Plants used by family farmers women in a medicinal syrup of the 19th century in the marrons community of Remanso, Lençóis, BA, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to list the species and parts used as medicinal resources to prepare
a syrup of Quilombola community Remanso, Sheets, BA. The study was conducted in October
2014, using semi-structured interviews and participant observation. Its composition includes
the leaves of Rosamarinus officinalis, Baccharis sp., Mentha cf. piperita, Plectranthus amboinicus,
Ocimum basilicum, Ruta graviolens, Gossipium herbaceum, and Lantana camara; cinnamon
bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), ironwood (Caesalpinia ferrea), true angico (Anadenanthera
colubrina) and umburana (Commiphora leptofloeos); camara flower (Lantana camara);
seeds of Myristic fragrans, Licaria puchury, Foeniculum vulgare, and Dianthus caryophyllus;
and “Italian” honey bee (Apis mellifera). For the preparation, the botanical material is washed
and subjected to the boil, after which it is brewed, blended with honey and taken back to the
boil. The syrup is used for the prevention and treatment of various diseases such as colds and
flu, pneumonia, headache, besides being “fortifier”. This preparation has been used in folk
medicine since the quilombo the second half of the nineteenth century.