229

Jourrtul of’ Eillnap~ar~u~alagy, 35 ( 1992) 229-251 Efsevier Scientific Publishers Ireland Ltd.

Medicinal plants used in some rural populations of Oaxaca, Puebla and Veracruz, Mexico Marisela C. Zamora-Martinez Centro de lnves~~g~cion~s Forestales y Agropecuarias

and Cecilia Nieto de Pascual Pola

del L&Who Federai. fNIF4 P, Pragreso No. 5, Viveras de Cayoac& M&&w, I). F. (M&co)

04110,

(Accepted August 22. 1991)

Within Mexico‘s floristic abundance. plants with curative properties are outstanding due to their popularity in handling several illnesses. a fact that becomes specially important for the social groups of the tropical regions. In this paper the results of an ethnobotanical study carried out in 57 rural populations from the Mexican states of Oaxaca. Veracruz and Puebla are presented; questionnaire and interview methods were applied, with special attention to the use of plants for medical purposes. The most relevant results were: the taxonomic determination of 237 vegetai species from which 399 curative products are obtained. in order to combat 57 illnesses, the most frequent of which are those related to the digestive system, the skin. the reproductive system and those of supernaturai origin, which can only be treated by the use of plants in special ceremonies known as ‘limpias’. due to their peculiar condition.

Key wor&: Mexico; medicinal plants; curative properties; tropical plants; mode of use

Mexico’s wide variety of ecological conditions favour the existence of one of the richest floras of the world, since it is represented by nearly 30,000 species. At present there are fifty-six ethnic groups recognized, distributed through the whole Mexican territory. As far as it is known, they still keep a good amount of their ways and knowledge from their ancestors, which indude the use and management of the plant resources present in their environment, a very ancient inheritance that has a prehispanic origin. The significantly broad prehispanic culture has been emphasized by several anthropological and ethnobotanical research activities, that have pointed out special aspects, like the establishment of ~ar~espQ~gace to: Mar&la C. Zamora-Martinez, Centro de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias det Distrito Federal, INIFAP, Progreso No. 5, Viveros de Coyoaciin, 041 IO, Mexico, D.F., Mexico

botanical gardens and the measurement of time, whose level of knowledge was even broader than the Europeans of that time. Due to the political and ideological reasons that came with the Spanish Conquest, every demonstration of the autocton knowledge was handicapped so vigorously, that they were forced into concealment or fusion with the scientific mind, the moral code and the religious beliefs prevailing in 16th century Europe. In spite of it all, and in regard to the oral transmission from one generation to the fotlowing, traditional medicine, understood as the curative mechanisms by means of plants and natural resources, has an important place in rural Mexico, since within its scope are born the primary steps from any illness. The use of plants with medical properties is specially meaningful in tropical lands, due to the great variety of animal and vegetal species that belong to their ecosystems, a fact that increases the number of available resources; on the other hand, the climate is propitious for the development of infectious disease.

0378-8741/92/%05.00 0 1992 Elsevier Scientific Publishers Ireland Ltd. Printed and Published in Ireland

230

Thus, by the ethnobotanical work, it is intended to bring to light the traditional knowledge about plant use and its cultural significance, in order to lead to better ways of natural resource exploitation or to propose their management according to the needs and anthropological characters of the human groups over which it is planned to intercede, as well as to the elements present in their environment. Another immediate result of this sort of study, is the elaboration of regional medical compendia, based upon the requirements, limitations and health conceptions in particular social communities. In regard to the previous statements, the purpose of this paper is to show a panorama of the real use of medical plants from one of the tropical lands of Mexico. Literature review

The broad knowledge about the properties and usage of plants of the prehispanic ethnic groups, produced several d~uments during the 16th and 17th centuries. Some outstanding literature that appeared then was: Sahagun’s (16th century) Historia General de las Cosas de la Nueva Espaiia

(Sahagun, 1975); Francis co Hernandez (15701577) Historia Natural de la Nueva Espaiia that includes 3500 names of plants in native language, its properties and its use forms; and the codes Badiano, which has 185 colour plates of curative plants, and reference to 270 more, 80% of which are determined up to species level (Estrada Lugo, 1985). All these references gather the original testimony from the Indian tribes. In modern times, there has been a lot of publications upon the same topics; some outstanding authors worked at a national level, for example, Martinez (1969), Diaz (1976), Aguilar Contreras et al. (1952) and Schultes and Hofmann (1982). Particularly about the use of tropical vegetation it is important to mention Roys (193 1); Martinez-Alfaro (1968- 1984); Barrera and LopezFranc0 (1976), Toledo et al. (1978), Diego (1979) and Barrera (1982). With respect to this, the former Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, during the last decade, produced catalogues about useful

plants with economic value from different ecological zones of Mexico, some of which are the tropical rain forest and the deciduous forest of the states of Oaxaca, Puebla and Veracruz. Phytochemical analysis has been carried out on some non-woody natural resources of commercial importance, like ‘barbasco’ (Dioscorea composita Hemsl.) which is the natural source of diosgenine, the basic raw material for the chemical synthesis of steroid compounds (Segura et al., 1982). Study area Localization and climate

The Mexican tropical lands are those places where the climate belongs to Kiippen’s class A; that is, where the average temperature of the coldest month must be higher than 18°C and the rain, measured in centimeters, is higher than 2T + 28, where T means average temperature in “C (Pennington and Sarukhan, 1968). In geographic terms, they extend over a huge and almost continuous territory at the eastern and southeastern part of the country, while in the western side it covers dispersed patches only (Rzedowski, 1978). Within these regions, the study area includes the previous ‘distrito’ of Tuxtepec, in the state of Oaxaca, located between 96”05 ‘ -96”27 ’ , east, and 17”52’-18”20’ north, the ‘municipio’ of Tezonapa, located at the central part of the state of Veracruz, at 96”47 ’ east and 18”31’ north; and the northern part of the states of Puebla and Veracruz, between 97”19’-95”57’ east, and 20*17’-20”27’ north (Fig. 1). According to Kiippen’s system modified by Garcia (1973), the climate prevailing upon the study area belongs to the hot and humid groups with summer rainfall, both in Tezonapa and Tuxtepee, in spite of including small sites where the rain season lasts all year long. The climate on the northern part of Puebla and Veracruz is contrasting, since it is one of the hot-subhumid groups with summer rains. Vegetation types

According to the classification of Miranda and Hernandez-X (1985), the local vegetation pertains to the following types: tropical rain forest, tropical deciduous forest and oak forest.

