Traditional Health Care Practices Research Articles

PlantMedOman: an online database for Oman's medicinal plants

The Sultanate of Oman has a rich biodiversity, particularly in medicinal plants, and plays a crucial role in traditional healthcare practices. However, the wealth of knowledge about these plants is scattered across various literature, making it challenging for researchers, practitioners, and the public to access comprehensive information. Therefore, the availability of a centralized, user-friendly online database to catalog Oman's medicinal plants is of great importance. PlantMedOman presented here, which currently holds 186 records helps to enhance academic research, support drug discovery studies, promote the conservation of medicinal plants, and foster greater awareness of Oman's ethnomedicinal heritage.

A Comparative Analysis on Bugkalot of Elders and GenZ Perception on the Ethnobotanical Knowledge and Practices in Wasid, Nagtipunan, Quirino

This qualitative, ethnographic study explores the use of medicinal plants within the Bugkalot community for healing purposes. It aims to evaluate the younger generation’s knowledge of these plants, alongside the methods of their preparation and administration. Utilizing semi-structured interviews with key informants, the research underscores the importance of ethical considerations, securing permissions from both the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and individual participants. The study engages with a diverse age group, including Generation Z members aged 13 to 25 and seniors aged 70 to 85, involving a total of nine participants. Data collection was enriched by recorded discussions subsequent to questionnaire dissemination, maintaining confidentiality regarding participant profiles. Through qualitative thematic analysis of interview transcripts, organized into thematic units, the study interprets the collected data to shed light on the Bugkalot community’s ethnobotanical knowledge. This research not only contributes to the understanding of traditional healing practices but also suggests a framework for their preservation and potential integration into wider healthcare systems. It opens future research pathways into the medicinal properties of specific plants, the fusion of traditional and modern healthcare practices, and the documentation of cultural significance within the Bugkalot healing tradition. Keywords: Medicinal plant, Bugkalot, Healing practices, Ethnobotanical, Indigenous people, Cytotoxixity, patability

Exploration of Industrial, Traditional, and Pharmaceutical Applications of Diversity Rich Genus Trigonella: A Comprehensive Review

The Trigonella genus, encompassing Trigonella foenum gracum L. and other species, exhibits annual growth patterns and thrives in arid and semiarid environments worldwide. India stands at the forefront of Trigonella diversity, showcasing its adaptability to challenging climatic conditions. This meticulous review consolidates existing scientific literature to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the Trigonella genus, emphasizing its nutritional value, traditional uses, and therapeutic applications. Particularly, its significance in traditional medicine systems such as Indian Ayurveda, Tibetan, and Chinese medicine is highlighted, shedding light on its profound cultural and medicinal implications. Morphological distinctions, etymology, vernacularity, and habitat preferences specific to the Trigonella genus are also discussed. Additionally, this study explores the economic potential of Trigonella, underscoring its pivotal role in ensuring food security and healthcare within local communities. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of safeguarding traditional healthcare practices and fostering biodiversity conservation efforts by examining the traditional knowledge and utilization of endemic plants worldwide. By offering insights into the diverse species within the Trigonella genus, their cultural significance, and medicinal potential, this review significantly contributes to our comprehension of these invaluable resources and their far-reaching implications for human well-being.

Exploration of traditional Ethno-gynaecological knowledge: advances to ethnobotanical studies from indigenous communities of Neelum Valley in the Himalayan Region

