Women's health and the use of medicinal plants and herbal medicines: the viewpoint of users and professionals of the primary health care in Mossoró/RN, Brazil

Abstract

The study aimed evaluates the use, knowledge, and prescription of medicinal plants and herbal medicines as intervention in women's health by users and professionals of Primary Health Care in Mossoró/RN. Data were collected, between December 2021 and February 2022, through the application of semi-structured questionnaires to 100 users and 19 professionals.  It was found that 74% of users employ medicinal plants, and 54% use them for female illnesses. A total of 21 species were cited for women's health, indicated mainly to infection, inflammation, menstrual cramps, and healing. Most are following the use indicated in the literature; however, potential risks were verified (use of contraindicated species in pregnancy and preparations known as bottled). Ximenia americana was the most cited species and Caesalpinia ferrea has the most higher use value. Only 26.2% of the professionals had specific disciplines of phytotherapy in the undergraduate course, however, 78.9% stated that they prescribe medicinal plants and herbal medicines. For prescription, only 26.3% and 5.3% of professionals use the Phytotherapeutic Memento and Phytotherapeutic Formulary of the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia, respectively. Medicinal plants play an important role in the treatment of female conditions, however, gaps in knowledge about phytotherapy and the need for professional qualification for its safe use are evident.