This multidisciplinary study was carried out in four rural communities of the Sorá corregimiento, in the district of Chame, Panama Oeste, with the objective of assessing socio-environmental determinants, cultural patterns, and Traditional Medicine (TM) practices used as a primary form of healthcare. Students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Panama conducted community assessments, administered surveys, interviewed local leaders, and implemented educational sessions focused on the rational use of medicinal plants.

A total of 208 residents were surveyed, of whom 74% reported regular use of medicinal plants, primarily for conditions such as colds, diarrhea, stomach pain, headaches, and culturally recognized “pasmo.” The most commonly used species were Lippia alba (mastranto), Pluchea carolinensis (salvia), Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass), Aloe vera (sábila), Mentha spicata (spearmint), Annona muricata (soursop), and Ruta graveolens (rue). In most cases, community use aligned with scientific evidence reported for each species; however, improper dosing, empirical preparation methods, and unvalidated applications were identified, which may pose health risks.

Geographic limitations and reduced access to formal healthcare services explain the community’s strong reliance on TM. More than 40% of families maintain home-based medicinal plant gardens, facilitating immediate availability of therapeutic resources. As an intervention, educational talks, didactic materials, and the establishment of school medicinal gardens were implemented to promote the safe and rational use of these plants, emphasizing appropriate dosing, potential interactions, and adverse effects.

The findings highlight the cultural and functional significance of TM in these communities, as well as the need to strengthen educational and health-promotion processes that integrate traditional knowledge with scientific evidence, thereby contributing to safer and more context-appropriate primary healthcare.