Plantas medicinais e uso nas práticas da medicina veterinária na Chapada do Araripe - Região Sul do Ceará.

Abstract

This research aimed to conduct a survey on the knowledge and use of medicinal plants in the treatment of animals in the Chapada do Araripe, southern region of Ceará, with producers living in the rural area of Crato, an area belonging to the Floresta Nacional do Araripe (FLONA), and students of the Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará (IFCE), Crato campus, belonging to the Course of Agricultural Technician in Subsequent modality 1, 2 and 3, with connection to the rural environment and/or performance in agriculture and livestock actively. The methodology used to obtain the data was the application of semi-structured questionnaires, with open, closed and mixed questions, to 100 producers living in the area and 47 students of the mentioned course. As results, regarding the 100 producers, the data showed: 88.00% mentioned knowing medicinal plants that can be used in animal husbandry; 84.00% already used these plants in the management of their animals; 94.00% believed in their curative power; and 64.00% listed a good to excellent degree of satisfaction with the use of these medications. They also listed the knowledge of 56 medicinal plants, informing their use, form of administration and application. Regarding the 47 students, the data showed: 31.91% mentioned knowing medicinal plants that can be used in animal husbandry; 100.00% believed in treatment with medicinal plants; 51.06% were successful when using medicinal plants to cure animal diseases; and, 51.06% listed a good to excellent degree of satisfaction with the use of these medications. They also listed the knowledge of 27 medicinal plants. It was concluded at the end that the use of medicinal plants is part of the reality of the region, and that the practices for animal use, even if employed, need greater amplitude and diffusion. However, it was evidenced the need for more scientific technical knowledge and its effectiveness.