231

0

Area of study

Source: from Rzedowski,

1978

Fig. 1. Area of study

Primary vegetation is present in scattered patches due to over-exploitation of precious hardwoods, to the felling of trees for new crop lands or pasture grounds. These procedures raise irreversible changes in the forest ecosystems with the resulting genetic material loss, and obviously, with that involving the natural resources potentially useful in traditional medicine. Methods

The methods regularly applied in ethnobotanical studies in order to procure information are those related to survey sampling; specifically, interview and questionnaire. Generally, an agreement is made with an informer who tells how to

use the plants; eventually, they perform interpretation of the aboriginal languages, or act as gobetweens with the rest of the population. This method was used for 3 years while the field phase was developed; 33 sites were visited in the former ‘distrito’ of Tuxtepec, Oax., 10 in the municipio of Tezonapa, Ver., and 14 in north Puebla and Veracruz. The planning of the interviews was based on the Useful Plant Catalogue of the old Instituto National de Investigaciones Forestales (Fig. 2). Simultaneously, the botanic material was collected for its taxonomic identification with the following insertion into the Herbario National Forestal (INIF); all this was enriched by the environmental descriptive data, as well as with those

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referring to the social and economic situation of the ethnic communities. The info~ation thus obtained was reviewed, analyzed and compared with the published reports related to the study areas. Results

From the visited localities, 288 botanic specimens were collected; they represent 237 species and 88 families, the most diverse of which were Compositae with 21 taxa, and Leguminosae with 18. As for the genus, the most commonly used was Piper spp., with ten species, ~o~anurn spp. with six species, and A~a~ypha spp. with five, the other 189 only had from one up to three species from the local herbolaria. The following list gathers alphabetically, the different species used as medicine plants, with these data: Scientific name Family Spanish or autoctonal name Life or growth form Properties and mode of use.

‘cornizuelo’, ‘cadillo’

(L) Willd. ‘huizachillo’ Wild shrub The concoction of its branches as well as of the cortex is used to soothe tooth ache. Acacia furnesiana

Acaiypha

alopecuroides

Leguminosae

Leguminosae

Euphorbiaceae

Jacq. ‘hierba de1 tapon’ Wild herb The whole plant as an infusion is taken against diarrhoea. Aca~ypha arvensis Peoppig

It is advisable to explain that all the information in this catalogue comes directly from that provided through interview, and collected in the registration forms (Fig. 2); thus, sometimes the information is not very specific. The field work was developed by technical personnel at the Experimental Station, due to the broadness of the study area, and their better understanding of its inhabitants, in order to obtain the desired results in an easier way. However, the interviewers were not careful enough as to research more about the modes of use or any details of their illnesses, which do have so many possibilities among the ethnic groups, according to their cultural inheritance and the ecological characteristics of their surroundings. The local terms which describe some illnesses and modes of use are explained with more details in the glossary. Acacia cornigeru (L) Willd.

Wild shrub or small tree Leaves and branches used in baths for muscle discomfort and colds, and as infusion for diarrhoea. The concoction of the cortex is used to control bleeding after childbirth.

Euphorbiaceae

& Endl. ‘hierba de1 pastor’, ‘hierba de la pastora’ Herb, growing in sown fields or during cultivation The leaves are used to wash and disinfect pimples and injuries, as poultice to cure ulcers. The concoction of the root is used against diarrhoea. diversifoiia Jacq ‘bejuco para el dolor’ Wild climbing shrub The concoction of the root is used to calm down stomach ache. Acatypha

Acalypha phleoides

‘o-foe-coo’

Cav.

Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbiaceae

235

menstrual flow (emenagogofa)).

WiId herb The whole plant is used to wash injuries. Acafypha sp. ‘hierba de1 pastor’ Wild herb The whole plant is used to disinfect injuries by washing.

Euphorbiaceae

Amaranthaceae

Amaranthu~ hybridus L. “quelite de puerco’, ‘quelite blanco’ ‘ha-mu&t’, ‘quentonii’ Very common wild herb, growing in sown fields. The infusion of the root is used as colagogo, for bile.

Agave ssp. ‘maguey’ Wild shrub The leaves are used as poultice when mouth infections occur, and on the hooves of cattle for the same purpose. Ageratum corymbosum ZUCC,& Pers. ‘mirasofitlo’ Wild herb Leaves and twigs in baths for rheums.

Aithernanthera repens (L.) Knutz. ‘tean~~spepet~a’ Wild herb, also cultivated at home The whole plant is used as a bath’ to reduce Fevers.

Compositae

A/m&sjorullensis HBK ‘ovina roja’ Wild tree The concoction of the cortex is taken against kidney illnesses.

Betulaceae

Aloe af. ~rbadens~s L. ‘savila’ Wild shrub The infusion of the leaves is taken in case ulcers occur.

Liliaceae

Alsophiia aff. microdunta Desv. ‘copetate’ Wild shrub The root, boiled and in baths* has the property of restoring or increasing the

Cyatheaceae

Anthurium aemulum Schott. ‘hierba de1 tisico’, ‘hierba de comezon’ ‘hierba pata las llagas’ Wild climber The juice from the leaves is taken for chronic cough and lung aches. The ground leaves are used to alleviate itching of the sole of the foot, and macerated if ulcers occur.

Araceae

Anthurium sch~echtenda~i~ Knuth. ‘flor de piedra’, ‘pifianona’ Wild climber The concoction of the root is used for kidney iflness, and as an infusion, fulfills the same purpose if combined with corn silk and taken before breakfast.

Araceae

Antigonum leptopus Hook & Am.

Polygonaceae

236

bladder ache. Its latex is placed directly over the molar tooth to soothe the pain. The whole plant, boiled and as fomentation, is used in cases of head

‘rosario de la virgen’, ‘diego’ Climber, growing on abandoned non-crop land or by the roads The concoction of the leaves is taken for heart ache.

cold. Buccharis

Arctostuphylus

pungens

Ericaceae

plutyceros

Bauhinia divuricuta

Papaveraceae

Link and Otto ‘hedeondilla’ Wild herb, growing on abandoned non-crop land and by the road The latex from the root is put directly over teeth in case aching

Aristolochiaceae

‘guaco’ The twigs are toasted and as poultice are placed in order to fight erysipelas. Aristo~~chiu odor~tissin~u

Aristolochiaceae

curassavica L. ‘cancerina’, ‘panchichis’, ‘hierba de la culebra’ Wild herb The concoction of the leaves is used for gall

L.

Leguminosae

Compositae

‘mozoquelite’, ‘mozote blanco’ Wild herb The juice of the whole plant for liver and kidney inflammation used as poultice; and the concoction of the whole plant is taken as water during daytime to reduce fever. Bidens pilosa var. minor

Compositae

(L) Sherf. ‘hierba de la culebra’ Wild creeping plant As poultice, leaves are used as antidote for snake bite.

L. ‘huaco’ Wild herb, climber The concoction of the whole plant is taken for muscle inflammation. Asclepius

Compositae

‘patita de cochino’ Wild shrub The concoction of the foliar buds has appetite stimulating properties. Bidens pilosa L.

appears.

Ar~stol~c~~i~ rn~,~~rn~ Jacq.

Pers.

Wild shrub The concoction of the leaves is used to refresh the body.

HBK ‘raiz divina’, ‘pingiiica’ Wild shrub The concoction of the leaves is used to stop menstrual bleeding and soothe body aching. Argemone

glutinosu

‘chamizo’

Asclepiadiaceae

Boruga officinulis

I_.

‘borraja’ Wild shrub The concoction of the whole plant is taken to attack cough and measles.

Boraginaceae

237

Borreria laevis (Lam) Griseb ‘riiionina’, ‘mo-0’ Plant growing on sown field or during cultivation The concoction of the leaves is taken to stop menstruation and against kidney ache.

Rubiaceae

Nyctaginaceae Choisy ‘bugambilia” Cultivated climbing shrub The flower is taken in concoction or infusion to alleviate cough. Bromelia karutas L.

