NÓBREGA, Luciano Bezerra da.
Résumé:
The use of plants for therapeutic indications in Brazil is a practice disseminated
culturally, especially in the Northeast region, in which are theelderly are the main
references of this method, acquired by a family tradition, and then passed orally from
generation to generation. From this perspective, this current study aimed to record
the knowledge and use of medicinal plants by elderly participants from a Family Care
Program (PAIF/CRAS) at Baraúna, a town located in State of Paraíba. It is a
transversal, descriptive study, with a quantitative and qualitative approach. Data
collection consisted of a semi-structured questionnaire with 16 questions, in which
the main aspects analyzed were: sócio-economic profile, popular knowledge about
medicinal plants, posology, acquisition, parts used, forms of preparation and
indications. This study was consisted of twenty-two elderly people aged between 60
and 85 years, 72.3% women who live in the urban area and have a low level of
education. It was found that most of the elderly use medicinal plants when they are
affected by a daily or weekly disease, until its symptoms disappear. Thirty three
different medicinal plants uses were mentioned from to a list of thirty medicinal
species presented in the questionnaire, in which the most frequently mentioned
were: camomila (Matricaria chamomilla L.), alecrim (Rosmarinus officinnalis L.),
cajueiro (Anacardium occidentale L.), erva cidreira (Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E.Br. ex
Britton & P. Wilson) and erva-doce (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.). The leaves are the
parts most used in the preparation of medicines, in the forms of teas to eliminate
mainly diseases of the gastrointestinal system (30.3%), followed by diseases caused
by respiratory system (15.1%). It was reached a consensus on 44.5% of cases,
among the therapeutic indications according to interviewees and theoretical
background based on scientific literature. In the current study it was found that the
elderly are importanth olders of the knowledge on medicinal plants, although most
of elderly people investigated have not answered the questions in the sample.
Similar to several ethnobotanical studies made in Brazil, the plants that were used
are mainly exotic species, in addition to presenting a risk for risk for health of elderly
people that envolve a inappropriate use of medicinal plants which can lead to cases
of intoxication. Therefore, it is essential the implementation of educational actions in
the are a analyzed, in order to guide the rational use of plants to therapy field and
provide its efficacy and safety.