PERCEPÇÃO DOS ALUNOS A RESPEITO DO USO DE PLANTAS MEDICINAIS EM ESCOLAS PÚBLICAS DE SALVATERRA

Traditional knowledge as medicinal plants has been handed down from generation to generation and has laid the foundations of traditional therapeutic science. The present study aimed to analyze a perception about medicinal plants use among a high school student and two public schools in the municipality of Salvaterra, Para. In an active research, 191 questionnaires were applied to the students. The results indicate that 85.86% of the interviewed are well informed about the benefits of herbal medicine. However, it has become clear that the wisdom of folk medicine is being lost among students of urban space, as 60% of young people say they prioritize the industrialized medicines use rather than home remedies. In rural areas, it was observed that 86,29% of the students exhibit more comprehensive knowledge about natural medicine, revealing that the knowledge is maintained by oral traditions and practice. It is concluded that phytotherapy is present in the daily life of the majority of the students of their communities, the population still enjoys the natural resources for therapeutic purposes. Keywords : Traditional knowledge; education; folk medicine.