A Preliminary Study of Ethnobotanical Use of Plant Species by the Q

A Preliminary Study of Ethnobotanical Use of Plant
Species by the Q'eqchi' Maya Community in Toledo
District
A Thesis Submitted to the University of Belize in Fulfillment of
RSCH 4992 - Independent Research
As Part of Bachelors of Science in Biology
Submitted by
Mr. Pedro Choco
Under the Supervision of
Dr. Thippi Thiagarajan
Department of Science
Faculty of Science and Technology
University of Belize
Abstract
The Q’eqchi' Maya people who live in and around the forest of the Maya mountains and adjacent
areas of the Toledo District of Belize have been using plants for various purposes including
medicinal practices. Data were collected from Q'eqchi' Mayan traditional healers through
interviews and a field walk. During the field walk, approximately 80 medicinal plant species
were collected, and photographs of each were taken for further identification. From the 80
medicinal plant species collected, only 44 of these were properly documented and described
along with their botanical description, traditional uses, and preparation for treatment. The data
showed that the medicinal plants identified belong to 35 genera and 25 different families. The
numbers of species belonging to each family are stated in parentheses after each taxon;
Piperaceae (7), Fabaceae (5), Verbenaceae (4), Rubiaceae (4) and the other 21 family,
represented by (1) or (2) species, contributed to the remaining 24 species. The medicinal plants
identified were mainly small/large trees, shrubs, vines or herbaceous angiosperm plants. There
was also a Selaginellaceae, and terrestrial ferns such as Lygodiaceae, Osmundaceae, and
Polypodiaceae being used. The majority of the preparations included leaves being boiled in water
and the decoction taken orally as liquid; few roots or barks were used. The traditional healers of
Q’eqchi' Maya prefer using young, fresh plant materials to treat disorders associated with mental,
skin, digestive, nervous, muscular, endocrine, genitourinary and the respiratory system.
Approximately 36% of the plants used are found to be common around backyard gardens while
the other 64% are collected from nearby forests. Further research can be conducted for a
thorough survey of plants used by the Q’eqchi Maya as well as phytochemical analysis of some
of the important herbs used.
2
Acknowledgements
I would like to start off by expressing how it was an honour for me conducting such research of
this type. However, without the guidance and assistance of many kind hearted individuals and
lecturers this wouldn’t be a success at this point in time.
I would like to extend a warm thanks to Dr. Thippi Thiagarajan who secured a space for me in
conducting this research along with three other fellow colleagues. It was a privilege to be around
discussing new ideas of how this research could be improved not only for us but the entire
country. I am very much grateful for his patience which he had in helping me identifying the
plant samples and also for checking the drafts of all the pieces included in this research paper.
I really appreciated the assistance given to me by Dr. Caroline Herron in offering a really helpful
book used to identify a few of the plants and also locating a few of the Maya traditional healers
which are still around.
I express my sincere thanks to the lecturer of this Independent Research course, Dr. Dion
Daniels, who motivates and inspires me to begin working on my research as early as possible. I
really appreciated the interest he had for us in constantly sending updates to the entire class in
regards to our research.
I also express my sincere thanks to the Q’eqchi’ Maya Healers from Toledo District mainly from
the Big Falls, Indian Creek and Jalacte Village. They all showed support to me in conducting my
research especially to Mr. Francisco Caal and Mr. Pablo Rash. I really had a splendid time
conducting field walks with both of these healers. These Q’eqchi’ healers really love what they
do and didn’t mind sharing their knowledge to me. I would also really like to extend a warm
thanks to the entire Itzamma Medicinal Garden and Healing Center where I obtained majority of
my plants required for this research.
I am really thankful to my parents, brothers, and sisters in helping me to locate these healers in
the community. I also thank them in assisting me to identify some of the plants which I wasn’t
aware of. Special thanks also to my friends and fellow colleagues who were always pushing and
helping me to get my research paper completed.
Last but not the least; I would like to thank God for guiding me and protecting me wherever I
went in collecting photos of the different plants. With his guidance and blessings I was
successful in completing my research paper.
3
Table of Contents
Chapters
Title
Page No.
List of Figure ------------------------------------------------------------------ 5-6
List of Tables ------------------------------------------------------------------ 7
Abbreviations ------------------------------------------------------------------ 8
Chapter I
Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------ 9-10
Chapter II
Literature Review --------------------------------------------------------- 11-14
Chapter III Methodology ---------------------------------------------------------------- 15-16
Chapter IV Results ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17-58
Chapter V Discussion -------------------------------------------------------------------- 59-61
Chapter VI Conclusion and Recommendations ----------------------------------- 62
References -------------------------------------------------------------------- 63-64
Appendix ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 65-68
4
List of Figures
Figure No.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Plates
Scientific Name of Plants
Plate 1-A
Justicia adhatoda
Plate 1-B
Anthurium gladiifolium Schott
Plate 1-C
Anthurium pentaphyllum
Plate 1-D
Neurolaena lobata
Plate 2-A
Begonia grandis
Plate 2-B
Combretum fruticosum
Plate 2-C
Bryophyllum pinnatum
Plate 2-D
Gurania makoyana
Plate 3-A
Acosmium panamense
Plate 3-B
Bauhinia forficate
Plate 3-C
Desmodium adscendens
Plate 3-D
Mimosa pudica
Plate 4-A
Securigera securidaca
Plate 4-B
Hyptis verticillata
Plate 4-C
Strychnos panamensis Seem
Plate 4-D
Lygodium japonicum
Plate 5-A
Lygodium palmatum
Plate 5-B
Sida rhombifolia L.
Plate 5-C
Souroubea sympetala
Plate 5-D
Arthrostemma ciliatum
5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11
Plate 6-A
Blakea cuneata
Plate 6-B
Cissampelos pareira L
Plate 6-C
Mollinedia guatemalensis
Plate 6-D
Osmunda cinnamomea
Plate 7-A
Piper amalago L.
Plate 7-B
Piper dilatatum
Plate 7-C
Piper hispidum Sw.
Plate 7-D
Peperomia incana
Plate 8-A
Piper peltatum L.
Plate 8-B
Piper tuerckheimii
Plate 8-C
Piper yucatanense
Plate 8-D
Securidaca diversifolia
Plate 9-A
Polypodium vulgare
Plate 9-B
Gonzalagunia panamensis
Plate 9-C
Morinda citrifolia
Plate 9-D
Morinda lucida
Plate 10-A
Psychotria poeppigiana
Plate 10-B
Selaginella umbrosa
Plate 10-C
Solanum torvum
Plate 10-D
Lantana montevidensis
Plate 11-A
Lantana trifolia L.
Plate 11-B
Priva lappulacea
Plate 11-C
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis L. Vahl.
Plate 11-D
Vitis riparia
6
Figure 12 Illustrate The Number of Species That Were Found In Each Plant
Type
Figure 13 Illustrate The Parts Used From The Plant Species
List of Tables
Table 1. Inventory of Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used by the Q'eqchi' Mayas of Toledo
District
Table 2. Showing the taxonomic diversity of medicinal plants in the study area
Table 3. Showing the Number of Species Used in Treating Different Diseases Caused To The
Body System.
