Traditional medicine knowledge holders´s place: invisibility of raizeiros in public policies

invisibility of raizeiros in public policies

Abstract

The article discusses the invisibility of traditional medicine knowledge holders, especially associated with spirituality, in public policies. Traditional medicine is often characterized by individualized care, by means of the manufacture of specific remedies that can simultaneously treat the physical body and the spiritual part. In the last two decades, advances have been observed towards its recognition within collective health policy, as the National Program of Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapeutics (2008) being representative. However, products and health care produced in traditional communities do not fall into the herbal medicine category. In turn, heritage processes are time-consuming and rarely result in the recognition of places and of traditional medicine knowledge holders, the “razeiras” and “razeiros”. It is argued that giving visibility to traditional healers in public policies is an important step towards ensuring primary health care in traditional communities, combating intolerance and strengthening the community’s cultural heritage.