Registro etnobotânico dos usos medicinais e espirituais das plantas em religiões afro-brasileiras em Parintins-AM

Abstract

This study investigated the use of medicinal and spiritual plants in Parintins (Amazonas, Brazil), focusing on Afro-Brazilian religions and traditional riverine knowledge. The research involved visits to terreiros (Afro-religious temples), botanical sample collection, and interviews with spiritual leaders, resulting in the identification of 26 species across 16 botanical families. The most common forms of use included baths, infusions, fumigations, and topical applications, reflecting ancestral practices of healing and spirituality. Oral transmission and experiential learning within the terreiros were essential for preserving knowledge, which is deeply integrated into the cosmology of the orixás and local culture. The creation of the “Canto Medicinal” (Medicinal Corner) at the CESP-UEA botanical nursery and the implementation of community workshops contributed to the appreciation of traditional knowledge and environmental education. The study highlights the importance of ethnobotany as a bridge between science and tradition, emphasizing the role of plants as mediators between body, spirit, and nature. The findings provide valuable input for public policies on integrative health and the conservation of Amazonian biocultural diversity.