7
Abbreviations for Diseases treated by Medicinal Plants
Abbreviations
Diseases Under Category
CIR = Circulatory System Disorders
CUL = Culture-Bound Syndromes
DIG = Digestive System Disorders
END = Endocrine System Disorders
GEN = Genitourinary System Disorders
INF = Infectious/Infestations
MEN = Mental Disorders
MET = Metabolic System Disorders
MUS = Muscular-Skeletal System Disorders
NER = Nervous System Disorders
POI = Poisonings
PRE = Pregnancy/Birth Disorders
RES = Respiratory System Disorders
SKI = Skin/Subcutaneous Cellular Tissue Disorders
8
Hypertension
Susto, Stomache Issues
(Obeah)
Diarrhea, Dysentery, Stomach
ache, Ulcer, Vomiting,
Diabetes,
Contraceptive, Female
Sterility, Heavy Menstrual
Cycle, Urinary Retention,
Athlete’s Foot, Bay Sore,
Fever, Yellow Fever,
Gastritis, Hepatitis, Malaria,
Madness
Rheumatism
Back ache, Cramps, Crazy
Headache, Numbness,
Epilepsy
Snake bite (Yellow Jaw)
Prolonged Labour
Asthma, Flu and Coughs,
Tuberculosis,
Allergies, Boils, Itchy Sores,
Sores,
Chapter I – Introduction
Belize, a Central American country located on the Caribbean coast, south of Mexico and
east of Guatemala, has a population of 360,838 (SIB, 2014). Belize comprise of 95% mainland
and 5% cayes, with a total land area of 22,960 square kilometres (8,865 square miles). Over 70%
of the country is under natural forest, and protected areas now cover 36 % of the land mass
(Belize Demographics Profile, 2014). Colonisation, slavery, and immigration have played major
roles in affecting the ethnic composition of the population and as a result, Belize is a country
with numerous cultures, languages, and ethnic groups (UNDP, 2012). The country’s ethnic
diversity ranges from groups of indigenous Maya and the Black Caribs (Garinagu), through the
Creole descendants of African slaves, to the more recent Central American and Oriental
immigrants (Balick and O’Brien, 2004). Mestizo, Creole, Maya, Garinagu and Mennonite
remained the five largest ethnic groups. The Mestizo is the largest group that comprise about
48.7% of the population, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garinagu 6.1%, Mennonite 3.6%, East
Indian 3.0, Chinese 0.7 and 2.4 other (UNDP, 2012). The number of Garinagus and East Indians
remained at their 2000 levels. About 19 thousand persons or 6% of the population claimed to be
of mixed ethnic origin ( Belize Population Census Report, 2012).
In spite of the country’s small size, its ecosystems and ethnicity is really diverse, giving
rise to a rich culture with respect to traditional healing. In ethnic groups like the Maya and the
Garinagu, the use of medicinal plants is spiritual and is linked to myths, rituals and religion
(Balick and O’Brien, 2004). Medicinal plants include various types of plants used in herbalism.
These medicinal plants consider as a rich resources of ingredients can be used in the
development of human cultures around the entire world. They acquired this knowledge from
their ancestors who had a close relationship with nature (Balick and O’Brien, 2004). As in
countries like Ethiopia, which has been also described as one of the most unusual and important
sources of biodiversity in the world is losing much of this rich diversity due to deforestation,
land degradation, lack of documentation of species in some areas as well as of traditional cultural
knowledge, and potential acculturation (D’Avigdor et al., 2014). Due to the population growth in
Belize, the influence of foreign cultures and the continued clearing of land for agriculture,
industry and rural expansion are also threatening these cultural and biological resources (Balick
and O’Brien, 2004). Therefore, the healers of the country Belize on a whole has difficult times in
9
finding these medicinal plants nearby, instead they travel long distances in search of these plants.
In addition, due to changing life style, extreme secrecy of traditional healers and negligence of
youngsters, the practice and dependence of ethnic societies in folk medicines is in rapid decline
globally. Thus, ethnobotanical exploitation and documentation of indigenous knowledge about
the usefulness of such a vast pool of genetic resources is deliberately needed (Singh et al., 2012).
In Belize, this can also be seen since it is evident that knowledge about the use of plants is itself
in greater danger of extinction than the plants themselves (Balick and O’Brien, 2004).
The Maya mountains and adjacent areas of the Toledo district of Southern Belize support
a large area of semi-evergreen tropical rainforest. Rainfall is high in this area and recent surveys
show that species richness is high, with new records that may include new, undescribed species
(Amiguet et al., 2004). The Mayas are one of the largest groups of indigenous people of the
Americas and inhabit a large portion of Mesoamerica, including the Yucatan Peninsula,
Guatemala, Belize, parts of Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas, and the western portion of
Honduras and El Salvador. The linguistic family called "Mayan" contains about 30 closely
related but mutually unintelligible languages, which is the result of a long period of internal
divergence (Amiguet et al., 2004). Currently in Belize, there are three Maya groups (Yucatec,
Mopan, and Q'eqchi'). The Q'eqchi,' who inhabits the Toledo district of Southern Belize as well
as the neighbouring Guatemala, is the least acculturated of the three groups because they
continue to live in relatively remote areas (Amiguet et al., 2004).
