Phytopharmacovigilance in the Elderly: Highlights from the Brazilian Amazon
Table 4
Herbal medicines reported by the elderly participants on the structured questionnaire (N=123), Macapá, Brazil, 2016-2017.
Herbal medicines
popular name
Therapeutic Indications
Structured questionnaire
N
%
Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Br
Cidreira
Relaxation and digestive problems
63
19.9
Peumus boldus Molina
Boldo
Digestive and liver problems
35
11.1
Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf
Capim-marinho
Relaxation and digestive problems
31
9.8
Carapa guianensis Aubl.
Andiroba
Inflammation, bruises
18
5.7
Matricaria chamomilla L.
Camomila
Relaxation, nausea, colic
11
3.5
Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.)
Barbatimão
Infections, wound healing, pain, inflammation
11
3.5
Copaifera langsdorffii Desf.
Copaíba
Inflammation, Infections
9
2.8
Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume
Canela
Digestive, energy/ stimulation problems
8
2.5
Arrabidaea chica (Bonpl.) Verl.
Pariri
Pain, fever, inflammation and/or spams
8
2.5
Dysphania anthelmintica (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants
Mastruz
Parasitic infection
7
2.2
Costus spicatus (Jacq.) Sw.
Cana-do-brejo
Kidney problems (diuretic effect)
6
1.9
Veronica officinalis L.
Verônica
Pain, fever, inflammation
6
1.9
Mentha alaica Boriss.
Hortelã
Nause, digestive problems
6
1.9
Phyllanthus niruri L.
Quebra-Pedra
Kidney problems (diuretic and stone-preventing effects)
5
1.6
Aesculus hippocastanum L.
Castanha da Índia
Blood circulation/varicose, inflammation
4
1.3
Pentaclethra eetveldeana De Wild. & T. Durand
Pracaxi
Infections
4
1.3
Zingiber officinale Roscoe
Gengibre
Energy/stimulation problems
2
0.6
Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f.
Babosa
Healing, protector of the gastric and intestinal mucosa
2
0.6
Others
68
21.5
Total
316
100
classification of botanical names was according to THE PLANTS LIST® database [25]. The botanical identification of the herbal medicines obtained in pharmacies was derived from the labels/packages, and the herbal medicines obtained in gardens, fairs, and popular markets were identified by visual stimuli, in the form of pictures and images from online herbariums (reportedly used by the interviewees to provide relief against illnesses).
