Ten women living in the outskirts of Teresina were studied in order to find out which plants were used by them in the treatment of up to five-year-old children presenting respiratory problems. The creative and sensitive method proposed by Cabral was used to produce and analyze data. The study was supported by Freire's critical and reflective theory to reach the following generating themes: identification, indication and part of the plant used. The meeting of the women's common sense and scientific knowledge demonstrates that: the indication and the desired effect are the same whereas the part of the plant used and its identification follow different parameters. The fusion of both types of knowledge contributed to reveal the risk of toxicity due to indiscriminate use.
nursing; child health; herbal medicine
