Use of medicinal plants in Umbanda and Candomblé in a cultural association in the municipality of Puxinanã, Paraíba, Brazil

• Autor(a) principal: Arruda, Deliane Andrade de
• Data de Publicação: 2019
• Outros Autores: Souza, Bruna dos Santos, Santos, Viviane Galdino dos, Lima, Laura Ana Alves de, Santos, Vanderláeia Galdino dos
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista Verde de Agroecologia e Desenvolvimento Sustentavel
• Texto Completo: https://www.gvaa.com.br/revista/index.php/RVADS/article/view/7624
• topic: Religious rituals; Plant species; Culture; Rituales religiosos; Especies de plantas; Cultura; Rituais religiosos; Espécies vegetais; Cultura

The use of medicinal plants in ritualistic practices is quite common in the religions existing in Brazil. Therefore, the present study presents an ethnobotanical research on the use of medicinal plants in the Umbanda and Candomblé Cultural Association located in Puxinanã, Paraíba. Fifty interviews were conducted with people who attend the terreiro, which shows the intense use of natural herbs in rituals, the three most cited being black jurema (Mimosa tenuiflora), liamba (Vitex agnus castus L.) and purple top (Jatropha gossypiifolia. L.), it was also found that all respondents consider the use of herbs important, highlighting the need for them to be present in the ritualistic Umbanda and Candomblé. The results confirm that the Terreiro goers have a great knowledge and make use of rituals with medicinal plants, preserving the popular culture in religion.