Medicinal plant use and knowledge for Monteverde residents based on age and education, December 2006

Alternative Title

El uso de las plantas medicinales y el conocimiento para los residentes basado en la edad y la educación

Creator

Cassandra Gurgiolo

Files

Publication Date

December 2006

Abstract

Approximately 80% of the world population relies on medicinal plants from the forest, home gardens, or market as a primary form of healthcare (Alcorn 1995). However, increased development and deforestation in recent years may be compromising the practice of natural medicine among the inhabitants of many developing countries. Interviews with 33 residents of Monteverde, Cost Rica examine both the current level of knowledge concerning natural medicine and its practice based upon age and educational level. Statistically significant positive linear relationships were found between both utilization and knowledge of medicinal plants and age. Knowledge and utilization of medicinal plants decreased weakly with increasing educational level; however age may be a confounding variable, as education was correlated with age. Despite the lower number of natural treatments cited by the youngest participants, the practice of natural medicine is indeed still prevalent among residents of Monteverde, demonstrated by the average number of ailments for which participants used medicinal plants, 11 out of 16. As the species of plants cited are mostly exotics or garden-variety natives, the results of this study do not have strong implications for conservation. Nevertheless, considering the lack of affordability of pharmaceutical products, it is fortunate that medicinal plant knowledge has survived in this community.

Resumen

Aproximadamente el 80% de la población mundial recurre a las plantas medicinales del bosque, los jardines, o en el mercado como una forma primaria de mantenerse con salud (Alcorn, 1995). Sin embargo, en los últimos años ha aumentado el desarrollo y la deforestación que pueden poner en peligro la práctica de la medicina natural entre los habitantes de muchos países en desarrollo. Entreviste a 33 residentes de Monteverde, Costa Rica para examinar el nivel de conocimiento sobre la medicina natural y su práctica con respecto a la edad y el nivel de educación.

Keywords

Medical Botany, Sociology and economics, Medicinal plants, CIEE Fall 2006

Palabras claves

Medicina Botánica, Sociología y economía, Plantas medicinales, CIEE Otoño 2006

Extent

20 pages

Geographic Location

Monteverde (Puntarenas, Costa Rica)

Holding Location

Monteverde Institute

Language

English; Spanish

Media Type

Articles

Format

Digital Only

Identifier

M39-00358

Type

Book

Recommended Citation

Gurgiolo, Cassandra, "Medicinal plant use and knowledge for Monteverde residents based on age and education, December 2006" (2006). Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]. 307.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tropical_ecology/307