Medical ethnobotany of the Zapotecs of the Isthmus-Sierra (Oaxaca, Mexico): Documentation and assessment of indigenous uses

Frei, Barbara; Baltisberger, Matthias; Sticher, Otto; Heinrich, Michael

doi:10.1016/s0378-8741(98)00051-8

Cited by 127 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The Hospital of Huacareta has now begun a project where doctors and traditional practitioners cooperate in the treatment of patients [1]. Previous research in other regions indicated already that such an approach is feasible [13,21,22]. The Hospital has 48 general practitioners, 9 midwives and works now with at least 5 traditional healers [1].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Medicinal ethnobotany in Huacareta (Chuquisaca, Bolivia)

Quiroga

Meneses

Bussmann

2012

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

118

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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 ...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We categorized the diseases reported in this investigation in accordance to Bárbara Frei and Susana Arrázola [5,22], whose study is based on human body parts affected by an illness (e.g. respiratory system, skin, gastrointestinal tract, circulatory system, etc.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medicinal ethnobotany in Huacareta (Chuquisaca, Bolivia)

Quiroga

Meneses

Bussmann

2012

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

118

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“…A lack of medical care, unsanitary conditions, malnutrition, and poverty wages [12], together with high cost of medicines had contributed to people's need to use both traditional and modern health care, including medicinal plants. Abundant information about useful plants in Mexico recorded from the mesomaerican tropical south region [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] shows the relevance and legacy of the huge knowledge about different plant uses and applications, now widely used in northern areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnobotany in the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park, Nuevo León, México

Estrada

Villarreal

Cantú

et al. 2007

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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An ethnobotanical study in the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (CMNP), Nuevo Leon, Mexico was conducted. In spite of the large area (1,773.7 km2), heterogeneous physiography, contrasting plant communities and high species diversity of the CMNP, very little was previously known about its useful plants. Based on 95 interviews with inhabitants of the region who were 35 years or older, we recorded ethnobotanical data of 240 species (comprising 170 genera and 69 botanical families), and 146 different uses. Most of the cited uses (98) were found to be medicinal ones.Background: An ethnobotanical study in the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (CMNP), Nuevo Leon, Mexico was conducted. In spite of the large area (1,773.7 km 2 ), heterogeneous physiography, contrasting plant communities and high species diversity of the CMNP, very little was previously known about its useful plants. Based on 95 interviews with inhabitants of the region who were 35 years old or older, we recorded ethnobotanical data of 240 species (comprising 170 genera and 69 botanical families), and 146 different uses. Most of the cited uses (98) were found to be medicinal ones.

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“…Moreover, they are typically linked to local belief systems and treatments often rely predominantly on rituals and sensory perceptions (e.g. aromatic plants) (Frei et al, 1998;Leonti et al, 2001). However, a closer examination of treatments used by traditional practitioners can provide unique and important information on the nature of these complex syndromes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%