Bromeliaceae

‘timbiriche’ Wild herb The infusion of the leaves or the root is taken to attack kidney and bladder illnesses. BryophylIum pinnatum (Lam) Kurcz

‘tepozan’ Wild shrub Its leaves while bathing*, are used for skin infections and as a concoction are taken against muscle inflammation. To relieve womb inflammation, leaves are used in vapor bath?.

Burseraceae

Bursera simuruba (L) Sarg. ‘chaca’, ‘mulato’ Wild tree The crushed leaves with alcohol are rubbed and have febrifuge properties. The leaves also are used for intestinal washing. The cortex as infusion acts as purgative and against measles.

Burseraceae

Byrsonima crcrss{f&liu(L.)

Crassulaceae

‘maraviliosa’ Cultivated herb As poultice, leaves are used to reduce inflammation of the new-born, as well as pimples and wounds. Buddleia americana L.

Bursera graveolens (HBK) Triana & Planch ‘zarzafris’, ‘sasafra’ Wild tree The concoction of the leaves is taken to soothe colic. The infusion of its branches is used against asthma.

Cuesulpiniu pulcherrimu

Loganiaceae

Malpighiaceae

Kunth ‘nanche’, ‘nanche morado’ Wild tree The cortex as an infusion is used against diarrhoea and dysentery. Leguminosae

(L.) Swartz ‘mechuda’, ‘caballero’ Wild tree The concoction of the flower is taken as a remedy for urine evil (‘ma1 de orin”e). The concoction of the branches is used against whooping cough. Calatheu insignis Peters. ‘pozole’ Wild or cultivated herb The root as an infusion or poultice” is used as haemostatic.

Maranthaceae

238

Calea zacatechichi

Compositae

Schlecht ‘zacate de chichi’ Wild herb Leaves as a concoction are taken to cure diabetes and biliar sicknesses. Caloscarpum mammosum

Sapotaceae

L. ‘zapote mamey’ Cultivated tree The concoction of the cortex is used to stop afterbirth bleeding. Carica papaya L. ‘papayo’ Cultivated tree The exudation is taken as purgative. Cassia grandis L.

Bertol. ‘hormiguillo’, ‘chancarro’, “guarumbo de patio’, “hormigo’ Wild tree The infusion of leaves and flowers are taken against

Mehaceae

Cedrela sp.

Mehaceae

Caricaceae Cenchrus equinatus L.

Gramineae

‘zacate de abrojo’ Wild herb The concoction of the root is used against cough. Leguminosae Centrosema plumieri

Leguminosae

Benth ‘gallito’ Wild herb The concoction of the whole plant is used to soothe stomach ache and to cure indigestion (empacho). Leguminosae

‘flor de todos 10s santos’ Wild shrub or small tree The concoction of the flowers is used to wash the eyes and in case ‘evil eye’ (ma1 de ojo9) occurs. Cecropia obtusifolia

Cedrela odorata L. ‘cedro’ Wild tree The concoction of the whole plant has febrifuge properties.

‘cascara de cedro’ Wild tree The cortex, boiled, to cure pimples.

‘caiia fistula’ Wild tree The concoction and infusion of the fruit is used to cure cough. As baths, leaves are used in an auxiliary way, during childbirth. Cassia spectabilis DC.

diabetes. The infusion of the leaves, for ‘urine evil”‘.

Moraceae

Cestrum nocturnum L. ‘huele de noche’ Wild or cultivated shrub The leaves, crushed or as a concoction are used as an antidote for snake-bite; in poultice”, leaves are digestive and to protect against dyspepsia (estomaquica). Cissampelos pareira L. ‘doradilla’, ‘redondilla’, ‘hierba de1 jiote’, ‘bejuco para baiio’

Solanaceae

Menispermaceae

239

Cnidoscoius tubulosus

Wild climbing herb Its leaves are used: in poultice3, to cure muscle inflammation in concoction, as antidote for snakebite crushed, directly over skin infections (jiotes’). The whole plant is used to cure body malaise

Coccoloba barbadensis

Cissus sicyodes L. ‘sanalotodo’, ‘desinflamatoria’ Wild ciimbing herb The leaves in poultice3 are used against muscle inflammation.

Vitaceae

Citrus grandis L.

Rutaceae

‘pomelo’ Wild and cultivated tree The concoction of the leaves is used against cold and for nerve soothing. Clematis dioca L. ‘barbas de viejo’ Wild herb The leaves are toasted and its vapors are inhaled to alleviate cold. Ciynopodium

laevigatum

Ranunculaceae

(MOB) Johnston ‘mala mujer’ Wild shrub Latex is placed directly over pimples.

Polygonaceae

Jacq ‘cubero’, ‘arbl de uvero’ Wild small tree The concoction of the leaves, mixed with widowwail (‘camelia’), for kidney illnesses. Coffea arabica L. ‘cafe’ Cultivated shrub In poultice3, leaves are used to lessen fever. Cochlospermum

vittfolium

Rubiaceae

Cochlospermeaceae

(Wild) Spreng ‘pongolote’ Wild tree The cortex is put in water and later it is ingested as day time water (‘agua de tiempo’) to cure hepatitis and other liver illnesses.

Labiatae

Standl. ‘hediondilla’ Wild herb The concoction of the whole plant is used to cure cough. Cnidoscolus aconitzfolius

Euphorbiaceae

(Muell.) Arg. Wats ‘ortiga” Wild shrub Latex is placed directly over teeth to ease the pain.

Euphorbiaceae

Cordia spinescens L. ‘vara negra’ Wild herb The concoction of the leaves is used against dysentery.

Boraginaceae

Costus villosissimus Jacq. ‘cana de venado’ Wild herb The concoction of the whole plant is used for ear illnesses.

Zingiberaceae

240

Cosrus ~~lfosiss~us Jacq,

Zingiberaceae

‘cana agria’ Wild herb The concoction of the stem is taken for kidney illnesses. Crescent&i cujete L.

Cymbopogon citratus

Bignoniaceae.

Leguminosae

Euphorbiaceae

Croton solimon Schl.

Euphorbiaceae

Gramineae

Paimae

Martus ‘tepejilote’ Wild and cultivated herb The concoction of the leaves is used for alleviating cough. Ch~~t~li~ nutans ( Lf

Cucurbitaceae

Gramineae

‘pionia”, ‘coca’ Wild herb The concoction of the whole plant is taken when colics occur. The infusion of the rhizome is used for epilepsy and as a sedative for stomach ache. Chamaedora oblongata

et Cham. ‘chilpate’ Wild herb, growing on crop Land, during or after cultivation Latex is used directly over warts or skin infections (‘mesquino”*).

‘calabaza amarga’ Cultivated climbing herb, growing on abandoned non-crop Land and by the roads The crushed fruit is used for dandruff and pimples.

Sapindaeeae

Stapf. ‘zacate limon’ Wild and cultivated herb The infusion of the whole plant has stomachic properties and is used to treat varix. Cyperus esculentus L.

Croton drago Schl. ‘sangre de drago’, ‘sangregado’ Wild shrub or small tree Latex has hemostatic qualities.

Cucurbita pep0 L.

dentatu DC.

‘canilla de venado’ Wild tree The infusion of leaves is taken against dysentery.

‘jicaro’ Wild and cultivated tree The concoction and infusion of the cortex is used to accelerate childbirth. Crotalaria incana L. ‘sonajilla’ Wild herb The concoction of the leaves is taken to cure coughing and in poultice3 is put on the belly of children who urinate during night time.

