Homegarden Variation and Medicinal Plant Sharing among the Q’eqchi’ Maya of Guatemala

Thiel, Amanda; Quinlan, Marsha B.

doi:10.1007/s12231-021-09537-0

Cited by 3 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…This Q'eqchi' community's most frequently grown herbaceous medicinal plants are Cymbopogon winterianus, Neurolaena lobata, and Ruta chalepensis (Table 1; see Thiel and Quinlan [2020] for common homegarden medicinal trees). Inter-household variation in homegarden medicinal content and plant-sharing is the norm in this village (Thiel and Quinlan 2022). Yet, these three species recur in 12-19% (3-5/26) of sampled homegardens.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Villagers own or rent additional plots for maize horticultural production. For extensive ethnographic description and local definitions and perceptions of homegardens, see Thiel and Quinlan (2022).…”

Section: Study Locationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All report the tea for treating coughs, and one recommends it for fever. While only these three informants grow C. winterianus, 24% of households reported using it, calling it by its Spanish name té de limón, for coughs and fever in combination with other plants they grow (see Thiel and Quinlan 2022).…”

Section: Cymbopogon Winterianusmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cymbopogon winterianus, Neurolaena lobata, and Ruta chalepensis—Recurring Herbal Remedies in Guatemalan Maya Q’eqchi’ Homegardens

Thiel

Quinlan

2022

EBL

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We report on the top three ethnopharmacological herbs growing among a lowland Guatemalan Q’eqchi’ community’s homegardens. In a gardening culture characterized by pragmatic species distribution and sharing, these few herbaceous species recur in multiple households’ dooryard gardens. Our aim in reporting on the most predominant ethnobotanical herbs gardened in a Maya Q’eqchi’ village’s dooryards is to valorize the capacities of local pharmacological traditions. Thirty-one walking homegarden interviews and participant-observation inform this research with village residents. Té de limón (Cymbopogon winterianus, for cough, fever), Qa’mank/Tres punta (Neurolaena lobata, for diabetes, fever, headache, gastrointestinal ills, evil eye), and Ruda (Ruta chalepensis, for children’s vomiting, weepiness, evil eye) are the prevalent non-woody Q’eqchi’ homegarden herbs here. Regional ethnomedical and extant pharmacology research mutually support the efficacy and continued practicality of these Q’eqchi’ plant uses. Ethnopharmacological research of Maya Q’eqchi’ medicinals documents local knowledge for conservation and calls for their cultural and biomedical respect as prominent, accessible, therapeutic species. Resumen Reportamos sobre las tres principales hierbas etnofarmacológicas cultivadas en los huertos familiares de una comunidad Q'eqchi' guatemalteca de tierras bajas. En una cultura de jardinería caracterizada por la distribución pragmática de especies y el intercambio, algunas especies herbáceas se repiten en los huertos familiares de múltiples hogares. Nuestro objetivo al reportar sobre las hierbas etnobotánicas más predominantes cultivadas en los patios de una aldea Maya Q'eqchi' es el de valorizar las capacidades de las tradiciones farmacológicas. Treinta y una entrevistas en base a “caminatas botánicas” y la observación participante informan esta investigación con los residentes de la aldea. Cymbopogon winterianus (para la tos, fiebre), Neurolaena lobata (para la diabetes, fiebre, dolor de cabeza, enfermedades gastrointestinales, mal de ojo) y Ruta chalepensis (para el vómito, el llanto y el mal de ojo en niños) son las hierbas medicinales predominantes. Las investigaciones regionales etnomédicas y farmacológicas actuales apoyan mutuamente la eficacia y la factibilidad de estas plantas y sus usos entre los Q’eqchi’. La investigación etnofarmacológica de las medicinas Maya Q'eqchi' documenta el conocimiento local como base para la conservación e invita al respeto cultural y biomédico de estas como especies terapéuticas destacadas y accesibles.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Study Locationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cymbopogon winterianus, Neurolaena lobata, and Ruta chalepensis—Recurring Herbal Remedies in Guatemalan Maya Q’eqchi’ Homegardens

Thiel

Quinlan

2022

EBL

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“…Data come from multiple lines of investigation: participant observation of village life; ethnobiology-focused interviews (informal and semi-structured); walking home garden tours (see Thiel and Quinlan 2020, 2022a, 2022b); and two focus groups with key informants (see Bernard 2017 for a description of the conventional methodologies used in this study). Altogether, specific information was collected and analyzed from 45 Santa Lucía villagers: 16 men and 29 women between the ages of 16 and 70.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Field research was conducted in two periods: June–August 2016 and June–July 2018. Research conducted in 2016 explored general local ethnobiology, including perspectives on seasonal activities, home garden ethnobotany (see Thiel and Quinlan 2020, 2022a, 2022b), traditional hunting, and animal uses. Research in 2018 reviewed past information and continued to explore these subjects and local understandings of changes in weather patterns and related cultural practices.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Guatemalan Maya Q’eqchi’ Seasonal Calendar: Methods to Monitor Climate Change Locally

