Participatory Ethnobotany in indigenous health: study conducted by a Pataxó Hãhãhãi ethnobotanist among his people, Brazil.

Abstract

Background: The traditional medicine of the indigenous Pataxó Hãhãhãi (PH) people, Brazil, is in jeopardy because of the significant fragmentation of their biological and cultural aspects. In addition to providing plants that can treat the complaints that these people face, the current endeavor has attempted to retrieve and document their traditional and local medicine, which is nearly forgotten.

Methods: Using the Participatory Ethnobotany approach, Pataxó Hãhãhãi, H.D.S. (author), an indigenous person who lives in the PH territory, led the project from outlining the objectives with his people to fieldwork. It was collectively decided to focus on the plants involved in the three most common complaints of the PH people: diabetes, worms, and hypertension. The plants recommended by the experts were collected, and data on their traditional and academic knowledge were compiled.

Results: The Participatory Ethnobotany approach proved to be effective, as it facilitated impacts on several phases of the work. The 175 medicinal plants, as well as their ancient healing practices indicated by 19 experts, were recovered and registered. Forty-three species were indicated for those complaints, and 79% of them supported their use in the scientific literature.

Conclusion: In an unprecedented way, an indigenous ethnobotanist retrieved and documented the plants and medicinal practices of his people, which were subjected to many attacks and fragmentations over the years. People learned about the recovery of plants for their three primary illnesses, making their use safe and efficient.