Etnobotânica e saúde: um estudo de caso do uso de Plantas Medicinais na Comunidade Quilombola Sagrado Coração de Jesus, Itacoatiara-AM

Abstract

This study focused on the use of medicinal plants in the Quilombola Community of Sagrado Coração de Jesus, located in Itacoatiara-AM, in the Brazilian Amazon. It aimed to analyze the relationship between these practices and health promotion, as well as the preservation of traditional knowledge. A quantitative and qualitative approach was adopted, with semi-structured interviews and questionnaires applied to 20 adult residents, complemented by participant observation. The results revealed a diverse repertoire of species, including spearmint, wormseed, horsetail, boldo, chamomile, and soursop, among others. The perceived effectiveness was high: 65% of those interviewed classified the plants as "very effective" and 25% as "effective," with emphasis on the treatment of gastrointestinal, respiratory, and dermatological problems. The transmission of knowledge occurs predominantly vertically, from mothers and grandmothers to daughters and granddaughters, with strong female protagonism, although there is also horizontal circulation among neighbors and traditional healers. The main forms of access are the donation of seedlings and cultivation in backyards, which function as educational spaces. It is concluded that the study achieved its objectives, highlighting the centrality of medicinal plants for the therapeutic autonomy of the community, the high confidence in the effectiveness of home remedies, and the importance of women as guardians of this knowledge. However, concern was identified regarding the disinterest of young people and the competition from industrialized medicines, indicating risks to the continuity of traditional knowledge.