Thiel

Medinaceli

2023

Journal of Ethnobiology

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Maya Q’eqchi’ villagers of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala fathom local indicators of climate change keenly. In a small-holder, maize-based, horticultural village, ethnographic interviews with village experts in hunting, agricultural production, and animal husbandry, and with non-expert/lay villagers recounted that many local climate- and subsistence-related activities and some traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) correspond to annual cycles or seasons. This research documents the local queues and timing of residents’ practices as a baseline for monitoring subsequent years’ activities and climate-related observations based on our interpretation of emic views, practices, and traditions. Using focus groups, we collected such traditional indicators to design a visual representation of a seasonal calendar, which we present herein. This seasonal calendar is a locally accessible tool to document monthly climate observations, agricultural and home garden activities, hunting, animal raising, and cultural activities during a complete annual cycle. We supplement observational and focus group data with semi-structured interview data about subsequent changes in weather patterns, which villagers identify as resulting from climate change. We suggest that Maya Q’eqchi’ villagers are active in their acknowledgment of climate change and are taking steps to document its effects on locally significant cultural activities, exemplifying Q’eqchi’ cultural capacity to adapt to ecological changes and to promote local resilience and cultural vitality. We demonstrate how seasonal calendars and the methods to create them may contribute to local and global understandings of TEK and climate change and annotate conventional anthropological methods as considerations for creating seasonal calendars in other cultural and ecological communities.

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Local knowledge of homegarden plants in Miao ethnic communities in Laershan region, Xiangxi area, China

Luo,

Li,

et al. 2024

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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Background Homegardens are small-scale land use systems with significant implications for local livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development due to their diverse flora and fauna. Conducting homegarden surveys enables researchers to gain insights into the traditional ecological knowledge of indigenous communities, preserve homegarden biodiversity, and promote sustainable livelihoods. This study has two objectives: first, to collect, record, and organize data on homegarden plants and related traditional knowledge from three communities in the Laershan Plateau, and second, to analyze the species and functional diversity of homegarden plants in the region while exploring the factors that contribute to the heterogeneous distribution of these plants among the communities of three townships. Methods This research employed field surveys in the Laershan Miao Autonomous Region in Xiangxi, China, from September 2021 to August 2023. Data were collected through observation and semi-structured interviews. The study utilized descriptive statistics and quantitative analysis, including the Relative Importance Value (RI), Use Value Index (UV), Jaccard Index (JI), and Comprehensive Index of Land Use Degree (La), to examine the diversity of local homegarden plants and related traditional knowledge, as well as community heterogeneity. Results The study area exhibited rich biodiversity, with 152 plant species recorded belonging to 62 families and 124 genera. These findings highlight the importance of homegarden plants in maintaining ecological balance and enhancing system resilience against disturbances. Homegarden plants serve multiple functions such as food, ornamental, medicinal, and fodder purposes, with edible and trade plants having the most abundant knowledge. Furthermore, this research revealed that communities with similar forest resource compositions may have similar homegarden plant compositions, demonstrating the connection between cultural exchange among different communities and patterns of plant species distribution. Conclusions The Laershan region boasts diverse homegarden plant species crucial for ecological balance and resilience. Their multifunctionality reflects human impact. Plant diversity varies with residents' lifestyles, needs, and cultural exchanges. The close connection between plants and local life is clear. Factors like resource distribution, cultural exchange, and lifestyle influence plant distribution. Further research is needed for conservation and sustainable development. Future research should focus on culturally valuable plant species and traditional knowledge applications.

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Homegarden Variation and Medicinal Plant Sharing among the Q’eqchi’ Maya of Guatemala

Cited by 3 publications

References 44 publications

Cymbopogon winterianus, Neurolaena lobata, and Ruta chalepensis—Recurring Herbal Remedies in Guatemalan Maya Q’eqchi’ Homegardens

Cymbopogon winterianus, Neurolaena lobata, and Ruta chalepensis—Recurring Herbal Remedies in Guatemalan Maya Q’eqchi’ Homegardens

Guatemalan Maya Q’eqchi’ Seasonal Calendar: Methods to Monitor Climate Change Locally

Local knowledge of homegarden plants in Miao ethnic communities in Laershan region, Xiangxi area, China

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