The use of medicinal plants and medicines by the elderly: an integrative review

Abstract

Medicinal plants are used for various purposes, such as soothing, healing, anti-inflammatory, digestive action, among other functions, but their excessive use or without the accompaniment of a qualified professional can turn into a succession of risks. These health impacts can affect the elderly more as they feel more comfortable being treated with these medicinal plants than drugs produced by the pharmaceutical industries. Several problems such as interaction in drug absorption, potentiation or even inhibition can be caused by them. This integrative review contains a qualitative approach whose main objective is to identify the risks associated with pharmacological interactions between medicinal plants and medicines used by the elderly. From the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 10 studies were selected, the most cited plant was chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L) present in 19.4% and thirty-one different drugs were identified. Some of the plants that cause certain risks are mentioned in this article, aiming to alert and make readers aware of the problems generated for the elderly. Concluding that it is necessary to implement educational measures, especially in nursing homes, about the use of medicinal plants together with medicines.