Abstract
This study was developed at the intersection of health sciences and anthropology in order to understand the value of traditional Afro-Brazilian Medicine portrayed in houses of Candomblé exploring its member’s interactions with the biomedical system of health. The anthropology of health aims to understand the phenomenon of health as a socio-cultural elaboration and from this, develops the notion of cultural health system, the theoretical operator of this study. This proposal can contribute to the challenges faced in the field of collective health by enabling dialogue between cultural health systems, supporting the creation of more effective policies. This ethnographic-inspired article was developed from a specific bibliographic survey, followed by participant observations and interviews with members of the community Ilé Alákétu Asè Ifá Omo Oyá, located in São Paulo. The health practice in candomblé manages to reach gaps left by biomedicine by associating itself in a non-authoritarian, colonialist or exclusive way taking into account the symbolic, cultural, subjective and spiritual processes involved in the processes of illness. This practice brings other possible ways of interpretation, treatment and cure for health problems.
Key words:
Medical anthropology; Public health; Traditional medicines; Culturally competent care; Sfrican traditional medicine