MEDICINAL PLANTS AS AN ADJUVING THERAPY IN ONCOLOGICAL TREATMENT: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer has serious impacts on society in several areas, however the conventional treatments offered to these patients, as well as chemotherapies and radiotherapies, are quite effective, therefore, in sensitivity to the present theme, the research intends to address another oncological therapeutic side as a theme, Complementary Integrative Health Practices, specifying the use of medicinal plants as adjuvants to cancer treatment. Objectives: It is intended to analyze the scientific production about the adjuvant treatment of cancer with medicinal plants. Methods: An exploratory integrative review was carried out, with research on the basis of virtual libraries, applying the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS), to data collected and recorded in a form for later analysis with two researchers and a third who was the advisor of the research. Results: 37 medicinal plants in use in adjuvant treatment to cancer treatment were mentioned, including 3: Visco Album (bird grass), turmeric (saffron) and Gengiber officinale (ginger). Discussion: It has been shown that there is evidence on the properties of the 3 chosen plants, which prove their beneficial effects to the patient when used in conjunction with conventional oncological treatment. Conclusion: The study showed that there are few publications addressing the theme, the most used plants were Mistletoe, turmeric and ginger, the tradition of people in medicinal plants was what led patients to this type of treatment