Educational on homemade medicine with a view to preparation and use in daily health care: experience with riverbank women

Abstract

This work reports an education initiative on homemade medicine for the preparation and administration carried out by 26 women who took part in the Healthy Wednesdays Program, carried out by an NGO on the island of Caratateua, Belém, State of Pará, Brazil. The framework used is popular health education and phytotherapy. The course was given in the Bosque de Belém School, taught by an agronomist and included theory and practice. The course was planned to increase the women's knowledge on the use of medicinal herbs, emphasizing plantation, preparation and handling of seedlings. We recommend the recognition of local knowledge in actions to promote health in the Amazon and highlight the importance of NGOs as a strategic site to contribute to popular health education.