Meanings of the use of medicinal plants in self-care practices*

Abstract

Objective: Understand the meanings people attribute to the use of plants in self-care practices during situations of ailment. Method: Qualitative, exploratory-descriptive research with ethnographic orientation, based on health anthropology with informants selected from a relations network. The sampling was done by semi-structured interviews and participant observations, from April 2015 to February 2017. Results: Seventeen informants participated. The thematic axis emerged in the content analysis: meanings attributed by the informants to the use of medicinal plants. Feelings of love and happiness were unveiled, meanings of helping others, cure practices, family care through plants, comfort, the sense of welfare, among others. Conclusion: The importance of the nursing professional in establishing a therapeutic alliance with the subjects and social groups, aiming at the promotion of health and care completeness.