Abstract
Historiography recurrently mentions the use of plants by enslaved and freed peoples, which raises interest in an analysis on the subject. In this article, different uses of plants by this group are addressed. They were used to treat illnesses caused by physical conditions or by maladies and spiritual imbalances, as well as to alleviate or resolve the exploitation suffered at the hands of their masters through poisoning. Throughout the nineteenth century, there was an appreciation of knowledge for native plant resources for the treatment of illnesses, but also the repression of their use in religious rituals and the poisoning of slave owners and their families. For the development of the study, the bibliography that addresses the theme, albeit laterally, and primary sources were used. The research was carried out in digital periodical library of the Hemeroteca Digital da Biblioteca Nacional through keywords between the 1820s and 1850s and revisiting the processes of Fisicatura-mor, relating to the period from 1808 to 1828, in addition to consulting the relevant legislation. The analysis of the use of plants in the daily lives of Afro-Brazilians and their descendants helps to broaden the understanding of these people’s living conditions and their agency.
Keywords
Slavery; Plants; Healing Arts; Rio de Janeiro; 19th century