O uso de plantas medicinais e fitoterápicos no tratamento de insônia no Brasil: uma revisão de literatura

Abstract

The growing search for alternative means to treat disorders such as insomnia in Brazil has shown significant progress since before the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, after close work with such medications, this research emerged with the aim of mapping the main herbal medicines used for the treatment of insomnia in Brazil over the past decade. As a methodology, we conducted an integrative, exploratory-descriptive study using the literature review technique, based on the methodological guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and the PRISMA-ScR checklist. We analyzed scientific publications from 2014 to 2024, focusing on the use of medicinal plants for the direct or indirect treatment of insomnia, with data collection performed through scientific databases. As a result, 15 articles were selected, revealing that the most frequently used herbal medicines were Valeriana officinalis, Passiflora incarnata, Melissa officinalis, Matricaria recutita, Lavandula angustifolia, and Erythrina mulungu. Among them, Valeriana officinalis was the most frequently cited due to its modulatory action on GABA receptors, leading to calming, sedative, and anxiolytic effects. The analysis highlighted that, although widely consumed, these herbal products are still used indiscriminately and excessively, with potential health risks such as liver toxicity and allergic interactions. The review also revealed a clear gap: the lack of controlled and standardized clinical trials, which underscores the unregulated, inconsistent, and uncontrolled use of these substances. It was concluded that although herbal medicines demonstrate significant scientific therapeutic potential- as in the widespread reporting of Valeriana officinalis- there is still a lack of encouragement for clinical research, standardization, regulation, and more effective public awareness.