USE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN THE TREATMENT OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS BY POTIGUARA INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF PARAÍBA, BRAZIL

Abstract

The use of medicinal plants in the treatment of diseases in animals is a widespread practice among the original peoples of Brazil, such as the indigenous peoples. Thus, the aim of this study was to understand how to use medicinal plants by Potiguara indigenous people from the state of Paraíba in the treatment of domestic animals. For this, data from a questionnaire applied to the Potiguara ethnic group was used, which inquired about: which plants they use until today, what they use them for and on which animals they usually use treatments based on traditional medicinal plants of their people. A total of 23 Indigenous people participated in the evaluation, where 31% are residents of the city of Baía da Traição and 69% are residents distributed among nine villages. 87% use medicinal plants to treat domestic animals. The medicinal herbs most used in various conditions are: Boldo (Peumus boldus), Canela de velho (Miconia albicans), Capim Santo (Cymbipogon citratus), Erva Cidreira (Melissa officinalia), Hortelã (Mentha spicata), Quebra Pedra (Phyllanthus ninuri).The animal species in which the indigenous people reported using medicinal plants were 57% feline, 84% canine, 14% equine, 14% bovine and 32% are used in birds. 69% report that knowledge about the treatment of illnesses through plant resources is passed from generation to generation (such as from grandparents to grandchildren). Thus revealing a maintenance of traditional culture and emphasizes the importance of medicinal plants for indigenous peoples.