Cup&u

Compositae

Polak ‘hierba dei calambre’ Wild herb The grilled (suasadas ’ 5, leaves in poultice3 are placed directly where the cramp occurs. Chenopodium ambrosioides

L. ‘epazote’ Wiid herb The concoction of the whole plant is used to cast

Chenopodiaceae

241

Elephantopus spicatus

out intestinal parasites and as infusion, it is used as purgative. Chrysanthemium parthenium

Compositae

(L.) Bernh. ‘Santa maria’ Wild herb The concoction of the twigs and ieaves has stomachic properties. Datura candida (Pers.)

Epiphyilum sp.

Solanaceae

Saff ‘campana’, ‘Rori fundio’ Wild or cultivated shrub The leaves, twigs and flowers in poultice3 are used for internal and external aches, and cephalalgia. Datura stramonium L.

Solanaceae

Desmodium canunz (Gmel )

Leguminosae

Diospyros digyna Jacq. ‘zapote negro’ Wild and cultivated tree While bathing, the leaves are used to cure skin infections (‘jiotes”) and scald head; ground, leaves are taken if diabetes occurs.

Umbelliferae

‘cilantro extranjero’, ‘perejil de la Habana” ‘cilantro de la Habana’ Cultivated herb The concoction of the leaves mixed with milk is taken to cure asthma. Erythrina folkersii Kruk

Ebenaceae

Compositae

DC. ‘hierba de1 resfriado’, ‘o-tee’ Wild herb, growing on non-crop land or by the road The concoction of the whole plant is used against cold discomfort and cephalalgia. Eryngium foetidum L.

Schin et. Jang ‘pega-ropa’ Wild herb The concoction of the twigs and leaves is used to cure kidney diseases.

Cactaceae

‘pitalla’ Wild epiphyte herb The crushed leaves are taken to destroy biliar talcums. Erigeron karwinksiana

‘tapa’, ‘tlapa’, ‘chayotillo’ Wild herb The leaves in poultice are used in case mumps occur. The latex is used directly over pimples.

Compositae

Aubl. ‘lengua de perro’ Wild herb The concoction of the root has stomachic properties and against dysentery.

Leguminosae

et Mok ‘cochoquelite’, ‘tiff’ Wild and cultivated tree The concoction of the cortex is taken for inflammations of the womb. Eucalyptus cama~dulensis

Dehm. ‘eucalipto’ Wild and cultivated tree

Myrtaceae

242

The concoction of the leaves is used against coughing. Eupatorium morifohum

Compositae

Mill. ‘canutillo’ Wild shrub The infusion of leaves and twigs has the property of restoring or increasing menstrual flow, as well as febrifuge qualities. The poultice3 of its leaves with alcohol is used against inflammations from blows or knocks. Eupatorium odoratum L.

Gardenia frorida L.

(Bouganvillea spectabilis)

as an infusion to cure coughing. Ghinia curassav~ca (L.)

Compositae

Compositae

D.C. ‘hierba de1 jabali’ Wild shrub The leaves juice is placed directly over pimples. Ficus sp.

Verbenaceae

Millsp. ‘laudiiia’ Wild herb The concoction of the whole plant is used in cases of infertility. Gilibertia arborea (L.)

Araliaceae

Marchal ‘mano de sapo’ Wild tree The concoction of the whole plant has stomachic properties. Moraceae

‘amate’ Wiid tree The latex is used directly over the molar when tooth ache occurs. Fraxinus af. cavekiana Standl. & Steyerm. ‘fresno’ Cultivated tree The concoction of any part of the tree is taken to cure hydrophobia.

Oleaceae

Fraxinus uhdei (Wenzig)

Oleaceae

Lugel.

Rubiaceae

‘gardenia’ Wild and cultivated shrub The mixture of its flower, tulipan (~a~vaviscus arboreas) and bouganvil~ea

‘acahualera’ Wild shrub The concoction of the leaves is used to wash injuries. Eupatorium quadrangulare

‘fresno’ Wild tree The concoction of any part of the tree is used to catm down biliar ache.

Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.)

Leguminosae

Steud. ‘cocohuite’ Wild tree The leaves as infusion or poultice3 are useful to lower high temperature; if measles occurs, infusion is taken. Gonobolus niger (Cav)

R. Br. ‘guaguayote’ Wild climbing tree The crushed seed is taken to lower fever due to stomach discomfort.

Asclepiadiaceae

243

Gowania polygama (Jacq) Urban ‘apaga fuego’ Wild shrub The leaves juice is ‘used as poultice’ to cure burns.

Rhamnaceae

Guasuma ulmifolia Lam ‘guasima’, ‘guasimo’ Wild tree The concoction of the leaves and the cortex is used as a purgative and to cure kidney illnesses.

Sterculiaceae

Hamelia erecta Jacq. ‘cacahuapaxtle’, ‘tochomitillo’, ‘tres hojas’, ‘hierba de1 jiote’, ‘tehuapaxtle’ Shrub growing on sown fields or during cultivation The infusion of the leaves is taken to lower blood pressure and muscle inflammation. The concoction of the root and the leaves is used while bathing to wash injuries and its infusion, for digestive discomfort (‘empacho”). The crushed leaves, and in poultice’ are used for skin infections (‘jiotes”) and pimples.

Rubiaceae

Boraginaceae

Malvaceae

‘tulipan’ Cultivated shrub The infusion of the leaves, flowers and cortex is taken against dysentery.

Tiliaceae

Heliocarpus donnell-smithii

Tiliaceae

have

Heliotropium indicum L. ‘alacrancillo’, ‘hierba de1 alacran’ Wild shrub The crushed leaves are fed to horses to soothe griping cramp (‘retortijones”4). The raw and anointed leaf is used to cure skin infections (‘mesquinos’r2). Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis L.

Heliocarpus appendiculatus Turcz ‘El jonote’ Wild shrub The leaves rubbed in water are used to cure paludism.

Rose ‘jonote’, ‘jonote real’ Wild tree The leaves in poultice

hemostatic properties. The latex in poultice3 is used to cure injuries and bleeding cuts.

Hyptis capitata Jacq. ‘botoncillo’ Wild herb The concoction of the root is an antidote for snake-bite.

Labiatae

Hyptis mutabilis (Reich) Briq. ‘hierba de1 zorrillo’ Wild herb The infusion of the leaves is used against diarrhoea.

Labiatae

Hyptis verticillata Jacq. ‘hepazotillo’, ‘hierba martina’ Wild herb The whole plant is boiled and rubbed in case rheum occurs. The cooked leaves in poultice are used for heart-beat.

Labiatae

244

ipomwacrassicuulis

Rob.

The ieaves are used against dandruff and hair-fall.

