INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE of MEDICINAL PLANTS USED by TRADITIONAL HEALERS in ILOC0S SUR Germana Gloria V
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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 6, Issue 12, December-2015 159 ISSN 2229-5518 INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY TRADITIONAL HEALERS IN ILOC0S SUR Germana Gloria V. Molina College of Arts and Sciences, University of Northern Philippines Germana Gloria V. Molina Email: [email protected] Ma. Nina R. Eder Email: [email protected] Vergilio Gascon Email: [email protected] Abstract: This research documented local plant species with its botanical interest and scientific names used by the traditional healers in Ilocos Sur. In this study, the profile of the respondents who were Ilocano traditional healers were identified in terms of sex, age, serve as a healer, mentorship type of disease treated and specialization in the indigenous medicinal treatment The indigenous knowledge of the Ilocano traditional healers was studied based on the botanical remedies and human ailments of the identified plant species in Ilocos Sur. It also included the methods of preparation of the medicinal plants used by the traditional healers. Fifty three (53) local traditional healers were interviewed to provide needed information. Based on the findings of the study the traditional healer in Ilocos Sur possesses rich ethnic pharmacological knowledge. The study allows for identifying many high value medicinal plant species, indicating high potential for economic development through sustainable collection of their medical plan. It also showed that the study area has plenty of medicinal plants to treat a wide spectrum of human ailments. Many people in the study areas of Ilocos Sur are still depending on medicinal plants, at least for the treatment of some simple diseases such as, cold, cough, fever, headache, poison bites, skin diseases and tooth infections. It is necessary to acquire and preserve this traditional system of medicine by proper documentation and identification of specimen.This traditional knowledge on the indigenous uses of the medicinal plants could boost new innovations in the pharmaceutical industry and have many beneficial applications such as new medicinal trials for some diseases like: malaria, Tuberculosis and AIDS, of which will develop the health care sector in ilocos Sur. Knowledge sharing varied among the traditional healers. Some would freely share while others keep their techniques secret .Most of the healers do not follow rigidIJSER rules on dosage, but were practically strict to abstain or avoid some kind of food while their patients are under treatment. Many people in the study areas of Ilocos Sur are still depending on medicinal plants .The traditional healers in Ilocos Sur possess rich ethnic pharmacological knowledge on Medicinal plant. This allows the study for identifying many high value medicinal plant species, indicating high potential for economic development through sustainable collection of these. Key words: Indigenous knowledge, traditional healers, medicinal plants,Ilocos Sur Philippines --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.1 INTRODUCTION medicinal plants as a mechanism for Background of the Study survival. Indigenous knowledge may be defined as knowledge that is unique to a given Indigenous knowledge as a concept is culture or society which provide the baffling. Development institutions have not infrastructure for agriculture, health care, thus far gone to a unanimous perception of food prep, training, environmental the concept. None of the definitions are conservation and other life process on the essentially contradictory, but they overlap in local level (Thomas, 1995). Any local many aspect. Warren ( 1991) and Flavier; community may have continuous old (1995). Indigenous knowledge (IK) is the knowledge and traditional practices on local knowledge –and is unique to a given IJSER © 2015 http://www.ijser.org International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 6, Issue 12, December-2015 160 ISSN 2229-5518 culture or society. IK contrasts with the their own lives. (Indian Journal of international knowledge system generated Traditional Knowledge, Vol. 10(2), April by universities, research institutions and 2011, pp. 281-286 private firms. It is the basis for local-level Today, many indigenous knowledge decision making in a host of human systems are at risk of becoming extinct activities in rural communities. (Warren because of rapidly changing natural 1991). It is the information base for a environments and fast pacing economic, society, which facilitates communication political, and cultural changes on a global and decision-making. Indigenous scale. Practices vanish, as they become information systems are active, and are inappropriate for new challenges or because continually influenced by internal creativity they adapt too slowly. However, many and experimentation as well as by contact practices disappear, only because of the with outside organizations.. (Flavier et.al. intrusion of foreign technologies or 1995: 479) . development concepts that promise short- In the emerging global knowledge term gains or solutions to problems without economy a country’s ability to build and being capable of sustaining them. The mobilize knowledge capital, is equally tragedy of the impending disappearance of essential for sustainable development as the indigenous knowledge is most obvious to availability of physical and financial capital those who have developed it and make a (World Bank, 1997) The basic component living through it. But the implication for of any country’s knowledge system is its others can be detrimental as well, when indigenous knowledge.IJSER It encompasses the skills, technologies, art facts, problem skills, experiences and insights of people, solving strategies and expertise are lost. applied to maintain or improve their living. Indigenous knowledge is part of the life Significant contributions to global of the rural poor; their livelihood depends knowledge have originated from indigenous almost entirely on specific skills and people, i.e., in medicine and veterinary knowledge essential for their survival. medicine with their intimate understanding Accordingly, for the development process, of their environments. Indigenous indigenous knowledge is of particular knowledge is developed and adapted relevance for the following sectors and continuously to gradually changing strategies: agriculture, animal husbandry and environments and passed down from ethnic veterinary medicine, use and generation to generation and closely management of natural resources, primary interwoven with people’s cultural values. health care (PHC), preventive medicine and Indigenous knowledge is also the social psychosocial care, saving and lending, capital of the poor, their main asset to invest community development, poverty in the struggle for survival, to produce food, alleviation. to provide for shelter or to achieve control of IJSER © 2015 http://www.ijser.org International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 6, Issue 12, December-2015 161 ISSN 2229-5518 The rural communities depend heavily Journal Traditional Knowledge, Vol. 10, on plant diversity for the fulfilment of their No.2 April: 2011, 282) basic needs and conservation of other Traditional healers are found in most natural resources. They collect useful plant societies. They are part of a local resources from various habitats and utilize community, culture, tradition and continue them using indigenous knowledge and to have high social standing in many places, practices. The vast store of information on exerting influence on the local health indigenous knowledge, practices, and practice as most people still rely heavily on technologies is being eroded as a result of traditional medicine. Traditional medicines fast urbanization, over-exploitation of are often the first and last line of defense resources, unscientific land use, change of against most common ailments such as lifestyles and behaviour. Hence, priority headaches, coughs, diarrheal, wound healing ought to be given to document the useful and skin diseases. One advantage in plants with indigenous knowledge, practices preferring traditional medicine is that as well as technologies from the area before healer’s services are more affordable as they the inhabitants shift over to modern lifestyle only charge negligible fees, highly use to improve livelihoods, and their roles in accessible, are familiar with patients, and conservation and sustainable management of operate within the ambit of culture and environmental resources have been carried environment. They work on the body and out. mind together to help cure an illness. There are still gaps in the Traditional medicinal knowledge of comprehensive IJSERstudy and documentation medicinal plants by Ilocano traditional relating to the ethno botanically useful healers is not only useful for conservation of species and indigenous knowledge, practices cultural traditions and biodiversity, but also and perception of the local people for community health cure at present and drug sustainable resource management. development in the future. Moreover, as Nepal is also one of the According to the WHO (2001) report, signatories of the conventions (Ramsar traditional healers such as herbalist, Convention, the Biodiversity Convention, midwives and spiritual healers constitute the and the Convention on International Trade main source of assistance with health in Endangered Species), priority should be problems for