Abstract
BackgroundThe concept of eco-cultural health considers the dynamic interaction between humans and ecosystems, emphasizing the implications of the health of the ecosystem for the health and well-being of human populations. Ethnobotanical studies focusing on folk medicine and medicinal plants can contribute to the field of eco-cultural health if they incorporate the perspective and local knowledge of communities. We investigated the local health practices in three rural communities living within the vicinity of a protected area of sustainable use in a semi-arid region of Brazil. We analyzed the opinions of local health experts on the elements that influence human health and on how the environment contributes to this influence. We also analyzed and compared the local knowledge of medicinal plants, as knowledge of this type is an important factor when considering the interaction between environmental and human health.MethodsWe performed structured interviews and free-listings with 66 local health experts. We used content analysis to systematize the elements of the influences on human health. We compared the richness of the plants cited among communities and analyzed the differences among the three communities regarding the ways in which the plants were obtained and the environments in which plants were collected.ResultsThe local experts identified several influences of the environment on human health. These influences can be associated with ecosystem services, such as climatic conditions, water and air quality, recreation and medicinal and food resources. We identified 192 medicinal plant species, most of which were gathered from wild ecosystems. The most important environments for the three communities were the plateau mountain and backyards.ConclusionsThe informants had a broad and integrated view of health, perceiving the importance of conserving the environment within the National Forest of Araripe for the health and well-being of the local populations.
Highlights
The concept of eco-cultural health considers the dynamic interaction between humans and ecosystems, emphasizing the implications of the health of the ecosystem for the health and well-being of human populations
By analyzing the perspectives of local health experts on elements that influence human health, we describe how the environment contributes to the health care context
The communities studied have access to the formal health system and maintain local knowledge and health practices that establish a positive relationship with the environment
Summary
The concept of eco-cultural health considers the dynamic interaction between humans and ecosystems, emphasizing the implications of the health of the ecosystem for the health and well-being of human populations. Discussions on the relationship between biological and cultural diversity have been incorporated into the field of ecosystem health through the concept of ecocultural health [4] This concept considers the dynamic interaction between humans and ecosystems, emphasizing the health or pathology of a given ecosystem and the implications of the health of the ecosystem for the livelihoods, health and well-being of human populations. Local health experts are community members who are culture-bearers for folk medicine, and they often maintain important knowledge about environmental and human health [8,9]
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