Medicines in the forest: ethnobotany of wild medicinal plants in the pharmacopeia of the Wichí people of Salta province (Argentina)

ConclusionsThe similarity of the current Wichí pharmacopoeia with the other ethnic groups of the region seem to respond more to a geographical proximity than to cultural affinity. Much (but not all) of their pharmacopoeia seem to be novel, resulting from a permanent seek for solutions to both old and new health problems in the native forests. Many medicinal plants, but not specific uses, seem to come from the neighbouring Criollos, whilst traditional remedies seem to be simultaneosly preserved. Hence, I propose that the ethnobotanical “diversification hypothesis”, slightly modified, applies in the case of wild medicinal plants of the Wichís, as new wild medicines are being added to the old ones to fill therapeutic vacancies that for several sociocultural and historical reasons appear in their traditional pharmacopoeia. Altogether, results provide novel information of interest for ethnopharmacology, medical ethnobotany and related disciplines, expand the knowledge of Wichí pharmacopoeia and contitute a baseline for future diachronic and cross-cultural studies in the Gran Chaco region.Graphical abstract
Source: Journal of Ethnopharmacology - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research