Medicinal plants of Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines: Traditional knowledge and use amongst healers and locals

Abstract

Health care quality and services can be significantly improved through the involvement of grassroots communities. In the Philippines, herbal medicines have been integrated into mainstream clinical practice to improve the healthcare system. However, knowledge of ethnopharmacology in the country is still limited, especially in rural areas like Aurora in Zamboanga del Sur— a municipality with a long history of herbal medicine usage. This study aims to document folk healing practices, utilization, and knowledge of medicinal plants and to quantitatively evaluate ethnopharmacological data from the area. This study documented 165 ethnomedicinal plant species from 64 families, categorized into 16 use categories. We found differences in medicinal plant knowledge based on age, social status, and occupation but not gender. Ethnopharmacological utilization of plants among informants was in strong agreement, with the highest number of species (71) used to treat digestive problems. Several interesting features of local folk medicine were noted, including tuga (healing power bestowed by gods and spirits) and himulso (pulse analysis). Concepts of people–plant interactions and the doctrine of signatures were also observed. Several plant species identified in this study remain understudied; thus, our documentation provides a starting point for the discovery of novel bioactive compounds while promoting pharmacovigilance. This study will also serve as a reference for establishing better management and conservation strategies of floral resources and culture in the area.