Saberes e práticas terapêuticas utilizadas pelos indígenas no combate à Covid-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) pandemic triggered an unexpected scenario in the biological-epidemic field for indigenous peoples. According to the Association of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), (2020), by November 2020, more than 41,000 indigenous people were infected with SARS-CoV-2, which directly affected more than 305 peoples living in Brazil. With this, as a possible attempt to mitigate the effects caused by COVID-19, indigenous peoples are carrying out some therapeutic actions to contain the advance of COVID-19 or mitigate the effect of the virus on their bodies. Research on indigenous knowledge and practices is essential to contribute to the conservation and representation of indigenous peoples' traditional knowledge and assist in constructing health strategies against COVID-19. The following guiding question was used: What knowledge and practices have indigenous people used as a therapeutic strategy in the fight against COVID-19? The following objective was proposed: to know the knowledge and practices used by indigenous people as a therapeutic strategy for COVID-19. This work was carried out through narrative review research, seeking studies on indigenous people using knowledge and therapeutic practices during the Pandemic. Of the ten articles found, after reading each one in total, five articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were analyzed according to the precepts of thematic analysis. It was briefly contextualized in the study on the history of indigenous peoples and their repercussions today, health policies for indigenous peoples in Brazil, the indigenous population in the pandemic scenario, and indigenous knowledge and practices. Among the knowledge and practices, it was found that many medicinal plants widely known in traditional indigenous medicine were used. Plants were also used in cultural healing rituals. In addition, other traditional rituals of indigenous peoples were used in prevention and healing processes and processes of relief or reduction of mental suffering in the context of the Pandemic. The research reveals the importance that indigenous knowledge and therapeutic practices have for preventing and treating symptoms that arise in the context of COVID-19 disease in communities.