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Ethnomedicinal survey of plants and animals used by Daur ethnic group, Inner Mongolia, China
Min-Hui Li
Baotou Medical College
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5366-8464
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: The traditional medical practices of the Daur region are an important element in Chinese ethnomedicinal knowledge. However, relatively little recording of traditional Daur medicine (TDM) has been carried out. As it is gradually being replaced by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and modern medicine, further research is urgently needed.
Methods: We collected ethnobotany and ethnozoology data about their local name, parts used and diseases to be treated, dosage, and route for administration through semi-structured interviews with 114 informants (18 sessions), focus group discussions (6 sessions), and extensive literature reviews. Medicinal samples and specimens were collected during field investigations from June 2015 to October 2018. The diseases and ailments reported as being treated were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases 11 th (ICD-11). The expression correlation of medicine classification, medicine, and disease was assessed using Cytoscape 3.6.1 software. Quantitative indices such as informant consensus factor (ICF) and use value (UV) were used to evaluate the importance of ethnomedicinal data.
Results: We documented 30 plant species (from 19 families) and 21 animal species (from 11 families). In the past, the majority of plant species were collected from natural habitats, but now they are mainly cultivated. The most widely utilized plants were herbs (21 species), followed by shrubs (4), trees (3), and fungus (2). The most utilized groups of animals were mammals (14 species), followed by birds (5), amphibians (1), and reptiles (1). Medicines were mostly administered orally (43) but were also applied externally (11) or delivered via both routes (9). Informants indicated that medicines were prepared via decoction (21), grinding (11), boiling (10), extraction (8), and burning (7). Medicines were taken as a drink (37), eaten (16), or made into pills and powders (7), but could also be administered as an ointment/wash (6), wrap/dressing (5), in the nose, eyes, and mouth (4), or as a fumigate (2). The TDMs investigated in this study treated 76 human diseases or ailments classified under 13 disease categories, based on the ICD-11. The highest ICF (1.00) was reported for neoplasms and visual system diseases and childbirth or the puerperium, followed by injury, poisoning, or other diseases resulting from external causes (0.92), and symptoms, signs or clinical findings, not elsewhere classified (0.82). The most used medicinal species were Cervus elaphus , Cervus nippon , Capreolus , Gallus , Canis lupus familiaris , Betula platyphylla , and Artemisia integrifolia .
Conclusions: A substantial body of ethnobotanical and ethnozoological knowledge could lead to the development of new medicines. Therefore, research into Daur ethnic medicines is urgently required The current research can make an important contribution to the body of knowledge about the national medicine of the Daur people. This is particularly important because the younger generation is not interested in learning and preserving their traditional medical practices. The information documented in the present study will provide a useful basis for future investigations into the ethnopharmacological and traditional knowledge of the Daur region.
Keywords
Daur, Hulunuir area, Ethnobotany, Ethnozoology, Ethnomedicine
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This preprint is under consideration at Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research
Ethnomedicinal survey of plants and animals used by Daur ethnic group, Inner Mongolia, China
Min-Hui Li
Baotou Medical College
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5366-8464
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 3
Posted 18 May, 2020
No community comments so far
Editor assigned
On 05 May, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 05 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 04 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 04 May, 2020
No comments provided
Review #3 received
Received 08 Apr, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 08 Apr, 2020
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 08 Apr, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 07 Apr, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 29 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 25 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 25 Mar, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 24 Mar, 2020
Editor assigned
On 23 Mar, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 22 Mar, 2020
Editor invited
On 22 Mar, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 08 Feb, 2020
Review #4 received
Received 05 Feb, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 05 Feb, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 10 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #4 agreed
On 10 Jan, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 01 Jan, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 01 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 06 Dec, 2019
First submitted
On 02 Dec, 2019
Editor assigned
On 02 Dec, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 02 Dec, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 02 Dec, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 01 Dec, 2019
Editor invited
On 01 Dec, 2019
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: The traditional medical practices of the Daur region are an important element in Chinese ethnomedicinal knowledge. However, relatively little recording of traditional Daur medicine (TDM) has been carried out. As it is gradually being replaced by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and modern medicine, further research is urgently needed.
Methods: We collected ethnobotany and ethnozoology data about their local name, parts used and diseases to be treated, dosage, and route for administration through semi-structured interviews with 114 informants (18 sessions), focus group discussions (6 sessions), and extensive literature reviews. Medicinal samples and specimens were collected during field investigations from June 2015 to October 2018. The diseases and ailments reported as being treated were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases 11 th (ICD-11). The expression correlation of medicine classification, medicine, and disease was assessed using Cytoscape 3.6.1 software. Quantitative indices such as informant consensus factor (ICF) and use value (UV) were used to evaluate the importance of ethnomedicinal data.
Results: We documented 30 plant species (from 19 families) and 21 animal species (from 11 families). In the past, the majority of plant species were collected from natural habitats, but now they are mainly cultivated. The most widely utilized plants were herbs (21 species), followed by shrubs (4), trees (3), and fungus (2). The most utilized groups of animals were mammals (14 species), followed by birds (5), amphibians (1), and reptiles (1). Medicines were mostly administered orally (43) but were also applied externally (11) or delivered via both routes (9). Informants indicated that medicines were prepared via decoction (21), grinding (11), boiling (10), extraction (8), and burning (7). Medicines were taken as a drink (37), eaten (16), or made into pills and powders (7), but could also be administered as an ointment/wash (6), wrap/dressing (5), in the nose, eyes, and mouth (4), or as a fumigate (2). The TDMs investigated in this study treated 76 human diseases or ailments classified under 13 disease categories, based on the ICD-11. The highest ICF (1.00) was reported for neoplasms and visual system diseases and childbirth or the puerperium, followed by injury, poisoning, or other diseases resulting from external causes (0.92), and symptoms, signs or clinical findings, not elsewhere classified (0.82). The most used medicinal species were Cervus elaphus , Cervus nippon , Capreolus , Gallus , Canis lupus familiaris , Betula platyphylla , and Artemisia integrifolia .
Conclusions: A substantial body of ethnobotanical and ethnozoological knowledge could lead to the development of new medicines. Therefore, research into Daur ethnic medicines is urgently required The current research can make an important contribution to the body of knowledge about the national medicine of the Daur people. This is particularly important because the younger generation is not interested in learning and preserving their traditional medical practices. The information documented in the present study will provide a useful basis for future investigations into the ethnopharmacological and traditional knowledge of the Daur region.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5