SILVA, I.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/7136113697788267; SILVA, Ivanildo.
Resumo:
In northeastern Brazil, more specifically in Paraiba and Rio Grande do Norte, is very common
to use herbal products to treat various diseases. These plants, or derivatives are obtained
through cultivation or most often by buying in fairs, where the healers have a huge diversity
of products with herbal character to cure their illnesses. This work was done with the aim of
demystifying the popular belief from a study of the active principles of the five species most
traded in free markets of counties Cuite, New Forest, Jacana and Colonel Ezekiel. The
methodology used in this work consists of formal and informal interviews with healers in
their premises, with buyers and growers, direct observation of plants and the literature.
Healers were interviewed fourteen, thirty-five buyers and eight growers of these plants. Plants
to be studied were selected through a preliminary survey at the beginning of June with the
healers of free markets on which the most sold for medicinal purposes. Data on the
distribution of healers was not surprising because, as expected, the greatest amount of these is
present at the open larger, in this case of Cuite-PB. Considering the monthly income, it was
observed that most healers wins by a salary, and a minority receives two or more salaries. It is
assumed that, in fact most of the healers sells more by need and not by ability as informed as
we know are mostly heads of families, and that a minimum wage is not enough to maintain a
family. From the results obtained through interviews and review of the literature, it can be
concluded that the indications of the plants by salespeople based on popular usage are proven
by scientific studies and that both popular knowledge as scientific knowledge, can lead to
valid knowledge.
