Medicinal plant functional complexes in multicultural contexts of the west of Córdoba Province, Argentina

Abstract

Introduction: Multiculturalism has brought about new practices and formulations with medicinal species. We intend to account for the tensions and interactions between tradition/modernity and between the local/global through the analysis of recipes from different cultural groups in western Córdoba.

M&M: By means of purposive sampling and the snowball technique, recurrent open interviews and semi-structured surveys were applied to 34 informants from the following three groups: re-ethnicized aboriginal, creole and neo-rural populations. Plant complexes associated by functionality were identified and similarities and differences between cultures were analyzed and described.

Results: The narratives account for an original and complex pharmacopoeia for each group with hybridization processes between them. The creole populations are more similar and present more points of contact with the neo-rural populations than with the aboriginal groups in reethnization, at the same time that they present the greatest number of medicinal applications.

Conclusions: The intercultural approach helps us to know the ways of situating ourselves in heterogeneity, and thus have the possibility of understanding how the hybridizations and the relationships of meaning that occur in the scenarios are produced.