BackgroundThe aim of this study was to document the types of diseases treated by the use of medicinal plants, their main applications and also to have a report of the major diseases treated at the Hospital of San Pablo de Huacareta (Chuquisaca Bolivia).MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews on the use medicinal plants with 10 local informants, and categorized the kinds of diseases treated by traditional medicine. We obtained reports of cases treated at the Hospital of Huacareta in order to compare the use frequency of traditional medicine and allopathic medicine for the treatment of recurrent diseases in the area.ResultsOur survey identified 258 traditional medicine uses, spanning a total of 13 diseases categories and including 91 native and exotic plant species and one unidentified sample plant type. Gastrointestinal disorders (55%) were most frequently treated with medicinal plants, followed by afflictions of the musculoskeletal system (25%) and dermatological disorders (24%). Hospital information indicates that the most common diseases are acute respiratory infections (47%) and acute diarrheal diseases (37%). The herbal remedies were mostly used in the form of teas and decoctions. The informants used mainly native plant species, although exotic species has been introduced to the pharmacopoeia.ConclusionsThe treatment of gastrointestinal disorders is the primary objective of the medical ethnobotany of the inhabitants of Huacareta, while respiratory system diseases are mostly treated in the hospital. Looking at the data from the Hospital records we can infer that gastrointestinal disorders are among the most common diseases in the study area. For most respondents, traditional medicine is a reliable choice for the care of their illnesses. However, the preference of the population for either traditional medicine or allopathic medicine needs to be clarified in future comparative studies to obtain more convincing results. The results presented can be used as a base for subsequent work related to traditional medicine and its contribution to allopathic medicine in San Pablo de Huacareta.ResumenIntroducciónEl objetivo del presente estudio fue documentar los tipos de enfermedades tratadas mediante el uso de plantas medicinales, sus aplicaciones principales y también tener un reporte de las enfermedades mayormente atendidas en el Hospital de San Pablo de Huacareta (Chuquisaca, Bolivia).MétodosSe realizaron encuestas semiestructuradas a 10 informantes locales anotando los usos atribuidos a sus plantas medicinales, se agruparon las plantas por categorías de enfermedades tratadas en la medicina tradicional. Se obtuvieron reportes de casos tratados en el Hospital de Huacareta para poder relacionar el tratamiento de enfermedades recurrentes en la zona entre la medicina tradicional y la medicina occidental.ResultadosSe reportaron 91 especies nativas y exóticas, además de un espécimen indeterminado exótico que intervienen en un total de 258 aplicaciones medicinales, las cuales son empleadas en un total de 13 categorías ...
Eucalyptus plantations outside their native range-either as an income source or aimed at sequestering atmospheric carbon to combat climate change-are increasingly known to reduce local biodiversity and groundwater levels, and to increase soil degradation and erosion. One additional but less understood effect of Eucalyptus on native floras is allelopathy-the chemical inhibition of other plants' germination. Here we investigate the putative allelopathic effects of Eucalyptus globulus on the germination of Polylepis subtusalbida, a keystone species that characterizes a species-rich and highly threatened woodland habitat in the Bolivian Andes. We carry out controlled greenhouse experiments reflecting local rainfall, field litter quantity, and Eucalyptus leachate concentrations at multiple levels. Our results, based on five replicates with 390 Polylepis seeds each, show that contrary to our expectation Eucalyptus leachates does not affect germination significantly. Our findings suggest that projects aiming to remove Eucalyptus to restore Polylepis woodlands are likely to succeed even without the resource-consuming removal of leaf litter, and potentially also bark and roots, from the ground after tree felling.
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