In the year 2005 a handbook of Kekchi medicinal plants was published by the Belize
Indigenous Training Institute (BITI) which included various descriptions of plants used by the
Q'eqchi' people. This book was put together by the Q'eqchi' healers of Toledo in partner with
BITI and their main objective was to document use of plant resources they used for medicinal
purposes. Despite the publishing of this Handbook and other small research done, there is still
lack of documentation of medicinal plants used by the different cultures in Belize. As a result,
our objective here serves similar purposes by interviewing healers of different cultures based on
the different plant resources they use.
10
Chapter II - Literature Review
Ethnomedicinal refers to the usage of medicinal plants by a group of people on account
of their traditional knowledge. These individuals that use medicinal plants are known as healers.
Archaeological studies showed that the practice of herbal medicine dates as far back as 60,000
years ago in Iraq and 8,000 years ago in China. As a result, globally it is evident that human
beings have been utilizing plants for basic preventive and curative health care since time
immemorial (Mantry et al., 2014).
According to Mantry et al., 2014, recent estimates suggest that over 9,000 plants have
known medicinal applications in various cultures and countries, and this is without having
conducted comprehensive research amongst several indigenous and other communities.
Medicinal plants are used by women to take care of their families (household level), by medicine
to men or tribal shamans (village level), and by the practitioners of classical traditional systems
of medicine such as Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, or the Japanese Kampo system. He also states
that, according to the World Health Organization, over 80% of the world's population, or 4.3
billion people, rely upon such traditional plant-based systems of medicine to provide them with
primary health care.
India is known as the world’s second largest exporter of medicinal plants after China.
The World Health Organisation estimates that almost 65% of India’s population depends upon
traditional medicines for sustenance and healthcare needs (UNDP INDIA, 2014). According to
D’Avigdor et al., 2014, an estimated 80 to 90% of Ethiopians also use herbal medicine as a
primary form of health care. This is as a result of many rural communities continuing to have
limited access to modern health care due to availability and affordability. Despite the importance
of these professional and lay healers to Ethiopia in applying traditional medicine to support
health and manage illness it however may be lost to future generations. This can only be control
if urgent efforts are made to document the knowledge and to engage the younger generation who
may no longer be interested in learning the traditional methods. Therefore Ethiopians that live in
rural areas may face an uncertain future in regard to ready access to affordable modern medical
services and access to their traditional remedies.
A similar study in Nepal showed that about 90% of the Nepalese people reside in rural
areas where access to government health care facilities is lacking. The ethnic people residing in
11
different geographical belts of Nepal depend on wild plants to meet their basic requirements and
all the ethnic communities have their own pool of secret ethno-medicinal and ethnopharmacological knowledge about the plants available in their surroundings. However, likewise
due to the changing life style, extreme mystery of traditional healers and negligence of
youngsters, the practice and dependence of ethnic societies in folk medicines is in rapid decline
globally. Therefore ethno-botanical exploitation and documentation of indigenous knowledge
about the usefulness of such a vast pool of genetic resources is also urgently needed (Singh et al.,
2012).
D’Avigdor et al., 2014 also mentioned that traditional healers who often combine the use
of spiritual methods with herbal applications in particularly are known as debteras. This
knowledge is traditionally passed down through the male line or is preferentially passed on to a
favourite child, usually a son, although a similar study by Gedif and Hahn (2003) into the use of
herbs for self-care, acknowledged mothers as the “de facto healers of the family treating
accidents and ailments with medicinal plants.”
The herbal medicine used by these healers refers to herbs, herbal materials, herbal
preparations, and finished herbal products that contain parts of plants or other materials as active
ingredients. The plant parts used in herbal therapy include seeds, berries, roots, leaves, fruits,
bark, flowers, or even the whole plants (Pan et al., 2014). According to Feitosa et al., 2014, some
of the many medicinal species of the Brazilian savanna (Cerrado) are important due to their
economic value. In general, people recognize different properties and qualities of particular plant
species because different species satisfy different needs. For instance, in this sense, the genus
Stryphnodendron Mart. is known for its numerous uses: the extracts from the stem bark are rich
in tannins and are used for curing various diseases, including leukorrhea, diarrhea, inflammatory
processes, hemorrhages, hemorrhoids, conjunctivitis, malaria, fever, liver disorders, gonorrhea
and urethritis, and wound healing.
