$a Utilização de plantas medicinais no assentamento Ho Chi Minh (MG), do MST: pesquisa-ação

Abstract

This research was conducted to contribute to the organization of existingknowledge about medicinal plants among rural workers from the Landless Workers Movement (MST) in Ho Chi Minh settlement, in Nova União (Minas Gerais Brazil), intending to promote education, utilization and reflection that could lead to workers health improvement. The methodology used was actionresearch. This research was developed within Coletivo TERRAS, an interdisciplinary group, which works to facilitate, animate and nurture the dialogue between formal and popular knowledge. The following qualitative techniques were employed: militant observation, reflection, field journal, photographs, interviews and actions. Three aspects were simultaneously developed: 1. Elaboration of means to accomplish pedagogical and practical actions determined by the settled families to improve local utilization of medicinal plants; 2. Description of the workers existing knowledge concerning this resources actual use; 3. Generation and deepening of reflection about thepositive and negative aspects of using medicinal plants and industrialized drugs from the perspectives of settled families. The need and importance of rescuing the popular knowledge concerning medicinal plants in order to improve health outcomes of Brazilian people has become obvious in this study. There is a need to give up naiveness and acknowledge that science has not only the role of describing the state of things, but also of transforming reality. Tightening of bonds between Social Movements such as MST and universities promotes amutual growth that contributes to both university students humane formation (transforming them in professionals more sensitive to the Brazilian reality) and technical-scientific formation of Social Movements militants. Dialogue is crucial. This research was one of the many indispensable small steps towards liberation of all, in direction of a fair, participative and equalitarian society.