Plants of the Yungas Biosphere Reserve, Northwest of Argentina, used in health care

HILGERT, NORMA INÉS; GIL, GUILLERMO

BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2006 vol. 15 p. 2565 - 2595

0960-3115

We have compared the species richness of medicinal plants and the differential patterns of use amongst settlements in the Andean communities of Northwest Argentina which have differing levels of isolation. About 259 ethnoespecies, belonging to 74 plant families, were included, representing between 70 and 80% of the total estimate. The results indicate that Coronopus didymus is the most relevant and important species. The method of use of medicinal plants and the ailments treated by rural doctors compared to those of the layperson is different. Native and exotic plants are used differently according to the body system treated. There are some relationships between internal and external use and body systems and recipes. The greater medicinal species richness found in the less isolated locations is due to external enriching cultural influences.