Use of Medicinal Plants in Urban Areas in the Municipality of Aliança of Tocantins

Abstract

Research that takes account of popular uses of medicinal plants, also in urban areas, is important records to subsidize health actions more effectively and safely and maintain the local cultural heritage, as advocated by the national policy of medicinal plants. This study aimed to survey the use of medicinal plants by residents of the municipality of Aliança the Tocantins. In 2011, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 70 informants in the urban environment, Aliança of Tocantins. Most claimed to have acquired knowledge about medicinal plants with parents and grandparents, 60% and 25.7%, respectively. 62.9% of the interviewees obtained the plants in their backyard and 30% in the backyard of neighbors or relatives. The families with the highest number of species were Lamiaceae with 4 species (40%), Asteraceae and Malvaceae with 2 species each (20%). There were 82 therapeutic properties about the species mentioned, with a higher number of citations for "other indications" (25.6%), such as pain in general, back pain, malaise, dizziness, among others. The most used form of preparation was tea (81.4%) and the leaf was the most used organ (81.4%). Of the informants, 61.4% prefer to use home remedies instead of industrialized medicines. The informants, even living in the urban environment (82.8%), still know and frequently use the local medicinal flora, this being an indication of strong local cultural appeal and feasibility of encouraging green backyards.