Dona Zita: Amazônida que “puxa” e cura dores e males do corpo

Abstract

This article aims to reflect on the knowledge of healing by “puxação” doneby an Amazonian woman residing in the riverside community of Jacarequara, located in the rural area of the city of Barcarena –PA, Brazil. Affectionately known by everyone in her community as Dona Zita, or Tia Zita, this Amazon woman exercises an important role in her living space: the knowledge of healing by “puxação”, something that, according to her, was born with healing practices. Among the most relevant knowledge exercised by Dona Zita, it can be highlighted her ability to work with body and bone dislocations resulting from different causes. The knowledge exercised by Dona Zita allowed us to reflect in this article on the importance of these practices in Amazonia communities where access to medical services becomes scarce in case of emergency. To construct this article, it was necessary to establish dialogues in the field of Social Anthropology based on the works of authors Natália Costa (2017) and Florêncio Vaz Filho (2016). In the relation to the trajectory of the methodology used in the article, we were guided by Oral History instruments, using the perspectives of Hampaté Bá (2010) and Queiroz (1988).

Keywords

• dona zita
• knowledge of healing
• amazon