Levantamento etnobotânico de plantas medicinais em comunidade indígena no Município de Baía da Traição - PB.

Abstract

The use of plant resources is strongly present in popular culture is transmitted from parents to children in the course of human existence, becoming a tradition among contemporary peoples. This knowledge is usually found in traditional peoples such as indigenous groups, which tend to decrease or even the disappearance, when suffering the relentless action of modemity. This work aimed to conduct an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants in the indigenous community in the municipality of Baía da Traição-PB. The present study was an exploratory descriptive, quantitative and qualitative approach. Data collection was conducted in the period May-June 2013 at the residence of informants, using as an instrument collecting a questionnaire structured interviews containing subjective and objective questions. The plants were identified, established and incorporated into the Herbarium the Health Center and Rural Technology of the Federal University of Campina Grande. 80 informants were interviewed, out of 159 families, 71% were female, comprising a range age 20-92 years, with mostly primary school incomplete I or II (43%). A higher proportion of households using agricultural activities as a source of livelihood (56%), having a family income of up to 1 minimum wage (82%). The community believes the cure of diseases through the use of medicinal plants (98.75%), indicating that there was never complained of plants for side effects (97%), but they may be harmful if used incorrectly (60%). How to use, 100% associate plants in the preparation of medicines, 87% do not mix remedies to conventional medicines. The community tums to plants (51%) as the first treatment strategy of affections. Knowledge about the use of plants for medicinal purposes was passed on from father to son (98%) emphasizing the tradition of Indian culture. Regarding the most used parts of the plants, the leaves stand out with 48%, and roots 24%. How to obtain, there is growing equity (51%), but also rely on local indigenous forest (29%). On the way of use of the plants, the tea was cited in a greater proportion (48%), followed by licking (45%). The most common therapeutic indications represented part of the digestive tract (22%) following the respiratory tract (17%). Were cited by informants 49 species distributed in 26 families, of which the most cited were the holy grass (10.8), the barbatenon (9.3%), mastic and mint-chick (9%), and families represented were: Lamiaceae (12.2%), Fabaceae (10.2%), Myrtaceae and Asteraceae (6.1%). According to the results obtained, it can be stated that the studied community carries a vast knowledge of traditional medicine and herbal medicine, used by informants as found in literature. The importance of plants is unparalleled, being a direct source of funds for medicines, which are secular use.