Search for acupuncture, meditation and yoga increases by 55%… ABC do ABC

The number of Integrative and Complementary Health Practices (Pics) services grew 479% in the city of São Paulo. In 2023, 740,698 services were provided in modalities such as acupuncture, meditation and circular dance, compared to 476,868 services in 2022. In 2018, before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, there were 172,637 services throughout the year.

According to Adalberto Kiochi Aguemi, coordinator of the Integrative Health Technical Area of ​​the São Paulo Municipal Health Department (SMS), the increase in the supply of modalities and services is due to the creation of a structure for continuous training of health professionals.

In 2023, the main courses offered by SMS to professionals in the municipal health network were yoga, meditation, herbal medicines and medicinal plants, Tai Chi Pai Lin, integrative community therapy and circular dance. Adalberto reiterates that at least 700 professionals were trained last year alone, counting only the courses organized by the technical area of ​​the secretariat, as there are also initiatives on the part of the Regional Health Coordinators (CRSs). Workers such as doctors, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nutritionists, among others, work in the Pics offering.

The coordinator highlights the importance of the existence of a technical area to understand the needs of each region and what inputs and training must exist to expand access to certain therapies.

Auriculotherapy is the most sought after practice

The modality with the highest number of services in the municipal network is auriculotherapy, which began a significant growth in the number of services between 2016 and 2017, when it went from 2,068 to 24,270 services, an increase of 1,073.60%. According to the coordinator, this was due to a training partnership made with the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), started in 2016. In 2023, there were 374,712 auriculotherapy consultations, compared to 238,551 in 2022, which represents an increase of more than 50%.

Marcelo Spiandon, coordinator of CRPics São Mateus, believes that, in the region, integrative practices are strengthened due to the large number of trainings that are carried out. According to Marcelo, in addition to the patients who are referred to the service, there is a spontaneous demand from people who go to the equipment looking for some therapy.. “Pics are extremely important because one of the guiding pillars of the Unified Health System (SUS) is comprehensiveness, which is treating the person as a whole, not just a specific pain”, explained.

Users and workers praise the practices

Marcia Bastos, 51 years old, says that she began participating in integrative community therapy at CRPics São Mateus after becoming depressed due to her epilepsy diagnosis: “There are people there who really listen. And you see people who go through things that you go through, which helps you not feel so alone. They helped me accept the problem.” In the same unit, she also participated in meditation and Tai Chi Pai Lin groups.

The administrative management assistant at CRPics São Mateus, Isabel Solano, aged 58, had her life transformed by Pics. She started doing auriculotherapy when she worked at the São Mateus Emergency Room (ER) during the Covid-19 pandemic, as a way to help reduce current stress, which helped reduce anxiety attacks: “With auriculotherapy, I stopped taking the antidepressant.”

Municipality of São Paulo is a pioneer in Pics

Recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health (MS), integrative therapies have a holistic approach, aiming to help resolve physical, mental and emotional problems. “Many of these modalities rescue the collective, important in aspects such as socialization and community interaction, in addition to working on self-care and autonomy”highlights Adalberto, adding that Pics are also a strategy to reduce the medicalization of healthcare.

A pioneer, the city of São Paulo began structuring the technical area of ​​integrative practices in 2001.

Currently, all 471 UBSs offer one or more types of Pics in the city of São Paulo. They can be collective and open activities, such as circular dancing or integrative community therapy, or be recommended by a doctor as an auxiliary therapy for multiple conditions, from pain to insomnia and anxiety.

In addition to Basic Health Units (UBSs), Pics are offered at Chronic Pain Reference Centers (CRs Dor) and Reference Centers for Integrative and Complementary Health Practices (CRPics), equipment that offers the population a service focused on health promotion integrated with the prevention of health problems and rehabilitation, using natural methods and providing comprehensive care to the person.