Age and gender structure of the mastery of medical knowledge
According to the investigation, the number of medicinal materials that were mastered by men was much higher than that mastered by women (Fig. 2). The data showed that 299 herbs were provided by men, while only 128 herbs were provided by women. The number of herbs provided by women was less than half of that provided by men. In addition, there were no female vendors aged 20-30 years, and the number of medicinal materials provided by male vendors was very small, only 10 kinds (Fig. 2). The knowledge of medicinal plants of the Chuanqing People was mainly mastered by middle-aged and older males (aged from 31 to 70 years).
Fig. 2 shows the number of medicinal materials mastered by males (70%). First, according to the data of the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2010, the illiteracy rate of males in the rural area was 29.04%, and that of females was 70.96%. Males who accepted higher education learned more relevant medicinal plant knowledge. The second reason is that males are commonly physically stronger than females; when they collect herbs from the local mountain, males are able to collect more varieties of medicinal plants and acquire more knowledge about them. Finally, heavy agricultural work can cause local people to easily suffer from rheumatism and trauma, and local agricultural activities are mainly undertaken by men. Therefore, the number of medicinal materials mastered by males is greater.
Fig. 2 The demographics of vendors
Taxonomic characteristics of the medicinal plants
A total of 102 medicinal plant species belonging to 92 genera and 53 families were provided by the Chuanqing People (Fig. 3). The dominant families of the Chuanqing People's medicinal plants were Orchidaceae and Asparagaceae (6 species each), including species such as Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Rchb.f., Reineckea carnea (Andrews) Kunth, and Asparagus filicinus Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don, followed by Berberidaceae and Asteraceae (5 species each), including species such as Senecio analogus DC. and Dysosma delavayi (Franch.) Hu., and Apocynaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, and Polygonaceae (4 species each). The remaining families were represented by 4 or fewer entities.
The main families of medicinal plants were the Orchidaceae and Asparagaceae families. Orchidaceae and Asparagaceae are the most important medicinal plants of the Chuanqing People in Guizhou for three reasons. First, Guizhou is one of the most typical karst areas in the world. Its unique geographical location and complex natural environment provide suitable conditions for wild orchids [25]. Second, Orchidaceae plants are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. There are 343 species of 82 genera in Orchidaceae that can be used as medicine and 297 species of 78 genera of medicinal Orchidaceae in China. Third, a large number of orchids increases the probability of orchids being used by people. According to the number of species, Orchidaceae is the largest family of monocotyledons, and 500 new species published each year are from the Orchidaceae and Asparagaceae [26]. Most plants in Asparagaceae, such as Polygonatum sibiricum Delar. ex Redoute and Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr., are used frequently because their thick root tubers are attractive to herb collectors. Moreover, Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. is a w Chinese herbal medicine widely used by people of Han nationality. The folk medicine of the Chuanqing People has been influenced by traditional Chinese medicine for a long time, so a large amount of traditional Chinese medicine is expected to be used. Related research on Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. shows that it mainly contains steroids and has a strong anti-tumour effect [27].
Fig. 3 The dominant medicinal plant families at the herbal market of the Dragon Boat Festival
Analysis of medicinal parts
Sixteen medicinal parts of medicinal plants were used by the Chuanqing People, of which the whole plant was the most common (36%), such as in Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo and Taraxacum mongolicum Hand. - Mazz., etc. This was followed by roots (25%), rhizomes (12%), root tubers (9%), leaves (4%), fruits (2%), flowers (2%), stems (2%), aerial parts (2%) and others (7%) (Fig. 4). The proportion of plants for which roots and whole plants were used as medicinal parts reached 60.95%.
Roots, rhizomes, and root tubers accounted for 46%. First, roots and rhizomes are the main organs of plants that store nutrients and secondary metabolites, which have been recognized and used by humans for a long time. Second, in winter, the above-ground parts of most herbaceous plants wither, and only underground roots and tubers can be used. The whole plant is the most commonly used medicinal part, accounting for 36%. First, the whole plant is easy to obtain, so it is a good choice. Second, local people have no systematic knowledge of drug use, so they do not usually subdivide medicinal parts, such as roots and flowers, to treat diseases. In addition, the whole plant is more convenient for them to use.
