Brazil - "Farmacia Verde" (Green Pharmacy)

Project name: "Farmacia Verde" (Green Pharmacy)
Status: in progress
Start date: 1995
End date: to be determined
Budget:  $ 90'000
Project initiator: Lucimar Aires de Souza and Dr. Aldo Lo Curto
Sponsor: Graziella Zanoletti, FUNASA
Contact and information: go to the contact page
Donations: go to the donations page

The project "Farmacia Verde" (Green Pharmacy) was created in 1995  to promote the fabrication and use of plant-based first-aid medicine elaborated according to local traditional remedies.

Based in the city of Altamira, in the state of Pará, north of Brazil, the Farmacia Verde center is constituted of a garden and a laboratory and currently employs 4 people full time. Over forty different medicinal plants are grown, to produce about 30 different  medicines. The plants include ginger, mint, marigold, arnica and many other regional varities such as boldo or mikania glomerata. In 2008, 5'780 medicines were produced and distributed to 2'245 individuals from 16 Altamira communities.

The use of these plant-based medicines is a good alternative to regular drugs, as they are just as efficient and much cheaper to produce.

Farmacia Verde's work is supported by research centers, such as the Federal University of Ceara, to ensure the best use possible of the plants, based on scientifically proven therapeutic effects.

Farmacia Verde is partially funded by the Fundaçao Ipiranga em Belèm and the Federal Health Assistance (FUNASA). FOH has been covering the remaining costs since January 2008 (900$/month). 

More information on Farmacia Verde: