Emprego de plantas medicinais no tratamento de animais domésticos por indígenas potiguara do estado da Paraíba

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate and collect data on the percentage of the use of medicinal plants by indigenous Potiguara in the state of Paraíba in the treatment of domestic animals. The participants of the survey received a link containing 29 questions about which plants they use today, what they use them for, and which animals they usually treat with traditional medicinal plants. A total of 23 Indigenous people participated in the evaluation, which represented 65.2% indigenous women, 31% are residents of the city of Baía da Traição and the other 69% are residents distributed among 9 villages. 87% use medicinal plants to treat domestic animals. They stood out as being the most used for various ailments: Boldo (Peumus boldus), Canela de velho (Miconia albicans), Capim Santo (Cymbipogon citratus), Erva Cidreira (Melissa officinalia), Hortelã (Mentha spicata), Quebra Pedra (Phyllanthus ninuri). They affirmed that the act of using these plants 69% is passed from relatives to relatives (like from grandparents to grandchildren), 26% learned from the still existing culture, 4.3% acquired the knowledge about the effectiveness of the plant from their own experience. The animals on which the indigenous people treat with plants are 57% feline species, 84% canine species, 14% equine species, 14% bovine species, and 32% are used on birds.