Ethnobotanical inventory of medicinal plants used by specialists in the treatment and cure of diseases in riverside communities in the amazon

Abstract

The research aimed to learn about the socioeconomic profile and medicinal plants used by local specialists from three riverside communities in the municipality of Porto de Moz, Pará, Brazil. The data was collected with 10 specialists through a semi-structured questionnaire. Local specialists are mostly women (80%), with low income and a low education level. 83 medicinal ethnospecies were identified. The Lamiaceae and Fabaceae families were the most representative in the study area with 9 and 10 species, respectively. The Dysphania ambrosioides (18%) species was the most referenced one. Most of the recommendations regarding use of the medication are related to unclassified signs and symptoms, with 48 references. The young members in the communities exhibit low interest in medicinal plants. The precariousness of local public health services enhances the use of medicinal plants. The medicinal knowledge of local specialists assists in the prevention, treatment and cure of illnesses based on traditional medicine empiricism.