The indigenous communities of the Kashmir region are exclusively dependent on medicinal plants for the treatment of various gynecological disorders. Due to the remoteness and unavailability of modern medications, indigenous communities still use traditional healthcare practices to cure various diseases related to women. The specific objective of this study is to document the traditional ethno-gynecological knowledge in Neelum Alley. Field visits were conducted from April to November 2023 to gather data on medicinal plants used for gynecological problems. Both questionnaires and group discussions were used to collect the data. The gathered data was analyzed using a variety of quantitative metrics, such as use value (UV), and relative frequency citation (RFC). A total of 45 plant species belonging to 22 families were collected from the study area. Herbs made up the majority of the medicinal plants employed by indigenous populations (91.1%), whereas leaves, the most often used plant part, contributed 22.22%. Among medicinal plants, Geranium wallichianum had the highest use value (1.41), whereas Arnebia benthamii had the highest relative frequency citation (0.80). This study emphasizes how important it is to preserve traditional knowledge, pointing out that younger people are losing understanding due to a lack of interest. The documentation of traditional ethno-gynecological knowledge is crucial for the preservation, discovery of novel medications, and sustainable conservation of vulnerable medicinal flora.

Ethnobotanical Exploration of Traditional Medicinal Plants Among the Rural Inhabitants of District Muzaffarabad, Kashmir Himalayan Region

Indigenous knowledge provides insights into the therapeutic properties of medicinal plants used in local communities for basic healthcare. This research focuses on documenting the medical knowledge of rural communities that rely on medicinal plants in their traditional healthcare practices in the district of Muzaffarabad, Kashmir Himalayas. A field survey was carried out in 2022 and 2023 to collect data on wild medicinal plants. Informants were selected at random to learn about indigenous medical practices through semi-structured interviews and group discussions with 95 informants. The ethnomedicinal data were quantitatively analyzed using indices of use value (UV) and relative frequency citation (RFC). The study area documented 57 medicinal plants from 34 different families. Polygonaceae was the most dominant family, contributing 14.03% to medicinal plants, followed by Lamiaceae (10.52%) and Rosaceae (7.01%). Among medicinal plants, communities predominantly used herbs (64.91%) and leaves (29.09%) to treat several health problems. Mentha longifolia had the highest reported use value (1.71), and Bergenia ciliata had the highest recorded RFC value (0.72). Rural inhabitants continue to rely on wild medicinal plants as their primary source of medication. The transmission of indigenous knowledge to descendants is steadily declining and is primarily limited to healthcare practitioners and the elderly. These communities have kept important indigenous knowledge, which must be preserved for sustainable resource management and conservation. A more extensive field exploration is required to discover all of the indigenous knowledge in rural areas of Kashmir.

Traditional Healthcare Practices Among The Tribals Of Katkona Village Of Korea District, Chhattisgarh

The following communication presents original insights obtained regarding 40 plant species utilized by the tribal community of Katkona village, Chhattisgarh, for addressing a spectrum of health ailments. These traditional medicines have been cultivated over generations, reflecting the indigenous knowledge and experience of the local populace. Through personal interviews and collection endeavors, substantial data on the medicinal properties of select flora, alongside their scientific classifications, botanical families, vernacular nomenclature, acquisition methods, and geographical habitats, have been meticulously documented. This comprehensive compilation delineates the therapeutic applications of these plants in mitigating diverse health conditions prevalent among the tribal inhabitants of Katkona village.

Investigating the Healthcare-seeking Behavior among Residents of Otuoke Community in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Health is vital to human living. Poor health in rural areas is prevalent due to various issues impacting health status and service efficacy, with health service functionality measured by affordability and accessibility. Structured questionnaires and oral interviews were employed to investigate the healthcare-seeking behavior of residents of Otuoke community in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. The study established a low response of residents of Otuoke community to biomedical health care (12.8%). Cost (31.4%) was the main limiting factor to seeking health care by the residents. Other factors implicated in influencing healthcare-seeking behaviour include proximity, poor attitude of health care workers, poor medical services and long waiting time in assessing biomedical health care. Most of the respondents resorted to self-examination and self-medication to save cost and time, thereby utilizing the services of local chemists. Traditional healthcare practices still hold sway and gain more relevance based on the fact that it is easily accessible, acceptable and affordable to meet the rural dwellers' expectations compared to biomedical medicine. The study also identified perceived barriers to patronage of the Federal University Otuoke health facility by the students as mainly due to the unavailability of drugs and long waiting time to access medical care. Health education should be deployed to enlighten the residents on rational use of medications and access to treatment at healthcare facilities rather than self-examination and self-medication. University administration should develop strategies to enhance students’ accessibility to the university’s health care services and address the existing barriers.

