Integrative Approaches in Public Health: Physical Therapy and Phytotherapy in the Treatment of Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases.

Abstract

This article aims to describe the importance of integrative approaches in public health, in the context of phytotherapy and physiotherapy in the treatment of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This study is an integrative literature review, with searches carried out in the LILACS, SCIELO and Google Scholar. The searches were carried out between June and July 2023. The following health descriptors were used: Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases; Public health; Integrative and Complementary Practices; Phytotherapy and Physiotherapy. As an inclusion criterion, only complete studies were used, in Portuguese and within the time frame of 2016 and 2023. As an exclusion criterion, course completion papers, repeated studies, studies outside the scope and with private access. After the screening process, only 10 studies were selected to compose the final sample. The articles demonstrated that in phytotherapy, medicinal plants are used, such as extracts, essential oils and teas, which have proven therapeutic properties for the treatment of NCDs. In physiotherapy, the main interventions include therapeutic exercises, joint mobilization, massage, stretching and other physical techniques aimed at improving physical capacity, reducing pain and preventing complications related to CNCDs. It is concluded that the integration between the use of medicinal plants with physical therapeutic techniques complement the treatment of CNCD, helping in physical rehabilitation, pain control and prevention of complications.