Mulheres quilombolas e uso de plantas medicinais: práticas de cura em Santa Rita de Barreira/PA

Abstract

This study focused on the use of medicinal plants among women of the Quilombola community of Santa Rita de Barreira, where natural resources are used to treat the collective health of their ethnic group. The community is located 12 km of PA 251, in the rural area of the municipality of São Miguel do Guamá, in the state of Pará. The research sought to understand the use and manipulation of plants for medical purposes for the treatment of collective health, for the transmission of the knowledge related to this manipulation, for the leadership, for the sociocultural, symbolic constructions and collective practices of control of the territory by the women of the community. Additionally, the strategies for the preservation of the way of life of this social group were explored. In contemporary times, these people identify themselves as Quilombo survivors and are recognized as Quilombola by the Brazilian State and by the residents of the municipality for having received, from ITERPA, the title of collective land ownership on September 22, 2002. As a methodological procedure, a bibliographical research on the subject matter was conducted. An oral history of the community was explored through semi-structured interviews conducted with some members (men and women) of the community. Given the nature of the research, photographs were also taken as a proof of evidence. Data was collected in June, July and August of 2017. Most women use herbal remedies in this community, and this practice occurs due to their cultural heritage, and also because of the lack of implementation of public health policies in the region where the research was undertaken. The knowledge related to the use of those resources has been transmitted by women across several generations. Thus, the curandeiras (healers) and benzedeiras (healers) have been, over the years, re-shaping this knowledge to address the health of this local social group. The women of this community play several roles for their subsistence and that of their families, and for the treatment of the health of the people residing in the community. In this way, they breakaway from roles recognized by Eurocentric values, thereby becoming fundamental to the well-being of their social group.