STUDY OF POPULAR KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS AND PANCS BY THE ELDERLY IN UBERLÂNDIA-MG.

The use of medicinal plants by elderly people has been commonly used as an alternative for health treatments, and it is also known that this part of the population has knowledge passed down from generation to generation about medicinal plants and PAN-Cs.The aim of this study was to assess the use of medicinal plants and PANCs by the elderly population participating in an outreach program.This is a descriptive, exploratory cross-sectional study with a qualitative and quantitative approach, carried out in the municipality of Uberlndia MG, in the Universidade Amiga da Pessoa Idosa extension program.Seventy-one elderly people were interviewed, 73.2% of whom were female and 26.8% male, most of whom had a university degree.According to the questionnaires, 57.7% use medicinal plants because they believe in their healing power.In addition, 67.6% described that they continued to use medicinal plants even after their illness had ended.When asked which professional they turn to for knowledge about medicinal plants, 100% said they ask their doctor.Regarding the acquisition of medicinal plants and PANCs, 31% reported that they acquire these plants from neighbors, friends or family members.The main use of medicinal plants is through tea 91.5% from the leaves for various purposes.We found that the elderly people interviewed are aware of medicinal plants and PANCs and their uses.The limiting factor of this study was that it was carried out on a small group of elderly people.In this sense, our study cannot be generalized to the entire population of Uberlndia-MG.Therefore, new studies should be carried out with the population of various neighborhoods in Uberlndia in order to have a more comprehensive view of the use of medicinal plants and PANCs by elderly people in the municipality.