Other studies also revealed that the plant Hyptis verticillata, which originated in Central
America and now extending from Florida to Colombia and across the Caribbean, has a wide
range of traditional uses from internal uses for conditions affecting the respiratory system,
gastrointestinal tract and gynaecological system to external uses for conditions affecting the skin
and musculoskeletal system. It is cited that aqueous extracts is used alone for internal use, and is
prepared either as infusions, decoctions or macerations. Extractions using alcohol were reported
12
in just one country, Mexico, and this preparation was for external use only. Traditional
preparations mostly use aerial parts of the plant, which may include the leaf and stem or just the
leaf. The use of whole plants or the root alone is also cited, but far less frequently (Picking and
Delgoda, 2013).
For coughs, colds, mucus conditions, asthma onset, fever, tonsillitis, uterine fibroids,
bronchitis and gastrointestinal problems, a small handful of leaves and branchlets are steeped in
three cups of boiled water for 10 min and drunk warm in 1/3 cup doses throughout the day. This
is also mixed with lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) for high fevers. The entire plant is boiled
and added to baths for children and infants with malaise and those with contact dermatitis. It is
said that adding Hyptis verticillata to any recipe will give it added strength (Picking and
Delgoda, 2013). As a result, it shows that for better treatments a single plant is not only used by
itself but rather a combination of plants or also in other cultures which used animals as a part of
their tradition.
As in the case of some areas of Central Africa, the primary use of wildlife in the study
area is for consumption. This is because many people depend on bush meat as a means to survive
during time of hardship, or to gain additional income for special needs. Apart from their
consumptive uses, 99.7% of household respondents in the study area recognised the effective use
of wildlife in their culture and traditions. It was found that also 26 mammal species, 11 bird
species, eight reptile species, four fish species and two invertebrates, representing respectively
50.9%, 21.6%, 15.7%, 7.8% and 3.9% of all animal groups, are used in various ways for cultural
and traditional purposes (Bobo, 2015).
In addition to animals being used with medicinal plant to treat disease, Bogdanov 2014,
also wrote a journal stating that “Honey has been used in traditional Chinese Medicine to treat
many diseases for more than two thousand years. In Traditional Chinese Medication, honey is a
combination used with bee venom, propolis, royal jelly, pollen and other herbal medications in
medical treatment.
In Guatemala, as in other Central American countries, medicinal plants continue to be the
most economically and culturally suitable treatment for a variety of health conditions, including
those related to women’s health (Michel et al., 2007). According to the Q’eqchi, all living
creatures on earth are seen as possessing a guardian spirit that can become angered if respect and
homage are not paid prior to starting a particular activity or treatment. For the Q’eqchi they must
13
follow certain rules and regulations that must be honored in order to maintain harmony. For this
they include prayers and rituals to Ajaw (God) and to the 13 local mountains, prior to hunting
wild game, cutting down a tree for firewood, building a home, or collecting a plant for medicinal
purposes. These prayers and incantations usually incorporate the use of candles, herbs, and
incense. In regard to healing practices, the Q’eqchi believe that these ceremonies are essential to
a medicinal plant’s efficacy. Furthermore, if such ceremonies are not performed, the patient as
well as the healer may suffer from a more severe illness (Michel et al., 2007).
Like in Guatemala, the Q’eqchi groups living in the Toledo District practice similar
traditional activities due to the migration of these Q’eqchi people into Belize over the past years.
However, due to the limited research done in Belize in regards to ethnomedicine these traditional
activities are not being documented for future references. Not only are they not being
documented but like in other indigenous communities throughout the world, the Q'eqchi' Maya
presently are experiencing great changes in their way of life as a result of development. The
increase of migration and acculturation of the younger people worsens the loss of traditional
Q'eqchi' practices. The Q'eqchi' medicinal plants are known by a limited number of individuals,
mostly elders. A research done by Amiguet et al., 2004, found out that there is a re-awakening
and greater interest in cultural matters; the formation of a healer association and participation of
younger individuals in the Q’eqchi’ community are promising developments for the future.
