Persistence of the Use of Medicinal Plants in Rural Communities of the Western Arid Chaco [Córdoba, Argentina]

80 The Open Complementary Medicine Journal, 2010, 2, 80-89 Open Access Persistence of the Use of Medicinal Plants in Rural Communities of the Western Arid Chaco [Córdoba, Argentina] Cecilia Trillo1, Bárbara Arias Toledo*,1,2, Leonardo Galetto1,2 and Sonia Colantonio1,2 1Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina 2CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Argentina Abstract: Rural communities have complex strategies for health conservation: the use of local pharmacopoeia, visits to “curanderos” [traditional healers] and the use of the scientific official system of medicine. Through 129 semi-structured surveys in 6 villages of the Arid Chaco forest of western Cordoba Province 151 plants species (117 natives and 34 exotics) were registered for diverse uses: digestive, external frictions, respiratory, diuretic, circulatory, sedative, magic, feminine, etc. Besides, differential use by men and women was registered associated to particular cultural roles. 90% of the species were previously registered for the region by several botanists, folklorists and geographers. Thus, a historical continuum in the knowledge of medicinal plants can be pointed out. This knowledge on medicinal plants seems to be part of the culture of the “criollos”, inhabitants of the rural areas of Argentina traditionally dedicated to stockbreeding. Although same socio-cultural changes occurred in the last 100 years, still persist an ethno-medic system related to a comprehensive treatment of patients, which try the disorders simultaneously in physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and environmental levels. Keywords: Argentinean chaco forest, knowledge persistence, medicinal plants, ethno botany. INTRODUCTION leged respecting to those of the West Arid region. Consi- dering that people of the West communities uses traditional Human communities, and particularly rural ones, possess technologies to develop their daily activities, and they live in environmental knowledge and beliefs that allow their sur- a comparatively isolated environment from large urban vival through a particular management of natural resources centres, it is reasonable to expect that they possess traditional and these facilitate their integration to natural surroundings. information for plant uses and the maintenance of their This knowledge, defined as Traditional Ecological Know- health. In relation to this [14] pointed out that isolated ledge [1], is preserved and transmitted through generations communities know more medicinal plants than communities and it includes the consumption of medicinal plants. Health with primary health care service, and [15] pointed out that care and maintenance are two of the main concerns for the communities with lower level of modernization have a larger people, independently of the particularities of the different spectrum of information than communities with higher cultures [2]. Regarding this, in rural communities surroun- degree of modernization. ding vegetation is the main source of resources, including medicinal products [e.g. 3-6]. The province of Córdoba presents diversity of environments which can be related to particular strategies of produc- In Argentina, as in other parts of the world, many of the tion of goods and services. In the western Arid Chaco, rural communities have some complex strategies for health secondary forests are frequently found near rural commu- care and maintenance. For example, rural people make use of nities which show a scarce socioeconomic and technological the local pharmacopoeia (i.e., plant recipes, reputated development. People usually sustain extensive cattle farm persons of the community with curative powers) concurren- and waterless crops by ancient traditional techniques. These tly with visits to medical doctors [e.g., 5-7]. Usually, Hippo- characteristics, originated long time ago, allow people to cratic concepts on health and illness persist in Argentine persist in these arid environments with a stressful, unpredic- rural communities [e.g., 8-10]. In Córdoba province, these table climate [16], far from urban areas and with deficient ethno medical systems have been reported for some little medical attention and transportation [17]. towns [e.g., 11-13], mainly describing the use of medicinal plants, as well as some infrequent magic-symbolic elements. On the other hand, this rural communities are exposed to However, these studies have been carried out in communities fast social changes, in many cases associated with the fast of the East and the North of the province, where the lost of natural resources of which they depend on to survive. economy and the communications are comparatively privi- According