Bioinformatics and personalized medicine in the U.S.: A comprehensive review: Scrutinizing the advancements in genomics and their potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery

This study provides a comprehensive review of the role of bioinformatics in personalized medicine, particularly focusing on its integration with genomics and the consequent revolution in healthcare delivery. The primary objective was to explore how bioinformatics facilitates the transition from traditional healthcare practices to more personalized, predictive, and patient-centered medical treatments. Utilizing a systematic literature review and content analysis, the study examined peer-reviewed articles, conference proceedings, and reports from key databases like PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, focusing on publications from 2010 to 2023. Key findings highlight the significant advancements in genomic sequencing technologies and their application in personalized therapeutics. The integration of bioinformatics tools in healthcare systems has shown a substantial impact on patient care, emphasizing the importance of ethical and economic considerations, data privacy, and security. The study also revealed the crucial role of collaborations and partnerships within the industry and healthcare systems for the advancement of personalized medicine. The future landscape of genomic medicine presents both opportunities and challenges, particularly in disease prediction, prevention, and treatment. The study concludes with strategic recommendations for healthcare practitioners and policymakers, emphasizing the need for continuous education, robust policy frameworks, and equitable access to personalized medicine. Future research directions include the development of advanced bioinformatics tools, exploration of ethical implications, and understanding barriers to clinical integration. This study underscores the transformative potential of bioinformatics in revolutionizing healthcare delivery and patient care.

Phytochemical Profiling of Ethanolic Extracts from the Bark and Tuber of Colocasia Esculenta (L) Schott, Identification and Quantification of Compounds Present in Kenya

Bacterial infections are the major cause of morbidity and mortality, with high financial impacts among human beings globally. Antibiotics are used in the treatment of bacterial infections. They eliminate or prevent bacteria from reproducing and spreading. Since they do so at different rates, some bacteria may mutate with an under-dose and resist antibiotic treatment through natural selection. The bacteria develop acquired antimicrobial resistance to several drugs due to increased use and misuse of antibiotics. This has resulted in increased interest in the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of bacterial infections. The plants serve as resistance modifying agents from the metabolites that they produce. Previous studies show that metabolites such as tannins, alkaloids and polyphenols may have antimicrobial and resistance-modifying properties. They destroy the microorganisms and interfere with the crucial events in the pathogenic process, reducing the bacteria's ability to develop resistance to botanicals.
 Colocasia esculenta (L) Schott leaves were previously tested against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the extracts showed higher activity against bacterial infections compared to the use of the antibiotic drug Clarithromycin. Leaves of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Colocasia esculenta in previous studies were found to contain steroids, Flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, Anthroquinones and Alkaloids. The extracts were found to have anti-diabetic activity and anti-helminthic activity compared to the standard drug, Piperazine citrate. This study determined phytochemicals present in ethanolic extracts of the bark and tuber of Colocasia esculenta (L) Schott in Kenya. A qualitative research design was adopted in this study. Colocasia esculenta plant samples used in this study were purposely obtained from Kaimosi Friends University farm in Vihiga County. They were taken to the laboratory of Botany at Maseno University, where they were washed with sterile distilled water, separated into bark and tuber, dried, crushed into powder, packed separately in airtight plastic containers, labelled and stored for later use. Plant ethanolic extracts were prepared separately (from powders) in triplicate for use in experiments. Screening for the presence of phytochemicals was done using standard methods. Qualitative analysis of the plant samples was used to check for the presence of flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, phenolic compounds and anthraquinones. Data were collected and then analyzed. Results were presented in the form of a table as the presence or absence of the specific phytochemicals. Results showed that Saponins, steroids, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides and phenolic compounds were present in both the tuber and bark ethanolic extracts of Colocasia esculenta. Interestingly, the bark extract had more saponins and tannins than the tuber extract. The results of this study can be used to further determine the antibacterial activity of the extracts on selected sidearm bacteria. The findings could be of commercial interest to both the Kenya Ministry of Health and pharmaceutical companies in the world in the production of new antibacterial drugs. Policymakers may help reduce the increasing mortality due to bacterial infections by using results from this study. The results can also support Kenya's Vision 2030 of ensuring adequate health care for all by integrating traditional healthcare practices into the national healthcare system for the realization of universal health coverage.

