is an ancient practice, used in the most diverse cultures and eras. The application of this therapeutic method is supported by law in Brazil and is part of the health policy of the Unified Health System. Considering that Brazil, according to data presented by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Organization of Health (PAHO), is the most anxious country in the world, with 9.3% of the population with some level of anxiety disorder. The study aimed to investigate which medicinal plants can have anxiolytic effect and thus help to treat or control anxiety disorders. The methodology consisted of an integrative literature review, through electronic databases: Pubmed, and ScienceDirect, with a time frame from 2016 to 2021, using the terms "anxiety'' and "phytotherapy'' and "anxiety and medicinal plants'', next to the boolean operator and. The results showed that multiple medicinal plants have sedative, anxiolytic and calming effects, and some in combination resulted in more efficient effects. It is concluded that the use of medicinal plants such as Valeriana officinalis, Piper methysticu, Passiflora edulis, Melissa officinalis can be viable alternatives for the treatment of anxiety disorders, from milder levels or even generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). In this way, it contributes to the expansion of knowledge about the action of medicinal plants against anxiety disorders.