Traditional uses of medicinal plants in the Calchaquíes Valleys, Salta, Argentina

Abstract

Backgrounds and aims: The Calchaquí Valleys people still depend on medicinal plants to satisfy their health needs, despid rapid economic and social have changes degrade traditional medical knowledge. The objectives were i) to know the medicinal plants, ii) to inquire about the cultural importance of the plants concerning the diversity of uses in traditional medicine and the informant's consensus; iii) to describe the environments in which the plants were acquired, the disease, conditions treated and therapeutic practices and, iv) to compare the local pharmacopoeia with those of other nearby regions.

M&M: Open and semi-structured interviews were carried out with 30 participants, participant observation and garden guided tours in twelve locations and sites. The collected data were quali- and quantitatively analyzed. 

Results: Herbalist amounts to 89 medicinal taxa, most of them are native (65%), of which 24 are cited for the first time. Medicinal utility versatility covers 51 conditions and diseases. The most widely used species was Geoffroea decorticans, used for respiratory conditions. The most versatile were Ruta chalepensis, Vachellia aroma, Sphaeralcea bonariensis and Ligaria cuneifolia. The body systems with the greatest consensus were pneumology, infectious disease, traumatology and musculoskeletal system. Most are collected in the field and are destined mainly for the gastroenterological system.

Conclusions: The traditional herbal pharmacopoeia was updated. The population uses an essential range of plants where traditional practices and knowledge concur, with a diversity of selective criteria. Changes in conventional practices and knowledge and an informal flow of knowledge about plants are manifested.