An ethnobotanical study on the Chuanqing People of China based on an herbal market survey at the Dragon Boat Festival
Background: The Chuanqing People (穿青人) are an ethnic group native to Guizhou Province of China, with a unique culture and rich knowledge of traditional medicinal plants. The herbal market at the Dragon Boat Festival plays an important role in the inheritance of traditional medicinal knowledge among the Chuanqing People. This study aims to record the characteristics, current situation, and problems of medicinal plant usage by the Chuanqing People of China. Such information is important for the inheritance and protection of the Chuanqing People’s traditional medical knowledge.
Methods: Data were collected through key informant interviews, semi-structured interviews, and taxonomic identification. The results were compared with those of traditional Chinese medicine and other ethnic medicines in Guizhou Province. Data were analyzed with use-value (UV) and cultural importance index (CI) values.
Results: A total of 102 species from 53 families and 92 genera were recorded, with Orchidaceae and Asparagaceae (6 species each), Berberidaceae and Compositae (5 species each), and Apocynaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, and Polygonaceae (4 species each) as the predominant families. The most frequently used taxon was Hedera nepalensis var. sinensis (Tobler) Rehder (UV and CI=0.29). Moreover, 71 investigated human ailments were grouped into 12 categories. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (34 mentions) were the most frequently mentioned in this study.
Conclusions: The traditional herbal market during the Dragon Boat Festival is a hotspot of traditional medicinal plant knowledge of the Chuanqing People. However, urbanization threatens the inheritance of local medicinal plant knowledge. This study highlights the traditional medicinal knowledge of the Chuanqing People, providing basic data for further research on and protection of minority medicine.
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Posted 05 Jan, 2021
Received 27 Dec, 2020
On 27 Dec, 2020
On 21 Dec, 2020
On 18 Dec, 2020
Invitations sent on 18 Dec, 2020
On 18 Dec, 2020
Received 18 Dec, 2020
On 18 Dec, 2020
On 18 Dec, 2020
On 07 Sep, 2020
Received 23 Aug, 2020
Received 23 Aug, 2020
On 01 Aug, 2020
Invitations sent on 01 Aug, 2020
On 01 Aug, 2020
On 01 Aug, 2020
On 31 Jul, 2020
On 31 Jul, 2020
On 29 Jul, 2020
An ethnobotanical study on the Chuanqing People of China based on an herbal market survey at the Dragon Boat Festival
Posted 05 Jan, 2021
Received 27 Dec, 2020
On 27 Dec, 2020
On 21 Dec, 2020
On 18 Dec, 2020
Invitations sent on 18 Dec, 2020
On 18 Dec, 2020
Received 18 Dec, 2020
On 18 Dec, 2020
On 18 Dec, 2020
On 07 Sep, 2020
Received 23 Aug, 2020
Received 23 Aug, 2020
On 01 Aug, 2020
Invitations sent on 01 Aug, 2020
On 01 Aug, 2020
On 01 Aug, 2020
On 31 Jul, 2020
On 31 Jul, 2020
On 29 Jul, 2020
Background: The Chuanqing People (穿青人) are an ethnic group native to Guizhou Province of China, with a unique culture and rich knowledge of traditional medicinal plants. The herbal market at the Dragon Boat Festival plays an important role in the inheritance of traditional medicinal knowledge among the Chuanqing People. This study aims to record the characteristics, current situation, and problems of medicinal plant usage by the Chuanqing People of China. Such information is important for the inheritance and protection of the Chuanqing People’s traditional medical knowledge.
Methods: Data were collected through key informant interviews, semi-structured interviews, and taxonomic identification. The results were compared with those of traditional Chinese medicine and other ethnic medicines in Guizhou Province. Data were analyzed with use-value (UV) and cultural importance index (CI) values.
Results: A total of 102 species from 53 families and 92 genera were recorded, with Orchidaceae and Asparagaceae (6 species each), Berberidaceae and Compositae (5 species each), and Apocynaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, and Polygonaceae (4 species each) as the predominant families. The most frequently used taxon was Hedera nepalensis var. sinensis (Tobler) Rehder (UV and CI=0.29). Moreover, 71 investigated human ailments were grouped into 12 categories. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (34 mentions) were the most frequently mentioned in this study.
Conclusions: The traditional herbal market during the Dragon Boat Festival is a hotspot of traditional medicinal plant knowledge of the Chuanqing People. However, urbanization threatens the inheritance of local medicinal plant knowledge. This study highlights the traditional medicinal knowledge of the Chuanqing People, providing basic data for further research on and protection of minority medicine.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5