Gonvokulaceae

~~~s~~~ cef&a

L.

Juglandaceae

Convolvulaceae

‘hierba para la diabetes’, ‘Linda maiiana’ Wild shrub The concoction of the cartex is recommended for diabetes. The leaves in baths, are used to accelerste ~hiIdbirth.

Amaranthaceae

&i&ze62 ~~~~~~ti~~~~ t. ‘hierba de1 clavo’ Wild shrub The lowers and leaves are used for pimples,

The concoction of the whole plant is taken to cure kidney ifinesses

‘thCUt%~~’

Lantam camara L.

Wild herb The whole plant, cooked, is used to decrease inflammation of any part of the

‘orozus’, ‘frudlia Wild herb The concoction of the leaf is used as an appetizt?r and a vomit&e. The whole plant, rubbed with cotd water for chills,

bOdgr.

J~cu~i~~a spicigera

(Schechl) Baiiey ‘hoja de tinte’, ‘muicle’, ‘hierbn azul’ Wild shrub The whole inhaled plant, for measles. The CODCOCtion of leaves and stems is taken as day-time water (‘qua de dia’) if costiveness occurs. The leaves, alone, crushed have purifying properties, and its concoction is used for bile. Jdwwpn curcas L. “p&on’

Cultivated shrub or small tree The latex pfaced dire&y, is used against mouth infections ~‘aIg~on~~~~o~‘1.

L&u&

aamcmnsis

Verbenaceae

Gramineae

(Steud) Witch ‘cat& de car&o” Wild herb The conctzcfion of the root is used to stop haemorrhages after child-birth, Cruciferae

The infusion of the leaves is taken to stop diarrhoea. Euphorbiaceae

Leucaena feucocephala

(Lam) Wit. ‘guachi’ Wild tree The crushed leaves are put dire&y over the bites of ~~so~o~s buns.

Leguminosae

245

Leucaena sp.

Leguminosae

‘huaje’ Wild tree The leaves and foliar buds are crushed with alcohol and used directly over pimples or measles. Lippia alba (Mill) Bir

Verbenaceae

‘hierba maestra’ Wild shrub The infusion of the leaves is taken to soothe vesicle ache and gastritis. Lippia dulcis Trev.

Verbenaceae

‘hierba dulce’ Wild herb The concoction of the leaves is recommended for coughing. H.B.K. ‘hierba de1 negro’ Wild herb The concoction of the whole plant is taken to cure gonorrhea and suffocation. Lippia geminata

H.B.K. ‘hierba para el ma1 de ojo’ Wild shrub The twigs rubbed over the body are used for evil-eye, body sore and fever. Lobelia laxifora

(Hemsl) Fritish ‘zapote cabello’ Wild and cultivated tree The concoction of the seeds is taken against dysentery. Licania platypus

Lygodium

venustum SW.

‘alhambrillo’ Wild herb The infusion of the

Verbenaceae

rhizome is recommended to cure diarrhoea. Malachra acetifolia

Jacq. ‘escabel’ Wild herb Growing on non-cultivated land or by the road. The leaves and the stem are used in baths against rash.

Malvaceae

Malvaviscus

arboreus Cav. ‘manzanita’, ‘tulipancillo’, ‘paniqueso’ Wild shrub The concoction of the root is used for kidney illnesses The infusion of the flower is taken if diarrhoea occurs.

Malvaceae

sp. ‘cadillo’ Wild shrub The infusion of the root is taken against diarrhoea.

Malvaceae

vulgare L. ‘marrubio blanco’ Wild herb The concoction of the leaf has febrifuge properties.

Labiatae

Malvaviscus

Marrubium

Campanulaceae

L. ‘piocha’ Wild tree The concoction of the leaves is an appetizer. Melia azedarach

Rosaceae

Mentha citrata Ehrl.

Polypodiaceae

‘hierba buena’, ‘hierba buena de la menta’ Wild herb The infusion of the leaves is taken against intestinal parasites, and in concoction, they are used for diarrhoea.

Meliaceae

Labiatae

246

Mikania micrantha HBK

Compositae

Mimosa albida

Myroxylon balsamum var. pareirae (L.) Herms

Leguminosae

Lauraceae

Cham. & Schlecht Wild tree The concoction of the branches is taken to alleviate stomach ache. Momordica charantia L.

Cucurbitaceae

‘cundeamor’ Wild climbing herb The concoction of any part of plant is taken for diabetes and dysentery. Muntingia calabura L.

‘arbol de P&n’ Wild tree Any part of plant cooked is taken as day water and in baths* to cure measles.

Nectandra sanguinea Rott. Wild tree The concoction of the leaves are taken for stomach ache. Neurolaena lobata

Nyctaginaceae

‘maravilla’ Wild herb Any part of plant cooked is taken when white vaginal flux appears. Misanteca capitata

Leguminosae

‘balsam0 negro’ The concoction of the cortex is used for rheumatic inflammations.

‘vergonzosa’ Wild creeping herb The concoction of the root is taken to stop menstruation. Mirabilis jalapa L.

Rutaceae

Leguminosae

Humb & Bonpl. ‘pinaguiste’ Wild herb The concoction of the leaves and stems is used for ‘fright’ (‘susto”‘j). Mimosa pudica L.

Murraya paniculata Jacq.

‘limonaria’ Cultivated shrub or small tree The infusion of any part of plant is used for kidney illnesses.

‘quiebra Plato’ Wild climbing herb Any part of plant rubbed in water is taken as day drink to reduce fever.

Elaeocarpaceae

Lauraceae

Compositae

(L.) HBK ‘rabo faisan’ Wild tree The cooked leaves in baths2 are used when pimples and welts occur. Ocimum micranthum

Willd. ‘albahacar’, ‘albahacar grande’, ‘oregano de Castilla’, ‘mo-o-mos-shi’ Wild herb, growing on non-crop land or by the road The infusion of the leaves mixed with ‘hinojo’ (Foeniculum vulgare) ‘anis’ (Pimpinella anisum and ‘hierba dulce’ (Lippia dulcis), is used for the colits of the newborn; and without the other herbs, it is used to clean wounds and the whole plant for diarrhoea.

Labiatae

247

~do~tonema ca~~~sta~hyum

Acanthaceae

Kuntze. ‘moradilla’ Wild shrub The leaves, as poultice3, are used as analgesic and for muscle inflammations. Qeffothera rosea Ait.

Onagraceae

‘hierba para la diarrhoea’ Wild herb The concoction of the whole plant is taken against diarrhoea. ~enothera teiraplera Cav.

Pu~hira acuafiea Aubl.

Onagraceae

Oxalidaceae

Bombacaceae

‘apompo’ Wild tree The root infusion is taken against diabetes Parment~era edulis D.C.

“guajilote’, ‘cuajilote’, ‘guachilote’ Wild tree The crushed flower is put directly over the ears when pain appears. The raw fruit is eaten to cure kidney illnesses.

h~sterophor~

Bignoniaceae

Compositae

L. ‘altamisa’, ‘chuchuyate’ Wild creeping herb The leaves are used for cleansing with herbs in a special ceremony8 in cases of ‘ma1 viento’ (bad wind = bad air; one of the supernatural sufferings”). The infusion of the whole plant is used against diarrhoea. Puspalum conjugatum

‘hierba de1 goipe’ Wild herb The infusion of the whole plant has febrifuge properties and is taken to calm colics. Oxalis aibicans HBK ‘trebol’ Wild herb, growing in sown land The leaves are crushed. and the resulting juice is used directly over mouth infections (algodoncillo ‘).

Parthem~~

Gramineae

Berg. ‘grama’ Wild herb The concoction of the root is recommended for cough. Passiflora coriuceae Juss. ‘hoja de muercielago’, ‘ala de muercitlago’ Wild creeping herb The concoction of the leaves is taken for kidney illnesses. In poultice3, and in baths2 they are used against pimples.

Passifloraceae

Passifora joruI~ens~s

