This study aimed to identify the importance of medicinal plants as a first line of action when treating diseases in populations residing in the territory of the Family Health Strategy (FHS) in Montes Claros,/state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.tThis is a cross-sectional descriptive research. Data collection took place by means of a semi-structured questionnaire in 2010. The sample size calculation was based on the number of families in the FHS study setting. For statistical analysis, the significance level considered was p <0.05. One personofrom each family (253) was interviewed. Of the respondents, regardless of income, skin color, education and sex, 75.5 % stated they use medicinal plants (p> 0.05). Almost half of respondents (45.1 %) reported the use of more than one plant at a time. In the event of illness, 42.3 % reported to use medicinal plants and visit the doctor. In case of illness, after consultation and prescription, a significant portion of the plant users (48.7 %) uses only allopathic medicine.sWe concluded that the use of medicinal plants as a therapeutic resource is independent of education and income, which suggestg cultural incorporation of the integrative practice in the community studied.
phytotherapy; therapeutic option; medicinal plants