Fig. 4 The proportion of medicinal parts at the herbal market of the Dragon Boat Festival
Medication methods
Twenty medicinal methods of the Chuanqing People were recorded. Decoction (44%) was the most commonly used medical method, as observed for Disporopsis fuscopicta Hance, Verbena officinalis L., and Polygonum aviculare L.. This was followed by alcohol maceration (19%), bath (6%), cooked with pork (6%), mashed (5%), cooked with chicken (3%), powder with boiled water (3%), steamed with honey (3%), sliced (2%), vinegar maceration (2%) and others (6%) (Fig. 5). For the Chuanqing People, most of the medicinal materials were used in the treatment of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue diseases. Additionally, there were some special medical methods used by the Chuanqing People, such as souping with glutinous rice and firing with eggs.
Decoction (44%) is the most commonly used medication method for the Chuanqing People, and it plays an important role in the preparation of ancient traditional Chinese medicine. The decoction of traditional medicine is the earliest and most widely used traditional dosage form in China, with a long history[28]. Additionally, decocting can control the dosage according to the patient's symptoms, so it is very convenient to use and widely used.
Alcohol maceration was the second most commonly used method (accounting for 19%),and most medicinal materials macerated with alcohol were used to treat traumatic injury. For example, in Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor's Canon of Medicine), there are chapters devoted to the discussion of medicinal liquor, such as "Tang Ye Liao Li", which shows that the application of medicinal liquor began in the Warring States period of China. As a good semipolar organic solvent, alcohol can dissolve alkaloids, volatile oils, tannins and other components that cannot be dissolved in water. In addition, the Chuanqing People also have some other special usages, such as making a soup with glutinous rice wine, and steaming with eggs.
Fig. 5 The proportion of medicinal uses at the herbal market of the Dragon Boat Festival
Analysis of the UV and CI values of medicinal plants of the Chuanqing People
The UV of medicinal plants used by the Chuanqing People ranged from 0.02 to 0.29, while many species had low UV and CI values. Appendix 1 shows that the highest UV and CI values were calculated for Hedera nepalensis var. sinensis (Tobler) Rehder (UV and CI=0.29), Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux, Plantago major L., Polygonum capitatum Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don, Paris polyphylla Smith, and Potentilla discolor Bunge (UV and CI=0.13). The UV of ten medicinal plants (UV = CI>0.10) was high because they were widely distributed in the local habitat of Nayong County and relatively easy to obtain. Most local people do not know which part is most effective in treating the disease. When using herbs to treat diseases, they do not use specific medicinal parts, so it is easiest for them to use the whole plant. Finally but importantly, because the local people are generally engaged in agricultural labour for a long time, overwork is excessive, and the local summer climate is humid and hot, so weakness and rheumatism become two major problems faced by local people. These herbal medicines have excellent effects in solving these two problems. The above reasons are why the herbs appear frequently and have a high demand at the Chuanqing People's Dragon Boat Festival medicinal market.
Functions and indications
According to the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC) (https://www.who.int/classififications/icd/en/) [22], seventy-one investigated human ailments divided into 12 categories were represented among the herbs sold by Chuanqing People at the herbal market of the Dragon Boat Festival (Table 1). Most medicinal materials were used to treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (34 mentions).
Nayong County has a humid climate, and most people are engaged in agriculture, which leads to multiple musculoskeletal systems and connective tissue diseases, such as rheumatism, traumatic injuries and other diseases. The occurrence of these diseases is closely related to the local environment, climate, living habits and production activities. For instance, Artemisia argyi H.Lév. & Vaniot (UV=0.10), Hedera nepalensis var. sinensis (Tobler) Rehder (UV=0.29), and Lysimachia paridiformis var. stenophylla Franch. (UV=0.10) are all used to treat rheumatism;Liparis campylostalix Rchb.f., Rhodiola yunnanensis (Franch.) S. H. Fu, and Cynanchum inamoenum (Maxim.) Loes. ex Gilg. & Loes., are used to treat traumatic injuries.
