Práticas populares das plantas medicinais em uma zona rural do semiárido paraibano.

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been used by man as a therapeutic resource since the beginning of their existence and exert a great influence in the promotion and maintenance of the health of the people, being another medicine option to be destined to the population to improve their quality of life. The aim of this study was analyze the profile of the use of medicinal plants are most used by the rural population of the semi-arid region of Paraiba, considering that nurses need to be aware of practices that are popularly conducted by the community in their territory. This is an exploratory field research study with a qualitative approach developed in the city of Triunfo-PB. Sampling was composed of 20 individuals who frequently used medicinal plants in their daily lives. Data were analyzed using a qualitative approach. The research was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee of the Federal University of Campina Grande. The result shows that the participants are, predominantly female and married, age group over 66 years. The predominant family income is a minimum wage, with the majority of participants being farmers. With regard to the relevant data of the study it was possible to perceive that the knowledge about medicinal plants is part of the culture of the population of the rural zone, where they demonstrate a vast knowledge about these popular practices as well as they have the habit of indicating the use of medicinal plants to other people. According to the data the plants most used by the evaluated population are boldo, mint, pomegranate, mallow, macela and rosemary, in which they are used mainly in the form of tea, the cooking being the most common form of preparation.It is imperative that nursing addresses mainly in rural areas, educational actions that articulate correct handling of popular therapeutics, so that the population that has a habit of continuous use of medicinal plants, becomes aware of how to make use of natural sources safely and cohesive to medical findings. It is believed that the adequate use of medicinal plants as a therapeutic resource is a viable alternative for a large part of the population, since it represents an effective, safe, easily accessible and inexpensive economic resource and that allows self-care and integral care based on belief and culture of the population.