Experiences with medicinal plants and guidance for producing educational resources about these plants for use in primary health care (PHC) are relatively scarce. A team from the Santa Catarina Federal University and Florianópolis City Council Department of Health produced the “Guide to Medicinal Plants in Florianópolis”. This article presents this experience and the guide, which is aimed at PHC professionals and values scientific, traditional and professional knowledge, avoiding a colonizing approach to the topic. After presenting some introductory topics, the guide describes 38 medicinal plants commonly used in Florianópolis (scientific and common names, parts used, photo, botanical characteristics, common uses, scientific information, clinical use, adverse reactions and contraindications, plants during pregnancy, toxicity, glossary and references). It is hoped this guide will contribute to the production of other guides adapted to local contexts and recognition of the value of medicinal plants in PHC.
Keywords
Medicinal plants; Public health; Primary health care