Make a difference with phytotherapy!
INTRODUCTION
Phytotherapy - the treatment through the use of medicinal plants - is a very old health practice. It is currently validated by modern science, being recommended by the World Health Organization and the (Brazilian) Ministry of Health, and is also largely regulated by ANVISA (Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency). Interest in this practice is growing fast, as well as its inclusion in the curricula of several courses in the health sphere. Expand your range of therapeutic options by understanding the potential of medicinal plants, stand out professionally and make even more difference in your patients' lives!
INTRODUCTION
Explore the science of phytotherapy and the care involved in the productive chain and use of medicinal plants. Aspects such as identification, prescription of phytotherapeutics, patient guidelines, bibliographic references recommended by the Brazilian legislation and much more! Assertively and safely incorporate the application of this highly relevant therapeutic resource in your daily life as a healthcare professional, and make a difference in the lives of your patients!
CONTENT
- Relevant definitions and concepts
- Current landscape and challenges of the medicinal plants and phytotherapeutics sector
- Brazilian legislation of the medicinal plants sector (MS, ANVISA, MAPA, Professional Councils)
- General notions of plant physiology, primary and secondary metabolites
- Active principles and phytopharmacology
- Phytotherapeutics research
- Botanical identification of medicinal species
- Botanical nomenclature applied to medicinal plants
- Notions of good cultivation and extraction practices, crop treatment, harvesting and collection, processing and storage of medicinal plants applied to the day-to-day activities of the health professional
- Recommendations and care for the use of medicinal plants and phytotherapeutics
- Most common pharmaceutical forms in phytotherapy and their applications (when to use each form): infused, decocted, macerated, compress, juice, syrup, tincture, alcoholature, etc.
- Reality and perspectives for the performance of each health professional, including specific legislation of the various professional categories
- Prescription of medicinal plants and phytotherapeutics
- Application of medicinal plants in clinical practice, with a systematic review of plants contained in the National Form of Phytotherapics and the Phytotherapeutic Memento of the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia (scientifically validated plant characteristics, such as uses, contraindications, drug interactions, side effects, and others)
- Guiding patients on handling and quality control of medicinal plants at home
- Good practices for the manufacturing of phytotherapeutics at home
- Homemade handling of infused, decocted and macerated teas
- Homemade handling of syrups, tinctures, alcoholatures, juices and medicinal wines
- Useful and reliable bibliographic and internet references for research on medicinal plants and phytotherapy
PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES
- Botanical identification of plants using branches and seedlings
- Urban or rural walk for the botanical identification of plants
- Harvesting and plant collection
- Processing: cleaning, selecting, sanitizing and drying of plants
- Prescription fulfillment
- Observation of each species worked with, considering its appearance, texture, aroma, and flavor
- Sample quality assessment
- Implementation of good practices
- Demonstration of the different techniques for preparing medicinal teas
- Homemade preparation of medicines such as tinctures, alcoholatures, juices, medicinal wines and syrups
- A moment for sharing experiences
INTRODUCTION
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Brazilian Ministry of Health have recommended the inclusion of Phytotherapy in official health systems for decades. This therapeutic approach is much sought after by the Brazilian population, has scientific evidence and has low rates of side effects. Brazil has the largest biological diversity in the world, including numerous medicinal plants, which makes us a privileged place for the practice of phytotherapy.
In 2006, the National Policy for Integrative and Complementary Practices in the SUS system (Ordinance 971/06) was published, followed by the National Policy for Medicinal and Phytotherapeutic Plants (Decree 5.813/06). The approval of these policies opened doors for a new era in Brazilian phytotherapy world. Despite the recognition and encouragement from official bodies, professionals often feel insecure to work in the phytotherapy field, since this theme is worked superficially on undergraduate courses or, in some case,s is not even part of the curricula. In order to operate in their field, some professionals necessarily need a specialization course, such as Nurses (Resolution of the Federal Nursing Council No. 197 of 1997) and Physiotherapists (Resolution of the Federal Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy No. 380 of 2010).
Given the above, our postgraduate course in Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapy aims to prepare professionals for operating assertively and safely, based on the real demands of the sector.
CONTENT
- Market possibilities and multi-professional action, including recommendations from each Professional Council
- Overview, public policies, legislation and current challenges in the Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapy sector
- Morphology, systematics and plant physiology
- Identification, botanical nomenclature, and cataloging of medicinal plants
- Propagation, cultivation and crop treatments in medicinal plants
- Implementation of domestic and institutional gardens
- Harvesting, collection, processing, and storage of medicinal plants
- Phytopharmacology and active principles
- Common drug and dietary interactions in phytotherapy
- Posology, dosage, and care in the use of phytotherapeutics
- Prescription of medicinal plants and phytotherapeutics
- Common pharmaceutical forms in phytotherapy, their characteristics, and applications
- Homemade herbal preparation
- Notions of quality control of phytotherapeutics
- Application of medicinal and phytotherapeutic plants in clinical practice, by physiological system
- Phytotherapy in pain, inflammation and wound healing
- Phytotherapy in increasing disease resistance
- Phytotherapy in obesity control and for the sports practice
- Methodologies for health education in the field of medicinal plants and phytotherapy
- Nutraceuticals and functional foods, including medicinal properties of spices and common foods
- Unconventional Food Plants (PANC in the original), their nutritional and medicinal properties
- Notions of other related Integrative and Complementary Practices, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Homeopathy and Anthroposophy
- Reliable bibliographic and internet references for the research of herbal medicine and phytotherapy
- For more information: Hone Institute