Ayurvedic Management of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in Children: A Narrative Review

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is the most common primary myopathy of children. There are many muscular diseases in children which are inherited through generations. All those are known as congenital myopathy. This disease is an X-linked recessive disorder produced by the abnormality of the gene Xp21. It is a severe condition that poses a life-threatening risk and significantly reduces a patient's lifespan. It is characterised by progressive symmetrical muscular weakness, with proximal muscles being more affected than distal ones. Additionally, individuals with DMD often exhibit pseudohypertrophy of the calf muscles. The compilation of data from classical Ayurvedic texts contributes to a holistic understanding of potential interventions, aiming to improve patient quality of life and prevent contractures. The study is crucial in bridging traditional and contemporary healthcare practices, offering valuable insights for clinicians and the wider medical community in addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by DMD. This research underscores the need for an integrative and comprehensive approach to enhance therapeutic strategies for this prevalent X-linked recessive disorder. In pursuit of this objective, concerted efforts have been directed towards raising awareness among both the general public and the medical community. Furthermore, the review delves into the exploration of various Panchakarma treatments, a traditional therapeutic approach rooted in Ayurveda. By consolidating and synthesising data derived from classical Ayurvedic texts pertaining to DMD, this review seeks to provide a holistic understanding of potential interventions. The goal is to contribute to the advancement of therapeutic strategies that can ameliorate the impact of DMD on patients' lives, fostering a more comprehensive and integrated approach to managing this challenging condition.

Analysis of Nature, Constituents and Effects of Navapashanam- Based on Facts of Siddha, Ayurvedic and Life Sciences- An Elixir of Life

Abstract: Navapashana, an ancient Ayurvedic formulation composed of nine specific elements, holds significant reverence in traditional medicinal practices. This study delves into the intricate nature, constituents, and perceived effects of Navapashanam, shedding light on its traditional significance and potential health benefits. The composition of Navapashanam comprises a blend of metals—gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, zinc, tin, mercury—alongside herbal extracts or natural substances. These ingredients undergo meticulous purification processes, involving grinding, heating, and amalgamation with herbal extracts, to create a purportedly potent elixir. Traditionally believed to confer diverse health advantages, Navapashana's effects encompass several areas. Advocates claim its potential in enhancing vitality, longevity, and immune function. Additionally, it is purported to detoxify the body, foster rejuvenation, and harmonise the body's energy systems or doshas, as per Ayurvedic principles. However1, caution is paramount due to the presence of heavy metals in Navapashanam, known for their potential toxicity. Despite sophisticated preparation methods aimed at rendering these substances safe, there exist safety concerns and associated risks. Therefore, the use of Navapashanam should be guided by experienced practitioners well-versed in its preparation techniques and safety protocols.This analysis underscores the historical significance, constituents, potential effects, and safety considerations associated with Navapashana, emphasising the necessity of expert guidance and caution in its utilisation for therapeutic purposes. Ultimately, a comprehensive understanding of Navapashana's complexities is crucial to assess its suitability and mitigate potential risks when considering its incorporation into traditional healthcare practices.

