After contact with the national society, indigenous societies suffer various ecological and biotic impacts, affecting their state of health. The Munduruku indigenous group has been in contact with the surrounding society since the second half of the last century. The health problems faced by the Muduruku are mainly related to gastrointestinal diseases (especially parasitosis), respiratory tract infections, tuberculosis, hepatitis, malaria, mercury poisoning (mining), ophidic accidents, etc. After field observations and discussions with the various entities that work with indigenous health care (Munduruku), we are implementing a training program for indigenous health agents in their own areas (villages and towns), taking into account the traditional medicines and indigenous knowledge about natural resources (plants, animals and minerals), while seeking to improve human resources and the infrastructure of institutions that serve indigenous patients. This is a directed research methodology, within the proposals of the Interdisciplinary Group of Social Sciences in Health (CNPq/MPEG/UEPA agreement). These guidelines also contribute to a reflection on the knowledge of traditional medicines, appreciating their validity and formulating propositions for an improvement in the application of Western medicine, especially in indigenous societies.
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