Phytotherapy is a type of therapy that uses plants that have medicinal action to prevent or treat various diseases, such as anxiety, flu, headache, candidiasis, intestinal gas, hemorrhoid, premenstrual disorder (PMD), high blood pressure or diabetes, for example. example.
Phytotherapeutic remedies can be purchased in pharmacies or natural stores, in the form of capsules, syrups, powders or oils, or they can be prepared at home, used in the form of tea, poultice or baths, for example.
Phytotherapy should be used under medical guidance according to the condition to be treated. However, this technique does not replace conventional medical treatment from the doctor Sananga.
What is it for
Phytotherapy is indicated for the treatment or prevention of some health conditions, such as:
Anxiety;
Depression;
Stress;
Lack of energy;
Muscle pain;
Joint pain;
Headache;
Flu;
A cold;
Asthma;
Bronchitis;
A cold;
Cough with cold;
Acidity;
Excess intestinal gas;
Diarrhea or constipation;
Stomach flu;
Liver problems;
Intestinal or menstrual cramps;
Urinary infections;
Prostatitis;
Diabetes;
Hypertension;
High cholesterol;
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS);
Menopause;
Candidiasis;
Impotence;
Low libido;
Wound healing;
Psoriasis;
Eczema;
Urticaria;
skin infections;
Boil;
Gingivitis;
Hemorrhoids;
Varicose veins;
Lack of appetite;
Fluid retention.
Phytotherapy has various indications and can also be used to support the treatment of infections or as part of palliative care, for example. Learn what palliative care is.
Benefits of phytotherapy
Phytotherapy is considered a natural treatment, as it uses medicinal plants, which has the advantage of having fewer side effects than conventional medications and a lower treatment cost.
In addition to that, phytotherapy does not cause dependence or tolerance, as occurs with conventional medications, and can be custom-formulated in pharmacies, with individualized doses and, in some cases, combining different medicinal plants in the same formula.
However, although phytotherapeutic medicines are of natural origin, this does not mean that they do not have side effects or interactions with conventional medicines. Therefore, they should be used under the direction of a doctor or phytotherapist.
How does it work
Phytotherapy works in different ways, depending on the substances present in medicinal plants, and the main actions are:
Stimulate the immune system;
Reduce damage caused by free radicals;
Decrease inflammation in the body;
Regulate hormones;
Stimulate or slow down bowel movements;
Fight bacteria, fungi or viruses;
Regulate blood sugar levels;
Eliminate excess fluids in the body;
Remove excess mucus from the airways;
Regulate the activity of neurotransmitters in the brain;
Reduce the absorption of fats in the intestine.
This is because the medicinal plants used in phytotherapy contain substances, called phytochemicals, with anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antimicrobial, estrogenic or immune system-stimulating action, for example.
How is it used
Phytotherapy can be carried out in various ways, using the fresh or dried plant to make preparations such as:
- Teas
Teas can be prepared with different parts of the plant, whether dried or fresh, such as flowers, leaves, stems or roots, for example. By placing the plant in hot water, it is possible to extract its active substances with medicinal properties.
There are two ways to prepare teas: infusion, where hot water is added to the plant, and decoction, where the water and the plant are boiled together.
In addition to that, teas can also be prepared using industrialized tea bags.
- Tincture
The tincture is an alcoholic extract in which alcohol is used to extract the active substances of the plant, being a more concentrated solution than teas.
Additionally, the tincture has a longer shelf life, typically 3 to 5 years, because the alcohol acts as a preservative.
- Capsules
Capsules are phytotherapeutic medications prepared in pharmacies or industries, generally using dry plant extract.
This form of use of phytotherapy has the advantage of providing precise doses, in addition to not having an unpleasant taste, which can occur with other forms of use.
- Oils
The oils used in phytotherapy are extracted from medicinal plants in industries through distillation, pressure or steam extraction processes.
This type of remedy has more complex structures and molecules and is generally indicated for external use, on the skin or for aromatherapy. Learn what aromatherapy is and how it is performed.
- Powders
Powders of medicinal plants are obtained by grinding the dried plant for the preparation of capsules or for use in the form of pastes or ointments. - Syrups
The syrup is a phytotherapeutic formulation prepared with the fresh or chopped plant, or the juice of the plant, in a base of sugar or wine, which is placed on the fire until it thickens.
This type of formulation can be purchased in pharmacies or prepared at home.
- Ointment
The ointment is a type of phytotherapeutic remedy with a pasty consistency, prepared using the powder of the plant together with hot oil, which is indicated for external use, that is, it should not be consumed orally. Other pasty forms of phytotherapeutics are paste and ointment. - Poultice
The poultice is a phytotherapeutic preparation made with fresh, clean, crushed herbs, or crushed or chopped and cooked herbs, for external use, and can be applied with the help of gauze or directly to the skin. - Bathroom
The bath is also a type of phytotherapeutic treatment in which the fresh or dried plant is used, for sitz baths, inhalations, foot baths or baths in bathtubs or showers, for example.
In this type of treatment, the plant substances are highly diluted in water, which helps relax the body, relieve pain and nasal congestion, or treat infections such as candidiasis, for example.
Medicinal plants used in phytotherapy
There are various medicinal plants that can be used in phytotherapy, here are some examples:
Camomile;
Fennel;
Jasmine;
Rosemary;
Peppermint;
Eucalyptus;
Laurel;
Balm;
Fennel;
Hibiscus;
Boldo;
Thyme;
Ginger;
Grass of San Juan.
Likewise, other examples of plants that can be used for health are artichoke, aloe vera, aroeira, devil’s claw, soy isoflavone, willow, cascara, guaco, plantago and cat’s claw.
Side effects
Although phytotherapy has fewer side effects than conventional medications, the use of medicinal plants can also cause side effects, especially when used without medical guidance or in doses higher than recommended.
Additionally, depending on how the plant is used, such as in teas, for example, it can often be difficult to measure or weigh the correct amount of plant to use, which can result in a higher or lower dose than recommended. .
Phytotherapeutic remedies can interact with conventional medications, increasing or decreasing their effect. Therefore, the ideal is to always use phytotherapeutics under the guidance of a doctor, phytotherapist or naturopath experienced in medicinal plants.
Contraindications
Phytotherapy should not be used by children or people allergic to the medicinal plant used in the phytotherapeutic remedy.
During pregnancy or breastfeeding, phytotherapeutics should only be used if recommended by a doctor, since some plants can increase the risk of abortion, malformations in the baby or be transferred to the baby through breast milk. Learn a list of teas prohibited during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
In addition, people who have health problems should consult a doctor before using phytotherapeutics, after an evaluation of their health status, the risk of side effects, interactions with other medications, in order to determine the best phytotherapeutic, dosage and Treatment duration.