Ciência, tradição e química em diálogo: uma experiência de cuidado com fitoterápicos e interculturalidade

Abstract

This article investigates how to foster an intercultural and horizontal dialogue between chemical knowledge and the traditional knowledge of Afro-Brazilian terreiro communities, with emphasis on the use of sacred medicinal plants from the Cerrado in Goiás. The aim was to design and offer a workshop on producing herbal medicines with extended shelf life for traditional communities, supporting knowledge exchange and the appreciation of African ancestral knowledge. Using participatory research, we conducted interviews with leaders of terreiro communities between 2019 and 2020 to identify their interests in the use of medicinal plants for health maintenance. The final stage consisted of proposing a pedagogical intervention in the form of a workshop. The findings show that it was possible to establish a dialogue among ancestral, traditional and chemical knowledge, broadening the understanding of practices in a respectful, safe and horizontal manner through the preparation of two herbal products: aloe gel and bitter melon ointment.