The Role of Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Healthcare (TCIH) Therapies and Practices in the Prevention and/or Treatment of COVID-19: An Umbrella Review

The Role of Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Healthcare (TCIH) Therapies and Practices in the Prevention and/or Treatment of COVID-19: An Umbrella Review

Ethnomedicinal plants in Champadevi rural municipality, Okhaldhunga district, Nepal

BackgroundOkhaldhunga is a hilly district with fragile socioeconomic conditions, limited access to health care, social stigma, and poor resource management, where most people rely on medicinal plants for primary health care. The use of medicinal plants for primary health care varies with socioeconomic attributes. Following the intra-cultural analysis, we documented and tested the hypothesis that use of medicinal plants in Champadevi, Okhaldhunga, Nepal, depends on socioeconomic variables.MethodsWe interviewed 224 respondents, 53.12% female and 46.88% male, including 31 Brahmin, 157 Chhetri, 13 Dalit, and 23 Janajati, and conducted three focused group discussions and seven key informant interviews to record the ethnomedicinal plants used in Champadevi rural municipality, Okhaldhunga District. The relative frequency of citation (RFC) was computed to know the importance of the species. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used to see the relationship between medicinal plants reported with the sociocultural variables, which include age, gender, occupation, education, ethnicity, and religion.ResultsWe documented 149 medicinal plants, including 69 herbs, 22 shrubs, nine climbers, 48 trees, and one parasitic plant, belonging to 68 families and 130 genera, and used to treat 48 distinct diseases and ailments. Plant parts, leaf, and digestive disorders were frequently treated during healing. Curcuma angustifolia was the most cited species with RFC 0.9554. The respondents' knowledge of medicinal plant use varied significantly with age (p = 0.0001) and occupation (p = 0.003). Changes in land use, population decline of medicinal plant species, and unsustainable harvesting practices constituted the local threats to medicinal plants and associated knowledge. Elders died without passing on their knowledge to the younger generations during sociocultural transformation, and youth disinterest coupled with the free availability of allopathic medicine led to knowledge erosion.ConclusionsThe use of medicinal plants in Champadevi, Okhaldhunga, was significantly depended on two socioeconomic variables age and occupation. Ethnomedicinal plants are essential in the primary healthcare system in Nepal; however, their availability and practices are declining. Thus, plans regulating land use change and human migration, acknowledging traditional healthcare practices, and raising awareness of the significance of traditional medical practices as complementary healthcare practices should be strengthened.

Indigenous Knowledge in Esan Proverbs of Edo State Nigeria

The Esan people are an ethnicity in the Edo state of Nigeria. Their language and culture are a subset of the larger Edo ethnic group in Nigeria. A close study of the Esan indigenous knowledge and culture reveals that the appeal of the Esan folk proverbs is in their eclectic nature because of their portrayal of diverse issues in the Esan cosmology and belief system, ranging from folk art to traditional health care beliefs and practices. This finding suggests that the subject of Esan proverbs deserves some scholarly attention. This article, therefore, examines the nature of Esan proverbs even as they perform their didactic and pedagogical functions in contemporary Esan parlance. By its nature, this study adopted a combination of research approaches, which included content analysis, library searches, and ethnographic methods such as interviews and observations. In the ethnographic study of a specific Nigerian with a focus on its proverbs, this paper’s research light shall beam over the five local government areas (LGAs) populated by the Esan people in the Edo State of Nigeria. Apart from its potential for insightful scholarship, the significance of this study on Esan proverbs also lies in the fact that inquiries into the indigenous knowledge system (IKS) portray folk proverbs as veritable windows into the culture and essence of a people. Indigenous knowledge has much more impact on contemporary society than people know.

