THE USE OF PHYTOTHERAPEUTICS IN PATIENTS WITH DEPRESSION

Abstract

Since the beginning of time, humans have used plants for certain therapeutic purposes. Medicinal plants are used to treat and cure a variety of illnesses, including mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Depression has become one of the main problems today. Herbal medicines and their derivatives constitute one of the main therapeutic resources of traditional medicine and have been used in health care by the Brazilian people for many years. Whether due to the low cost of herbal plants or the effectiveness observed when using medicinal plants as therapeutic resources. Many of these plants have popular uses, that is, their uses were adopted by popular culture, which favors them to the detriment of clinical trials, which support the indications for use, efficacy and safety information of herbal medicines. As a result, treatment can be effective in controlling mild to moderate depression and reducing symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia and stress. It should be emphasized that although the incidence of adverse reactions with herbal medicines is lower than that of traditional antidepressants, some people may still experience adverse reactions during use and require medical supervision.