The Health of the Tembé Depends on the Amazon Rainforest

In the Alto Rio Guamá region of the Brazilian Amazon, the Tembé, an Indigenous people of the Tupi-Guarani family, have developed a deep connection between their health, culture, and the forest. Their traditional knowledge is not merely a collection of recipes or rituals but a complex system where nature, body, and spirit are intertwined. For them, the forest is not just a place to live but a living pharmacy, where each plant has healing properties and a spiritual dimension.

The Tembé use hundreds of plant species to treat ailments ranging from digestive disorders to more subtle conditions like the evil eye. Their knowledge of medicinal plants is based on ancestral transmission, where each generation learns to recognize, cultivate, and use these resources. However, this transmission is now threatened by the degradation of their territory. Deforestation, illegal logging, and land conflicts reduce access to essential plants and disrupt traditional practices. When the forest disappears, an entire part of their cultural and therapeutic heritage vanishes with it.

The health of the Tembé cannot be separated from the protection of their land. Studies show that the loss of forest cover directly affects their physical and mental well-being. Forest fires, often caused by human activities, destroy not only ecosystems but also sacred sites and the resources needed for their healing rituals. Without an intact territory, their traditional healthcare system, which relies on a harmonious relationship with nature, loses its effectiveness.

Yet, the Tembé do not merely endure these pressures. They actively resist, defending their land rights and preserving their knowledge. Their struggle is not just about survival but also about dignity. They claim the right to manage their own resources and knowledge, ensuring these are not exploited or appropriated by external actors without their consent. This demand for recognition involves active participation in research that concerns them, not just as informants but as co-authors and decision-makers.

Their approach to health integrates both traditional practices and elements of modern medicine, creating a form of intermedicality. This dialogue between the two systems is not always balanced, but it demonstrates remarkable adaptability. The Tembé know how to incorporate external elements without losing the essence of their identity. This cultural flexibility allows them to maintain their autonomy while remaining open to new knowledge.

Protecting their territory is therefore much more than an environmental issue. It is an essential condition for preserving their health, culture, and autonomy. Without a healthy forest, their traditional healthcare system, built on centuries of accumulated knowledge, cannot survive. And without this system, an entire worldview risks disappearing.

Research conducted with the Tembé also highlights the importance of rethinking public health policies. To be effective, these policies must respect their governance, territorial mobility, and local therapeutic repertoire. It is not just about translating medical concepts but organizing services that recognize and value their practices.

Finally, the Tembé’s struggle for their land and knowledge sheds light on a broader issue: that of epistemic justice. Their knowledge is not merely a set of beliefs or folkloric traditions but fully fledged scientific systems, as valid as those of Western medicine. Recognizing this also means recognizing their right to decide how this knowledge is used, shared, and protected. Without this recognition, health and conservation policies risk perpetuating the same inequalities that have historically marginalized Indigenous peoples.

Information and Sources

Study Reference

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-026-02199-0

Title: Indigenous traditional knowledge in health and biodiversity stewardship of the Tenetehara Tembé in the Brazilian Amazon

Journal: Discover Public Health

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Juliane Larissa Barbosa Santos; José Augusto Carvalho de Araújo