Analysis of the antibacterial potentials of the leaf extracts of selected medicinal plants against pathogenic bacterial strains

Medicinal plants render herbal remedies for human ailments and hence prevail over traditional healthcare practices. This study has analysed the antibacterial potential of the leaf extracts of four selected medicinal plants namely, Azadirachta indica, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Biophytum sensitivum, and Mimosa pudica, using Kirby-Bauer’s disc diffusion method. Six bacterial species, namely Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, and Brevibacillus choshinensis were used to assess the growth inhibitory potentials of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the selected plant leaves. The study revealed that the leaf extract of B. sensitivum had the most pronounced antibacterial potential, followed by A. indica and O. tenuiflorum. The least inhibitory potential was showed by the extracts of M. pudica. The findings of the investigation state that the aqueous extract had more consistent antibacterial activity than the ethanolic extracts, confirming that the antibacterial agents present in these leaf extracts are hydrophilic in nature. In terms of growth inhibition, the susceptibility of the pathogenic, virulent strains of bacteria toward these extracts was found comparatively lower than that of the non-virulent, environmental bacteria. With the aqueous extracts, A. baumannii was found to be the most susceptible bacterial species while E. coli was the most resistant. With the ethanolic extracts, E. coli was found to be the most susceptible and B. subtilis the least. The current study supports the usage of the screened medicinal plants in alternative medical practices, as a measure to avoid opportunistic infections by environmental bacteria.

Indigenous Knowledge Associated with Maternal Health and Process of Child Birthamong the Hajongs of Dhemaji District

Despite the amazing advancement in modern allopathic treatment in pregnancy, traditional health care practices have always been used by indigenous ethnics of the world, including the tribal people of India.Their knowledge for the traditional treatment of reproductive health especially pregnancy can be attributed to the abundance and rich diversity of medicinal plants in their habitat.Their wide knowledge of surrounding diverse ecology brings to work for their benefit in a very best way,among which ethno medicine is one .noticeable and valuable knowledge which need special attention. Generally it is believed that childbirth is a normal component of life such as sexual maturation and pregnancy surrounded by cultural,social,ethical and religious considerations.The status of reproductive health is widely varied depending on the prevailing practices of the individual and community at large.The environmental factors and usage of traditional knowledge, beliefs and taboos are also responsible for determining the reproductive health status of any society. The knowledge of the intimate relationship between man and plants in his immediate surrounding has been passed mainly through tradition(Jain,2004).Health is considered as one of the most important parameters in peoples’ life.Social and sexual stratification within societies act as important determinants of health of people in general and that of women in particular.Physiological differences along with gender inequality in societies play a major role in determining the health outcome of a population more particularly that of women.

Blockchain Revolutionizing in Emergency Medicine: A Scoping Review of Patient Journey through the ED.

Blockchain technology has revolutionized the healthcare sector, including emergency medicine, by integrating AI, machine learning, and big data, thereby transforming traditional healthcare practices. The increasing utilization and accumulation of personal health data also raises concerns about security and privacy, particularly within emergency medical settings. Our review focused on articles published in databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, and Medline, discussing the revolutionary impact of blockchain technology within the context of the patient journey through the ED. A total of 33 publications met our inclusion criteria. The findings emphasize that blockchain technology primarily finds its applications in data sharing and documentation. The pre-hospital and post-discharge applications stand out as distinctive features compared to other disciplines. Among various platforms, Ethereum and Hyperledger Fabric emerge as the most frequently utilized options, while Proof of Work (PoW) and Proof of Authority (PoA) stand out as the most commonly employed consensus algorithms in this emergency care domain. The ED journey map and two scenarios are presented, exemplifying the most distinctive applications of emergency medicine, and illustrating the potential of blockchain. Challenges such as interoperability, scalability, security, access control, and cost could potentially arise in emergency medical contexts, depending on the specific scenarios. Our study examines the ongoing research on blockchain technology, highlighting its current influence and potential future advancements in optimizing emergency medical services. This approach empowers frontline medical professionals to validate their practices and recognize the transformative potential of blockchain in emergency medical care, ultimately benefiting both patients and healthcare providers.

