Levantamento etnobotânico da utilização do leite de Amapá no munícipio de Alvarães - AM

Abstract

The wealth of natural resources in Brazil, and especially in the Amazon rainforest, offers a range of plant species with great potential as sources of therapeutic agents in the prophylaxis and treatment of various diseases. In popular medicine, “amamazeiro” is a source of latex (white milk) and is widely used in many regions of the Amazon. The present work aimed to carry out an ethnobotanical survey of the use of bitter and sweet Amapá milk in the municipality of Alvarães-AM. A semi-structured interview answered by informants (collaborators) from the municipality was applied, in order to record how the use of bitter and sweet Amapá milk occurs (indications, dose, preparation and time of use). The interviewees, who have knowledge about amapá exudate and who agreed to participate in this research, were selected by the “snow ball” technique and consisted of 60% women and 40% men, aged between 18 and a little older than 100 years old, with the majority in the 50 to 79 age group (46%). Most respondents have lived in the area for over 30 years. The most used amapá exudate in this region is “sweet amapá milk”. For these consumers, amapá exudate is very effective and is very suitable for the treatment of diseases, mainly of a gastric nature. This work can be considered important for recording the traditional knowledge of the populations of this region, and can also be used as a basis for future studies.