Meizinheiras do pé de serra, Crato-CE: seus relatos e saberes com o uso de plantas medicinais

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the traditional knowledge associated with the use of medicinal plants by the Meizinheirado Pé de Serra , emphasizing their contributions to community health care, cultural preservation, and the strengthening of women’s autonomy. This research is an experience report grounded in a qualitative approach, developed through participant observation, dialogue with the women, and a review of relevant literature. The findings revealed a wide diversity of species, primarily from the Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, Rutaceae, and Myrtaceae families, demonstrating the richness of local botanical knowledge. The meizinheiras play a central role in health promotion by integrating plant cultivation, preparation, and therapeutic use with community relationships and spiritual practices. Moreover, their activities contribute to income generation, the strengthening of social ties, and the social recognition of the group. Despite threats to the continuity of this knowledge, the women sustain strategies of intergenerational transmission. The development of this study was essential to my academic, professional, and personal formation, broadening my understanding of health, territory, gender, and traditional knowledge. This work therefore reinforces the importance of recognizing and valuing traditional knowledge as a legitimate component of health care systems, highlighting the Meizinheiras do Pé de Serra as references in health promotion, cultural resistance, and the construction of more humane, integrated, and sustainable practices in Brazil’s semi-arid region.