Las plantas medicinales para el autocuidado de la salud comunitaria en La Becerrera Mérida Venezuela

Abstract

The health promotion jointed with the supports of an educational, environmental, and communicational combinations improve directions or actions that contribute to health by promoting new behaviors and lifestyles, without changing its own traditional knowledge of the region. It is therefore essential to note the importance for population recovery of their knowledge, that is, their cultural identity around their atmosphere and especially the traditional use of medicinal plants as a tool in primary health care. The present study is inserted into the kind of qualitative research, based on an interdisciplinary research Ethnobotany design, which has been defined as the study of the interrelationship between humans and plants, for promoting a process of revaluation of the species medicinal plants, of significant use on self-care in the Community The Becerrera located in Cacute of the Rangel Municipality, of the Merida State. Previously to this research, the most common health problems were identified (per family group) in the Community by the method PRECEDE / PROCEED as a methodological appliance in the socio-epidemiological diagnosis. Next, the survey TRAMIL was carried to know the species of medicinal plants in the area as a strategy for primary health care. After that, six families were selected intentionally with the purpose of developing this study in which were applied the following steps. (a) Documentation of traditional knowledge (diagnosis), (b) Quantitative determination of Level Significant Use of medicinal plants (LSU), (c) Planning, (d) Implementation and (e) Developments of mechanisms for compensation to the community, according to current methods. There were nine most common health problems that were determined through the application of the survey Ethnofarmacologica TRAMIL among which these were the most frequently: flu (39.1%), circulatory problems (varicose veins, leg pain) (13.1%), asthma, hypertension, tonsillitis, dental caries, back pain, with (8.7%) each one, and the parasitosis (4.3%). In addition, there were 15 differents species of plants reported by community residents of which 7 were cited of equal or higher than LSU indicator (20%), making plants more influential in solving health problems of the community.The agreements with the families were established in spaces for reflection and discussion about what people know, live and feel of the different situations of life and health, where were identified self-care practices favorable. It was shown that the family garden, and educational and practical action on the revaluation of medicinal plants for self-care health is a reinforcing factor in generating positive behaviors in this community in which was promoted for an educational process of reflection-action, acquiring the knowledge of plant species of medicinal use.