Passifloraceae

HBK. ‘golondrina’ Wild creeping herb The leaves and twigs are used in baths2 to alleviate ‘fright’ (‘susto’16)~ Pedilanthus tithymaioides

(Porteau) ‘mayorca’ Wild shrub The leaves and the latex in poultice3 are used to cure pimples.

Euphorbiaceae

Peperomia

colkata

Trels

Piperaceae

‘bejuco de1 nacido’ Wild creeping herb The plant juice is used directly over pimples and purpulent pimples (‘nacidas” 13). humilis (Vahl) Diet. ‘hierba de la reuma’ Wild creeping herb The crushed leaves are put directly over the affected part; they are used to alleviate rheum.

Piperaceae

Persea americana

Mill ‘aguacate’ Cultivated tree The concoction of the leaves is taken when diarrhoea occurs.

Lauraceae

Persea arner~c~a var. dr~rn~o~~a (Schlecht & Cham.) Blake ‘aguacatillo’ Cultivated tree The infusion of the leaves is used to calm after-birth aches.

Lauraceae

Peperomia

Pettiveria

aliiaceae

Phytolaccaceae

L. ‘hierba dei zorriilo’ Wild herb The whole plant, whiIe bathing, is used to cure pimples and the infusion of the leaves is taken for epilepsy; the inhalation of the root is recommended for influenza. Phwadendron

L. ‘seca palo’

tama~~ipens~.~

Loranthaceae

Epiphyte wild herb The leaves are used to wash skin when pimples f’nacidos’ 13)occur. Pinus sp. ‘pino’ Wild tree As poultice3, resin is used to disinfect and seal injuries.

Pinaceae

Piper amalago HBK ‘cordoncillo’, ‘acuyo’, ‘hierba salibares’ Wild shrub The concoction of the root and leaves is used by women having recently brought forth offspring. The concoction of the leaves has stomachic qualities.

Piperaceae

Piper a&turn HBK ‘acuyo’ Wild shrub The concoction of the root is used to remove the placenta.

Piperaceae

Piper diiatatwn

Rich. ‘romero’, ‘cordoncillo’ The whole plant in baths is used as an auxiliary during childbirth. The infusion of the cortex is used for rheums and the infusion of the leaves is used for swelling

Piperaceae

Piper fiaguanum Trelease ‘hierba de1 desarrollo’ Wild shrub The concoction of the leaves is taken as emmenagogue.

Piperaceae

249

Piper marginatum Jacq.

Piperaceae

Pithecellobium duke

Piperaceae

(Roxb) Benth ‘hum0 Wild shrub or small tree The leaves, mixed with alcohol and as poultice” are used for bile.

‘hierba de la diarrhoea’ Wild shrub The plant juice is used against diarrhoea. Piper medium L.

‘jarilla’ Wild tree The whole plant, in baths, is used to cure fright (‘espanto’). Piper scabrum SW.

Phitecoctemium laxijlorum

Piperaceae

‘hierba de la reuma’ Wild shrub The crushed leaves, in poultice, are used for rheums. Piper tuberculatum Jacq.

‘hierba para el dolor’ Wild shrub The concoction of the leaves is taken for stomach ache. Piper umbellatum L.

Piperaceae

Piper sp.

‘hierba desinflamatoria’ Wild herb In poultice3, its leaves are used to soothe strokeswelling. Pisonia aculeata L.

‘hierba para la tos’ Wild creeping shrub The concoction of the root is taken to alleviate cough. The boiled leaves and twigs in baths* are used for fright (susto 16).

Polygonaceae

Eli. ‘tripa de polio’ Wild herb The infusion of the root is taken against influenza. Polypodium pilloseiioides

Nyctaginaceae

Compositae

‘Santa Maria’ Wild shrub The boiled leaves and in baths* have febrifuge properties. Polygonium punctutum

Piperaceae

Polypodiaceae

L. ‘hierba de la seca’ Wild herb The crushed leaves are used for dizziness or for body swelling. Pluchea odorata (L) Cais

‘cordoncillo cimarrCtn’ Wifd herb The boiled leaves, in poultice3, are used for pimples and purulent pimples f‘nacidos”3).

Bignoniaceae

D.C. ‘tres lomos’ Wild herb The leaves, slightly burned, are used as poultice” to soothe rheumatic pain. Pytirogramma ~a~omelamos

Piperaceae

Leguminosae

L. ‘lengua de ciervo’, ‘peludillo’, ‘tabardillo’ Wild creeping herb The concoction of the whole plant is taken for kidney illnesses, and as infusion for intestine parasites.

Polypodiaceae

250

Portulaca grandiflora L ‘amor de un rato’ Wild herb The juice from the whole plant is put directly over swellings. Psichotria

altorum

Portulacaceae

Rubiaceae

Stand & Steyermark ‘cafetahllo’ Wild shrub The concoction of the leaves is taken for bitter flavors (‘boca amarga’) and body irritation. Psidium guajava t.

Myrtaceae

Bombacaceae

(Llave) Visher ‘molinillo’ Wild tree In poultice3, leaves are used for bone ache. Quercus obtusata

Fagaceae

Fagaceae Cham et Schl. ‘encino’ Wild tree The concoction of the cortex is used for loose teeth and to controi menstrual flow. Randia armata (SW) DC

Rivina hum&

L.

Euphorbiaceae

Rosaceae

‘rosa de Castilla’ Cultivated shrub The concoction of the flower is used for costiveness. Rosa aff. chinensis Jacq. ‘rosa concha’ Cultivated shrub The concoction of the flower is put directly over the eyes to reduce swelling. Rue~~ia a~bl~ora Fern.

Rubiaceae

Phytolaccaceae

‘baja tripa’, ‘hierba de1 cgncer’ Wild herb The concoction of the Ieaves is taken to increase the blood amount and to reduce swelling due to snake-bite. Rosa af. centifolia Jacq.

Humb & Bonpl. ‘encino’ Wild tree The chewed cortex is used for tooth ache.

‘limcin cruceto’

Ricintis communis L.

‘higuerilla’~ ‘higuerilla blanca’ Wild shrub In poultice3, the leaves are used for muscle swelling, cephalalgia and as a febrifuge.

‘guayabo’ Cultivated tree The concoction of the leaves is used for diarrhoea. Quararibea funebris

Wild shrub The boiled twigs and fruits mixed with an alcoholic drink (‘aguardiente’) if ‘coralillo’ (Lampropeitis sp.) or ‘nauyaca’ (Botrox spp.) snake-bite occurs.

‘hierba de1 sueiio’ Wild herb The concoction of the leaves is taken when during sleep one dreams too much.

Rosaceae

Acant haceae

Ruta graveulens

Rutaceae

L.

‘sauce taray’ Wild tree The infusion of any part of plant is taken for kidney diseases.

Sechium edufe SW.

Labiatae

Salvia coccinea Juss

sp. ‘maltansi’ Cultivated herb The boiled leaves and twigs are used while bathing to calm fright (‘susto’ t6) down. Scuttelaria

Sahcaceae

HBK

orichakea

‘mirto’ Wild shrub The concoction of any part of plant is recommended for diarrhoea and the heart. The Ieaves, in poultice’, are used for cleansing’ with herbs in a special ceremony (‘limpias’).

“mirto rojo’ Wifd herb The leaves in poultice3 are used for ear ache. Presl.

‘sauce’, ‘hierba para Los granos’ Wild shrub or small tree The crushed leaves are used to heal pimples, and as poultice3, they have febrifuge properties The concoction of the leaves and the flowers are taken to alleviate coughing.

Cucurbitaceae

Compositae

‘jariffa’ Wild shrub The concoction of its leaves is a tonic. Serjania triquetra Radlk.

Sa~~b~c~~ mexicana

Labiatae

‘chayote’ Cultivated climbing herb The concoction of its leaves is used for the nerves and to regulate the blood-pressure. Senecio ~afign~~ DC.

Labiatae

Salvia elegans Vahi