Ethnobotanical Study Among Tribal Communities of Kalimpong, West Bengal

ABSTRACT Traditional health-care practices of the tribal population of 10 villages of the Kalimpong, West Bengal, were surveyed and documented. The results from the present study were based on interviews with local physicians of indigenous system of medicine, old aged people (>60 y), and traditional herbal healers. A total of 71 plants belonging to 40 families and 63 genera were documented, of which 40.84% of plant species were herbs followed by trees (32.39%), shrubs (12.68%), grass (7.04%), fern and climber (2.82% each), and creepers (1.41%). Leaves of 24 species were used for treatment of different ailments followed by whole plant (17 species), root/rhizomes and fruit (15 species each), bark (14 species), seed/seed pericarp (4 species), seed oil (4 species), twig (3 species), and other parts by one species each. The highest number of plants was used for treating skin-related problems (14 species) followed by diabetes (12 species), fever and stomachache (10 species), diarrhea, dysentery and ulcer (9 species each), gastric problems (8 species) cold and cough and rheumatism (7 species each). Other diseases were treated by using six or fewer number of species. Out of 71 species, 46 were reported to have more than one therapeutic use in the community.

The medicinal plants utilized by Butuanon in Butuan City, Philippines

The Butuanon is one of the ethnolinguistic groups in the Philippines. The artefacts discovered by the locals and treasure hunters in Butuan City demonstrated that Butuanon is rich in history, culture, and tradition. However, they need more records of their traditional healthcare knowledge and practices. Therefore, this study documented Butuanon’s traditional knowledge and practices for managing illnesses and diseases using medicinal plants. Thirteen key informants were identified and interviewed through the snowball technique after obtaining their consent. The informants used a total of 132 plant species, which correspond to 116 genera and 57 families. The highest-represented family was Fabaceae, followed by Lamiaceae, with 11 and nine species, respectively. Many of the documented plants were herbaceous (37%), followed by trees (29%), shrubs (23%), and vines (11%). The informants commonly used leaves (43%), followed by roots (15%), bark (12%), fruit (7%), and flowers (5%). These plant species treated 93 different illnesses and diseases, of which fever had the highest number of plants used (18%), followed by diabetes (17%), urinary tract infection (16%), cough (15%), hypertension (14%), diarrhoea (11%), cuts and wounds (11%), relapse (8%), kidney dysfunction and disease (6%), and arthritis (6%). In conclusion, this study sheds light on the Butuanon community’s ongoing utilization of medicinal plants for their healthcare needs. This underscores the need to preserve their traditional alternative medicine and conserve Philippine medicinal plants.

Women's wellness in the mountains: An exploration of medicinal plants among tibeto-burman groups in Thailand

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThis study offers valuable insight into the traditional healing practices of women's healthcare within four Tibeto-Burman groups. By focusing on women's wellness, the research sheds light on the often-neglected yet significant contributions made by women in the field of traditional medicine. Aims of the studyThe study seeks to address the gap of studies on the ethnobotany of women healthcare of the Tibeto-Burman groups in Thailand and to analyst the factors that could affect the diversity of ethnobotanical knowledge. Materials and methodsThe study compiled data from 15 group-informants residing in 12 different villages. The information gathering process involved a combination of free-listing, semi-structured interviews, group discussion, and the walk-to-the-wood method. To analyze the data, the researchers used various methods such as use-reports, Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Relative Importance Index (RI), and Cluster analysis. ResultsThis study identified 200 plant species used in traditional women's healthcare practices, with leaves being the most frequently used part. Drinking was the most common method for internal use, while bathing and steam were the most emphasized for external use. Blumea balsamifera and Buddleja asiatica had high RI and RFC. Cluster analysis revealed that group-informants were divided by ethnicity and geographical location. ConclusionThis study contributes to the understanding of traditional healthcare practices among Tibeto-Burman groups in Thailand, with a particular focus on women's wellness. The results provide insight into the ethnobotanical knowledge of these communities and highlight the important role played by women in traditional medicine. The study underscores the need for continued research in this field to preserve and utilize this valuable knowledge.