this, [18] point out that biodiversity and cultural diversity are closely related because rural people depend on local resources to their survival. Thus, forest fragmentation *Address correspondence to this author at the Cat. Antropología, Facultad and land uses determine actual ecosystem fragility and the de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba consequent cultural erosion. So, it is urgent and necessary to – Av. Vélez Sarsfield 299 – X5000JJC – Córdoba, Argentina; Tel: 0054- carry out actions to protect cultural resources as the register 351-4332100; E-mail: [email protected] and conservation of ethnobiological knowledge. According 1876-391X/10 2010 Bentham Open Persistence of the Use of Medicinal Plants in Rural Communities The Open Complementary Medicine Journal, 2010, Volume 2 81 Fig. (1). Location of Argentina, Cordoba Province and Departments of studied communities. that, this paper pretends [i] to produce a inventory of the The towns are placed inside the phytogeographic region medicinal species from Western rural communities of of Chaco Seco [21]. The flora of this region is characterized Córdoba; [ii] to analyse how the knowledge of medicinal through some tree species as Aspidosperma quebracho- plants [i.e., plants used, recipe preparation, treated diseases] blanco, Schinopsis marginata, Lithrea molleoides, Prosopis is distributed within the population [i.e., sex and age flexuosa, Acacia aroma, Flourensia oolepis, Ruprechtia classes], and [iii] to compare the current contemporary apetala, Celtis ehrenbergiana, Acacia furcatispina, etc. Most knowledge of medicinal plants with historical data gathered of this region has been disturbed by logging, cattle farming, during the last 100 years. fires, etc., mainly during the last 30 years. Secondary forests are characterized by few trees and many shrubs [22]. MATERIALS AND METHODS Inhabitants of these rural areas are denominated Criollos. Criollos are auto-characterized as small stockbreeders (not Study Area farmers). They are related to forest areas where they obtain medicinal plants, forage and fire wood. They are catholic, The present study was carried out in the communities of Spanish speakers and devoted to their own traditions. The Chancaní (Pocho Department), San Vicente and San Martín ethno-medicinal system of criollos is dominated by the use (San Alberto Department), Guasapampa, La Playa and of medicinal plants, with environmental, cognitive and sym- Totora Huasi (Minas Department). These communities are bolic dimensions [23]. The use of medicinal plants is located between S 31º and W 65º 22´, and they are between complemented with visits to medical doctors and prayers to 540 to 750 msnm (Fig. 1). The annual mean temperature is Catholic and vernacular images. 18 °C (maximum and minimum of 25° and 11°, respectively), and annual precipitations oscillate between 400-500 Socioeconomic data from the area shows low population mm with a wet season during the summer [19]. Most densities, critical social indicators (Total Fertility Rates – precipitation falls from October to March. After the wet TFR-, illiteracy rates) and poverty (Unsatisfied Basic Needs season, there is an extended dry season with few precipi- –NBI, acronym in Spanish) [17]. The socio-economic tation events, which coincides with the period of low tem- characterization is summarized in Table 1. peratures [20]. This region is considered a semiarid environment because of the high potential of evapo-transpiration Methodology which determines a water deficit during 11 months of the Data were collected through semi-structured interviews year [i.e., 69 and 97mm of water deficit during the wet and [24, 25] to one person per family. Information obtained is dry seasons, respectively; 20. In addition, the beginning of related to socio-economic and geographic conditions, the rainy season is unpredictable (i.e., it can occurs since knowledge of plant resources, their use, and preparation, as September to January). well as knowledge transference about their use. Interviews 82 The Open Complementary Medicine Journal, 2010, Volume 2 Trillo et al. Table 1. Demographics and Socio-Economic Data of the Communities Studied, According 2001 National Population Census [48] Department Pocho San Alberto Minas Number of residents 5.057 25.104 4.888 Nº pers/km2 1.6 7.5 1.3 Total Fertility Rate 3,78ch/w 3,39ch/w 3,77ch/w Illiteracy Rate 5,53% 4% 9,39% Town Chancaní San Martín San Vicente Guasapampa La Playa Totora Huasi Number of residents 196 61 193 163 193 24 NBI 50 21,3 28,5 26,5 37,3 … Population density, fertility and illiteracy rates are only available from Departments. NBI is available from each town. Number of residents is available from department as town. also had a structured section [25] designed

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