Labiatae

Dom-Sm ‘hierba de1 mat de orin’ Wild herb The concoction of the leaves is used for kidney illnesses.

‘ruda’ Wild shrub The concoction of any part of plant is used for fever aches, bile and has the property of restoring or increasing menstrual flow (‘emenagoga’). The infusion of the leaves has stomachic properties. Safix iaxifolia

Scuttefaria

Caprifohaceae

Sapindaceae

‘siete corazones’ Wild rattan The concoction of the twigs is taken for heart ache and related malaise. Sida aeuta Burn. ‘malva blanca’ Wild herb The concoction of twigs and leaves is used for kidney disease; the same product from the root is used to clean pimples up. Sida rhombtfilia

‘escobilla malva’

L.

Malvaceae

Malvaceae

Wild herb The concoction of the leaves is used to stop menstrual flow.

Wild creeping herb The concoction of the whole plant, while bathing, is taken for head cold. Siparuna riparia (Tulasne) DC. ‘hierba para el dolor de cintura’ Wild shrub The concoction of leaves and the root is taken when waist ache occurs. Smilax ~aneeolata Schlecht. ‘cocolmecate’ Wild climbing herb The infusion from the leaves and tuber is taken for dropsy and kidney illnesses. Smilax mollis Humb & Bonpi. ‘zarzaparrilla’ Wild climbing herb The concoction of the root is a tonic.

Monimiaceae

Liliaceae

Liliaceae

Solanum rugosum L. ‘berenjeno macho’ Wild shrub The crushed root is used to sterilize wounds. The concoction of the leaves is used for haemorrhoids.

Solanaceae

So~an~m sea~ort~i~n~rn Andr. ‘lagrimas de San Pedro’ Cultivated climbing herb The infusion and concoction of the leaves are taken to control diabetes.

Solanaceae

Soianum somniculentum Kunze ‘hierba mora cimarrona’

Solanaceae

S&mum tequilence Gray ‘berenjena morada’ Wild shrub The leaves and twigs are used, while bathing2 for epilepsy and muscle swelling.

Solanaceae

Solanum torvum SW. ‘berenjena’, ‘berenjena cimarrona’ Wild shrub The infusion from its tender leaves mixed with ‘cacahuapaxtle’ (Humeliu erecta) is taken for intestinal ulcers; the same liquor mixed with a disinfecting substance fcreolina4) is given to cattle when they are attacked by worms. In baths2, the root is useful during childbirth.

Solanaceae

Solanum verbascifolium L. ‘sosa’, ‘Santa Maria’ Wild shrub The whole plant, boiled and rubbed, is used to cure varix; and its concoction is taken against dysentery.

Solanaceae

Spigelia antheimia L. ‘hierba de las lombrices’ Wild herb The infusion of the whole plant is used for intestinal parasites.

Loganiaceae

Spondias purpurea L. ‘cirueio’, ‘jobo’

Anacardiaceae

253

Tabernamontana alba Mill.

Wild tree The leaves, in baths2, are used to cure rash and crushed with alcohol, they are used to cure measles; in poultice3 they are used for rheums. The concoction of the cortex is used for mouth rinsing when toothache occurs. Stachytarpheta jamaicensis

Tagetes erecta L.

Verbenaceae

(L.) Vahl. ‘verbena’ Wild herb The concoction of the leaves is taken to cure measles. Stevia lucida Lag. ‘ma-li-too’ Wild shrub The leaves, in poultice3, are used to cure wounds, Struthanthus yuercicola

Compositae

Loranthaceae

Araceae

Sweetia panamensis Benth.

‘huayacan’ Wild tree The concoction of the tex is used to cure diabetes.

COT-

Leguminosae

Compositae

‘pericon’ Wild herb, growing on non-crop land and by the roads The infusion from the leaves has stomachic properties. Taraxacum af. of$cinalis

Schott. ‘lengua de vaca’ Wild climbing herb The grilled (suasadas”) leaves are used in poultice3 for erisypelas.

Comporitae

‘flor de muerto’, ‘cempoasuchil’ Wild and cultivated shrub The infusion from the leaves and root is used for intestine cleaning after child birth, and is taken to control diarrhoea. The concoction of the leaf is for evil-eye (‘ma1 de ojo’9). The infusion from the flower and in poultice3 is used for spleen malaise (‘ma1 de1 bazo’). Tagetes lucida L.

(KS) Bume. ‘tiiia’ Wild epiphyte The crushed leaves in poultice3 are used for erisypelas. Syngonium podophyllum

Apocynaceae

‘cojon de gato’ Wild shrub The latex is used directly over purulent pimples (‘nacidos”‘).

Compositae

Wiggers ‘sanalotodo’ Wild herb, growing on non-crop land and by the road The leaves, in pouitice, are used to cure skin wounds and pimples. Tecoma stuns HBK ‘tronador’ Wild tree The infusion from the leaves is taken for kidney illnesses.

Bignoniaceae

254

Tectaria heracIeifoi~ff (wild) Underw. ‘acanahuala’ Wild herb

Polypodiaceae

Wiid shrub The rubbed leaves are used for cleansing with herbs in a special ceremony (‘limpias”) and to take away chifl when fever occurs,

Combretaceae

Verbena elegans var. aspera ta Perry ‘alfombrilla’ Wild herb The infusion from the whole plant is taken to stop vaginal flow.

The concoction of the rhizome is used to cure cough. Terminalia amazonia (Gmel. Exell) ‘peinecillo’, ‘sombrerete’ Wild tree The concoction of the cortex is taken to stop afterbirth haemorrhage. Thevetia peruviana (L.) K. Shum ‘cundoacan’ Cultivated shrub The twigs, in baths’, are used to cure haemorrhoids. Trichiiia havanensis Jacq. ‘estribillo’, ‘quisne’ Wild tree The concoction of the leaves is used against tarantula bite.

Apocynaceae

Meliaceae

Triumfetta dumetorum Schlecht. ‘cadillo’ Wild herb The concoction of its leaves and twigs is used to prevent abortion.

Tiliaceae

Triumfetta semitriioba

Tiliaceae

Jacq. ‘cadillo prieto’ Wild herb The concoction of the root is taken for diarrhoea. Urera caracasana (Jacq.) Griseb ‘ma1 hombre’

Verbenaceae

Verbesina persic~~l~a DC ‘huichin’ Wild shrub The infusion from the leaves and twigs is taken to reduce stomach swelling.

Compositae

Vernomia patens HBK ‘vara prieta’ Wild tree. Its latex is used as a healing agent.

Compositae

Vinca rosea L. ‘ninfa’ Wild and cultivated herb The infusion from the whole plant is used against cancer.

Apocynaceae

Viola sp. ‘Violeta’ Wild and cultivated herb The infusion from the leaves is taken against cough and asthma. The leaves as a syrup with cinnamon are used to alleviate cough.

Violaceae

Urticaceae Vittis tillifoiia HBK ‘bejuco de uva silvestre’

Vitaceae

255

Wild rattan The infusion from the whole plant has febrifuge properties. Liliaceae Regel. ‘izote’ Wild and cultivated shrub The juice from the roasted leaves is used for ear ache. Zebrina pendula Schinz

Commelinaceae

‘matlali color morado’, ‘hierba de 10s ojos’ Wild climbing herb The juice from its leaves and twigs is put directly over the cataract of the eye. The whole plant, raw and ground, is eaten to cure diarrhoea; discomfort also cured through the infusion of the leaves. Zingiber officinale Roscoe.

Zingiberaceae

‘ajinjibre’ Wild herb The concoction of the whole plant with honey is used as an emenagoge and to soothe colics. Discus&on