Table 1. The Number of Categories of Aliments
Category
|
Number
|
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
|
34
|
Diseases of the digestive system
|
18
|
Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
|
17
|
Diseases of the genitourinary system
|
16
|
Diseases of the respiratory system
|
15
|
Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
|
5
|
Diseases of the circulatory system
|
5
|
Diseases of the nervous system
|
3
|
Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving an immune mechanism
|
2
|
Diseases of the ear and mastoid process
|
2
|
Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period
|
1
|
Diseases of the eye and adnexa
|
1
|
Analysis of the rare and endangered status
A total of 11 medicinal plants were recorded in the Information System of Chinese Rare and Endangered Plants (Table 2), and 11 species were recorded as nationally protected plants (10.78%). Among them, 5 species were protected by the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and 6 species were recorded in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), including low-risk (1 mention), near-risk (2 mentions), vulnerable (2 mentions) and endemic (2 mentions) species in China. Six medicinal species were endemic to China.
Table 2. Records of the Information System of Chinese Rare and Endangered Plants
Scientific name
|
National protection
|
CITES
|
IUCN
|
Distribution area
|
Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils
|
(Ⅱ)
|
Ⅱ
|
NT
|
|
Houpoea officinalis (Rehder& E. H. Wilson) N. H. Xia & C. Y. Wu
|
(Ⅱ)
|
|
NT
|
Only in China
|
Rhodiolayun nanensis (Franch.) S. H. Fu
|
(Ⅱ)
|
|
LC
|
Only in China
|
Pleione yunnanensis (Rolfe) Rolfe
|
(Ⅱ)
|
Ⅱ
|
VU
|
|
Cibotium barometz (L.) J. Sm.
|
(Ⅱ)
|
Ⅱ
|
|
Only in China
|
Aristolochia tuberosa C. F. Liang et S. M. Hwang
|
(Ⅱ)
|
|
VU
|
Only in China
|
Paris polyphylla Smith
|
(Ⅱ)
|
|
|
|
Citrus cavaleriei H. Lév. ex Cavalier
|
(Ⅱ)
|
|
|
Only in China
|
Dendrobium officinale Kimura & Migo
|
(Ⅰ)
|
|
|
Only in China
|
Taxus chinensis (Pilg.) Rehder
|
(Ⅰ)
|
Ⅱ
|
VU
|
|
Gastrodia elata Blume.
|
(Ⅱ)
|
Ⅱ
|
|
|
NT: Near threatened; LC: Least Concern; VU: Vulnerable
Comparison of the Chuanqing People medicine with the ChP and other ethnic groups medicines in Guizhou Province
While the traditional medical uses of some plants are similar to those of other people, the Chuanqing People possess distinctive medicinal plant knowledge. Comparing the ChP [19] and QSTCMNM [20], 22 medicinal plants (21.57%) were documented by the ChP [19]. For the QSTCMNM [20], 24 medicinal plants (23.53%) were documented, and 7 species of these medicinal plants were also recorded in the ChP, the QSTCMNM and the Chuanqing People’s medicine. For instance, the root of Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux is used to restore yang for resuscitation in the ChP and Chuanqing People’s medicine. Many usages are have only been reported in the literature; for example, the paeonol contained in Cynanchum paniculatum (Bunge) Kitagawa has an anti-inflammatory effect and is used to alleviate inflammation associated with gynaecological diseases to a certain extent [29]. Sanguisorba officinalis L. has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory pharmacological effects and, to some extent, can be used to treat diarrhoea [30].
The investigation also revealed the specific uses and efficacies of the drugs used by the Chuanqing People, but there are no literature records. Paris polyphylla Smith is used to treat heart disease, but the use of Gleditsia sinensis Lam. to treat bone pain and joint pain has not been reported. Therefore, the traditional medicinal plant knowledge of the Chuanqing People, especially for unique plants and usages, should be conserved immediately.