ORI INU: ancestral knowledge and practices african-Brazilian mental health.

Este trabalho tem como temÃtica central os conhecimentos e prÃticas ancestrais africanas desenvolvidas no Centro de AtenÃÃo Psicossocial â Caps Iracema da cidade de Fortaleza, no Estado do CearÃ, no Brasil. A pesquisa objetivou compreender as significaÃÃes produzidas pelos usuÃrios da saÃde mental que realizam tratamento complementar com plantas e ervas, chÃs e benzeduras, escuta e acolhimento com as terapeutas de tradiÃÃo religiosa de matriz africana, as mÃes de santo. Para o estudo investigativo, utilizamos a metodologia de pesquisa com entrevistas individuais e observaÃÃo participante, onde optamos em conhecer e ouvir a histÃria de pacientes estabilizados (sem o contexto da crise) e pacientes em vivÃncias sintomatolÃgicas evidentes de crise, totalizando o nÃmero de 4 usuÃrias. TambÃm foram ouvidas as terapeutas de matriz africana, que sÃo as mÃes de santo e os profissionais do Caps responsÃveis pelo acompanhamento do plano terapÃutico dos usuÃrios. A observaÃÃo participante possibilitou o acompanhamento dos usuÃrios durante as sessÃes terapÃuticas numa convivÃncia semanal. Os dados coletados demonstraram que no campo da saÃde mental, o referencial bio-mÃdico posta-se ainda com hegemonia, sendo considerado por familiares e usuÃrios, como tratamento imprescindÃvel. Apesar de existir desde 2006 a PolÃtica Nacional das PrÃticas Integrativas e Complementares no MinistÃrio da SaÃde, constatou-se que o Caps Iracema implementou-a em 2011 e, por parte dos usuÃrios, somente apÃs a participaÃÃo na primeira sessÃo de terapia de base ancestral africana com ervas e plantas, à que a resistÃncia comeÃa a diminuir e hà uma posterior aceitaÃÃo geradora de confianÃa e afinidade com a forma de acolhimento e cuidado dessa terapÃutica. A anÃlise dos dados coletados nos permitiu concluir que: os usuÃrios das terapias de base ancestral africana entrevistados revelam diminuiÃÃo dos sintomas de ansiedade, tristeza, angustia, desejo de morte, alucinaÃÃo e delÃrios, conjuntamente com uma disposiÃÃo de re-aprender a lidar com âseus fantasmas e sofrimentosâ, descaracterizando o estigma de loucos e doentes mentais. ConcluÃmos tambÃm que a inserÃÃo de outros referenciais de acolhimento, cuidado e tratamento em saÃde sÃo fundamentais para o fortalecimento dos direitos humanos e de cidadania dos usuÃrios de saÃde mental e potencializam compreender o processo saÃde-doenÃa para alÃm da dimensÃo bio-mÃdica ou psicoterapÃutica.The central theme of this work is the knowledge and African ancestry practices developed at Centro de AtenÃÃo Psicossocial â Caps Iracema (Center of Psychosocial Atention â Caps) in the city of Fortaleza, Ceara State, Brazil. The researchâs objective is to comprehend the significations produced by the patients of mental health who attended complementary treatment based on plants, herbs, teas and sacred procedures as well as being treated by the African-based religious tradition of the âmÃes de santoâ (mother of saints) who are religious leaders. The research methodology utilized for this investigative study is based on individual interviews and participative observations in order to get acknowledge and listen to the stories told by stabilized patients (with no symptoms of crisis) and also those who present evident symptoms of mental crisis, totalizing a universe of 6 patients. African-based therapists, the âmother of saintsâ, as well as professional therapists of Caps responsible for accompanying the patientâs therapy plan were also heard. The participative observations permitted the patientâs accompaniment during the therapy sessions in a weekly gathering. The collected data shows that in the mental health field the biomedical referential still plays a hegemonic role being considered an irreplaceable treatment by patients and their family. Despite the existence of the âPolÃtica Nacional das PrÃticas Integrativas e Complementares no MinistÃrio da SaÃdeâ (Ministry of heatlhâs National Policy of integrative and complementary practices) since 2006, it was notified that Caps Iracema implemented this policy in 2011. According to the patients, after the first session of the African-based ancestry therapy using plants and herbs the resistance among the patients decreased. A posterior and trustful acceptance geared toward affinity as a way of caring was also notified within this therapy. The analysis of the collected data allowed us the following conclusions: the patients who were treated on African-based ancestry therapy revealed decreasing symptoms of anxiety, sadness, anguish, killing desires, hallucinations and deliriums as well as to re-adapt their coping with their own âghosts and sufferingsâ. That itself mischaracterizes the stigma of being insane and mentally ill people. We also conclude that the application of other referential such as refuge, caring and health treatment are fundamental for the strengthening of Human Rights and citizenship of mental-health patients. It also allows the comprehension of the health-illness process going beyond the biomedical and psychotherapy dimensions