From the analysis of the information that conforms this catalogue, it is clear that in the study area there are 399 ‘plant products’ used for control of 57 diseases, from which are outstanding those mentioned afterwards, due to the number of parts employed. They are those related to the digestive system @I), like dysentery, diarrhoea, and intestinal parasites; skin illnesses (40) which include pimples, rash and infections; reproductive system affections (36), tike vagina1 flow, child-birth discomforts and gonorrhea; from the respiratory system (34), like cough, flu and coid; from the urinary system (25) mainly known as ‘ma1 de orin”‘; from aches; muscle, bone, head, etc. Supernatural

diseases deserve special attention, like evil-eye’, fright I6 and the so-called ‘mal viento’“, which are cured just by the use of plants during special ceremonies known as ‘limpias” where prayers and conjuring are combined with the use of vegetal remedies. The predominance of digestive, respiratory and skin illnesses suggest the poor hygiene conditions that prevail in the rural areas of the Mexican tropics. In spite of the fact that such health problems can be prevented or cured by allopathic medicine, its practice is almost null since it is out of reach of the great majority of the population; thus, the most popular way of treating disease is through traditional plant products. Through this study were detected 399 of these products, the most impor~nt of which are the leaves, the whole plant, the roots, the cortex and the flowers; the handiest ways of use were the concoction (155), infusion (77), poultice3 (47), bathing’ and washing (38), which are related to the most frequent discomforts. This information, in addition to its great variety, points out a very deep knowledge of plant resources and their properties, a fact that makes it feasible to assist many other health problems with a rich group of resources. Conclusions

(I) There is a deep knowledge about the curative properties of multiple vegetal species in the studied communities. (2) The ‘supernatural diseases’ are treated exclusively by plants in special ceremonies known as ‘limpias’8 that represent a unique case in the medical use of vegetation, and is a practice of great significance in the local culture. (3) In spite of the great development and spread of modern medicine, traditional knowledge about the use of plants keeps working as the most popular alternative to assist health problems in the studied areas. Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to engineers Miguel Gonzalez Corona and Luis Ilernandez Pallares, as well as to biologist

256

Carlos Sosa from the old Instituto National de Investigaciones Forestales, who helped them in the field labors by collecting the botanical material. Glossary ‘Algodoncillo. Mycotic illness of the mucous membranes caused by Candida albicans. ‘Baiios. Baths. There are different kinds of ‘baiios’, according to the disease that is to be cured. For example, the ‘temazcal’ is applied regularly to the delivering woman after childbirth; it consists of a small and lowered mud room, inside of which there are put several plant species; the whole thing is heated and the diseased person gets in. Immediately afterwards, water is added on the outer layers, thus producing steam inside the ‘temazcal’. ‘Baths’ can be made with the water resulting from the boiling of those plants recommended for a particular illness. Also, the bath can be applied to the affected part as well as to the whole body. Another possibility is to rub the green parts without any concoction on the areas. ‘Cataplasma. Poultice. The green parts are put directly over the affected part. There are different kinds of poultice: hot, when the plants are previously grilled or boiled; cold, when the plants or their parts are applied directly, without any previous treatment; or when an alcoholic infusion is prepared. The part of the plant most commonly used is the leaf, complete or macerated. 4Creolina. Germicide solution made up of heavy tar oil, which has, mainly, hydrocarbons and rather few cresol compounds in resin soap. ‘Empacho. Indigestion, especially in little children. 6Eticos. Very thin people who suffer from tuberculosis. ‘Jiote. Dermatitis whose main characters are desquamation and decoloration of skin. ‘Limpia. Cleaning or purification, are made with aromatic plants to expel or remove a ‘ma1 aire’ or bad air (Martines-Alfaro, 1984), or other maladies caused by magic mediums or sorcery. In this practice the use of plants is only on the surface of the skin, brushing the body with them.

9Mal de ojo. Evil Eye. Persons with pervasive look cause this supernatural or magical illnesses, mainly in children: sometimes a result of sorcery (Martinez-Alfaro, 1984). The symptomatology is very wide, mainly fever, loss of sleep, no hunger, weight loss, etc. “Mai de orin. Irritation of the bladder that becomes uncomfortable while urinating. ’ ‘Ma1 viento. Discomfort resulting from contact with death or anything related to it. ‘*Mesquino. Fleshy excrescence that appears on face and hands, wart caused by virus. “Nacido. Inflammatory tumor on the subcutaneous cellular tissue or in the ganglionar system. 14Retortij6n. Brief and intense pain at the intestine. “Suasado. Grilled, lightly exposed to fire ‘%usto. Magical or supernatural disease caused into the body; by a ‘ma1 aire’, introduced magical contact with the dead; weakness provoked during gastrointestinal infections. May be caused by sorcery or enviousness between neighbours, and by loss of the soul (MartinezAlfaro, 1984). Common in little children. “Ventiados. Accumulation of gas in the digestive tract. References Aguilar-Contreras, A. and Lozoya,

E. (1982) Plantas Tduicas

de MPxico. IMSS, Mixico.

Barrera, V., and L6pes-France, R.M. (1976) Nomenclatura etnobotdnica maya. Cot. Cientifica No. 36, INAH-SEP. Mixico. Barrera, V., and L6pez-France, R.M. (1982) Algunas caracteristicas de 10s recetarios indigenas del cirea maya yucatanense. MEMORIA. Simp. Etnobot. INAH. MCxico. pp. 258-261. Del Amo R., S. (1979) Plantas medicinates del estado de Veracruz. INIREB, Xalapa, Ver., Mtxico. Diaz, J.L. (Ed) ( 1976) Uses de las plantas medicinales de Mkxice. Monografias Cientificas II, lnstituto Mexican0 para el Estudio de las Plantas Medicinales. IMSS, Mtxico. Diego, N. et al. (1982) Estudio preliminar sobre el conocimiento y use de las planras en Balzapore. Ver. MEMORIA Simp. Etnobot. INAH, Mexico, pp. 144-157. Estrada-Lugo, E. (1985) Jardin Bokinico de plantas medicinales Maximino Martinez. UACH-Departamento de Fitotecnia, MCxico. Flares, A.M. and Valdts, G.J. (1979) Obra botanica del Dr. Francisco Hernhdez a miis de 400 aios de su realizacibn. Medicina Traditional II (6). 84-89.

257 Garcia, E. (1973) Modifcaciones

al sistema

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