Traditional Brazilian medicine

Brazilian traditional medicine includes many native South American elements, and imported African ones. It is predominant where indigenous groups and among the black-Native American mestizo population, and in the Northeast coast, nearly all interior regions including Amazon regions, savannahs, rainforest, foothills, and Pantanal. According to Dr. Romulo R. M. Alves, "although Brazil's health system is public...use of traditional remedies and rituals provide an economical way of healing for much of the populace, but that also does not mean that wealthy Brazilians don't seek it out as well. Traditional medicine is a deep part of Brazilian heritage." [ [http://news.mongabay.com/2007/1210-hance_animal_medicine.html A comprehensive look at the use of animals in Brazilian medicine Jeremy Hance, mongabay.com] ]

The Aruak, Tupi, Yamomami, Quilombola, Krahô Indians, Caboclos River Indians and Guarani are among the native tribes that are known to practice traditional medicine. Among the plants include edible foods like the cashew, peppers, mangosteen and coconut, but often include inedible parts like the fruits, leaves, husk, bark. Neighboring nations like the Patamona of Guyana also use the cashew.Fact|date=August 2008

There is growing interest in Brazilian medicine as the Amazon rainforest is the largest tropical forest in the world, and is home to immense biodiversity, including cures or treatments for many ailments. Japanese scientists have found strong anticancer activity in Brazilian traditional remedies. [ [http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200624/000020062406A0954904.php Basic and applied studies for physiological activities of Brazilian traditional medicine, Taheebo] ] In one study in 1997 published in the The American Journal of Chinese Medicine,Who|date=August 2008 122 species existing in Brazil could be related to the Chinese species (or 14.35% of the samples).cite journal
author=Zolla C
title=Traditional medicine in Latin America, with particular reference to Mexico
journal=J Ethnopharmacol
volume=2
issue=1
pages=37–51
year=1980
month=March
pmid=7464181
doi=
url=http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/0378-8741(80)90028-8] , which means the vast majority were not related. Thousands and possibly millions of species remain unstudied and/or susceptible to extinction by habitat destruction.

One specific example of modern studies of Brazilian medicine the Acai Palm contains antioxidants active against leukemia.

ee also

* Tropical medicine
* Herbalism

Notes

External links

* [http://news.mongabay.com/2007/1210-hance_animal_medicine.html A comprehensive look at the use of animals in Brazilian medicine]
* [http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1517-83822007000400010&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en Antifungal properties of plants used in Brazilian traditional medicine against clinically relevant fungal pathogens (including those resistant to other medicines for HIV+ patients)]
* [http://www.nowpublic.com/environment/brazilian-frog-could-cure-diseases Brazilian frog could cure diseases]