Indigenous Researcher Revitalizes Traditional Medical Practices of His Community

Hemerson Dantas dos Santos Pataxó Hãhãhãi, an ethnobotanist and member of the Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãi Indigenous community, has undertaken a significant effort to recover and document the ancestral healing knowledge of his people. Now a doctoral student at the Federal University of São Paulo's Institute of Environmental, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, he is recognized as the first Indigenous ethnobotanical researcher in the world. His work aims to preserve traditional medicine practices that are rapidly fading due to environmental devastation, cultural erosion, and forced displacement.

The research, published in the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, focused on addressing health issues prevalent within the Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãi community, primarily parasitic worms, diabetes, and hypertension. While the initial goal was to find community-specific treatments, the study expanded to catalog 175 medicinal plants, some of which are native and others introduced through historical contact. Notably, many of the commonly used plants, such as mastruz (Dysphania ambrosioides) for intestinal worms, moringa (Moringa oleifera) for diabetes, and lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) for hypertension, are exotic species originating from Asia. This reveals the profound environmental changes triggered by colonization and land dispossession.

The study highlights that indigenous knowledge is primarily maintained among elders, many of whom still recall traditional practices and the use of medicinal plants, despite cultural and environmental losses. For instance, the research involved interviews with 19 elders, with most over the age of 62, whose knowledge was invaluable in reconstructing traditional healing methods. A key figure was Dona Marta Xavier, a revered healer and midwife, whose expertise exemplifies the vital role of traditional practitioners.

Beyond documenting plant uses, the project reinforced participatory ethnobotany, a methodological approach empowering Indigenous communities to control their cultural and medicinal knowledge. This approach advocates for the recognition of intellectual property rights and promotes self-determination in managing traditional knowledge, contrasting with colonial patterns of knowledge extraction.

The study also provides historical context, describing the displacement and ongoing land conflicts involving the Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãi in Bahia’s Caramuru-Paraguassu Indigenous Land. Despite legal victories recognizing their land rights, marginalized communities still face threats, with ongoing violence and cultural loss, including the extinction of their traditional language in 1992.

Throughout his research, Pataxó Hãhãhãi emphasizes the importance of recovering both plant-based healing practices and cultural identity. His efforts include creating educational materials, establishing medicinal gardens, and engaging elders to preserve knowledge for future generations. This work not only sustains traditional medicine but also fosters community resilience, cultural pride, and environmental awareness.