Medicinal Plants for Rich People vs. Medicinal Plants for Poor People: A Case Study from the Peruvian Andes.

Fernando Corroto,Manuel J Macía,Jesús Rascón,Elgar Barboza

doi:10.3390/plants10081634

Abstract

Traditional knowledge (TK) of medicinal plants in cities has been poorly studied across different inhabitants’ socioeconomic sectors. We studied the small city of Chachapoyas (~34,000 inhabitants) in the northern Peruvian Andes. We divided the city into three areas according to the socio-economic characteristics of its inhabitants: city center (high), intermediate area (medium), and city periphery (low). We gathered information with 450 participants through semi-structured interviews. Participants of the city periphery showed a higher TK of medicinal plants than participants of the intermediate area, and the latter showed a higher TK than participants of the city center. The acquisition of medicinal plants was mainly through their purchase in markets across the three areas, although it was particularly relevant in the city center (94%). Participants of all socioeconomic levels widely used the same medicinal plants for similar purposes in Chachapoyas, which is likely based on a common Andean culture that unites their TK. However, participants with the lowest socioeconomic level knew and used more plants for different medicinal uses, indicating the necessity of these plants for their livelihoods. City markets with specialized stores that commercialize medicinal plants are key to preserve the good health of poor and rich people living in Andean cities and societies.

Highlights

Rural migrations usually consist of movements of persons or populations from rural to urban areas [1]
Concerning medical indications, we found that participants used medicinal plants for similar purposes regardless of the city area in which they live, so our hypothesis was accepted at the medical indication level
We identified people’s socioeconomic level based on their place of residence in each city area, respectively: we hypothesized that residents of the city center would have the highest socioeconomic level, residents of the city periphery would have the lowest socioeconomic level, and residents of the intermediate area would have a medium socioeconomic level

Summary

Introduction

Rural migrations usually consist of movements of persons or populations from rural to urban areas [1]. This exodus has existed since cities began to be built thousands of years ago. Migrants arrive in the cities in a situation of extreme social vulnerability and without economic resources or support networks. They are installed in peripheral areas that are economically more feasible [6]. City centers are occupied by families with greater economic capacities. The rapid growth of cities in recent decades has changed past peripheral areas to intermediate areas, that have restructured the space progressively with the creation of new peripheric areas [9,10]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion