Abstract

The aim of the study was to describe local knowledge about the use of medicinal plants cited by study participants, as well as to examine how phytotherapy serves as an important strategy of integrative and complementary practice in coping with health problems. The research is characterized as an exploratory study of the descriptive type. Non-probabilistic snowball sampling generated a sample of one hundred and ten participants (n = 110). The study instruments were semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. The data collected were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2007 and summarized with descriptive statistical methods. The study informants presented knowledge of 77 species and 46 plant families, showing the rich variety of medicinal flora present in the Northern Brazilian Amazon. Among the respondents, elderly women had the most diversified knowledge. Preserving this knowledge is essential and can help in the implementation of public health policies. The results showed high richness of the medicinal flora present in Northern Brazilian Amazon.

Key words: Medicinal plants, phytotherapy, local knowledge, collective health, Brazilian Amazon