There it can be seen that urgent attention needs to be put into ethnomedicine in Belize on a whole
to explore and document this unique and indigenous, traditional knowledge, because their
knowledge ends with their death.
14
Chapter III – Methodology
Study area
Toledo District is situated in the Southern part of the country. It is an area filled with 4,649
square km of pristine rainforests and jungles, offshore cayes, coastal lowlands and a widespread
network of caves. It is also culturally rich, home to the highest concentration of traditional Maya
villages in Belize, as well as Garifuna, Creole, Mestizos, East Indians, and German speaking
Mennonites. The herbal practitioners targeted were all local inhabitants of villages like Big Falls,
Jalacte and Indian Creek of Toledo District.
Field works and ethnobotanical data collection
A total of 4 male herbal practitioners were chosen and interviewed in the study area based on the
recommendations of knowledgeable elders, community residents, and my parents. These
herbalists were all local inhabitants that aged between 45-60 years. These local traditional
healers are well-known by villagers and surrounding communities because of their important role
and knowledge of medicinal plants. Due to the traditional beliefs and practice of the Mayas in
the past, majority of the Q’eqchi’ healers today are mostly males. There are only a few women in
the communities that are knowledgeable of medicinal plants but however don’t put it to practice
mainly because of the beliefs of the culture.
Ethnobotanical research was carried out to collect data on medicinal plants used by the Q’eqchi’
Mayas to treat human ailments. This was done by conducting semi-structured interviews, field
observations, group meetings, and guided field walks. The data were collected from JanuaryMay of 2015. Interviews were undertaken based on a questionnaire survey whereby the questions
were asked on a one-to-one basis with the herbalists. Information provided by each herbal
practitioner were carefully recorded and logged. Field observations were performed with
traditional healers guided on the morphological features and habitats of each medicinal species.
During the field walk notes were also recorded based on the plant’s local name, traditional uses
and its availability to the healer. Photographs and portions of the medicinal plants (leaves and
flowers) were also collected for further identification purposes. After collecting each sample
15
species, a picture were taken for each plant using a white background. The description, uses, and
preparation were then discussed with the healer one by one. The Plants that couldn’t be identified
were later brought up in group discussions amongst fellow colleagues and lecturers.
Specimen collection and identification
The medicinal plants enumerated were collected from nearby forest at Big Falls, Punta Gorda
and a garden known as Itzamma Garden Center located in Indian Creek Village, Toledo. The
plant specimens were later identified by using available and relevant literature.
Data analysis
The data were anazlyzed using mainly Microsoft Office Excel. Descriptive statistical analysis
such as frequency table, charts and percentage were used in properly summarizing the
ethnobotanical data.
16
CHAPTER IV – RESULTS
Medicinal Plants Collected
The research conducted recorded 44 medicinal plant species which is depicted in 11 different
plates below. Each plate consists of 4 medicinal species starting in alphabetical order based on
their family. The species collected belonged to 35 genera and 25 families.
Acanthaceae
Common Name: Squirrel's Tail (Plate 1-A)
Local Name: Sa’x jolom Chacmut
Scientific Name: Justicia adhatoda
Part Used: Leaves
Description: This plant is one of the tallest perennial shrubs that can reach heights up to 4 m. Its
leaves are elliptic-lanceolate, acute at both ends and reaches up to 20 x 7.6 cm. The flowers are
white, 2-liped, in short, dense, axillary pedunculate spikes and capsule that is 18 mm long. It has
large attractive shiny leaves that have a limy tinge in their new growth.
Traditional Uses: Only the leaves are used to treat CIR: Hypertension; INF: Fever; MET:
Headache.
Preparation: The leaves are crushed in room temperature water and the liquid is drunk and used
to bathe the head. About 6 leaves can be crushed in two glasses of water for the individual to
ingest and about 10 can be crushed to bathe the head.
17
Araceae
Common Name: Devil Sword (Plate 1-B)
Local Name: X Ch’ich Ma’us
Scientific Name: Anthurium gladiifolium Schott
Part Used: Leaves
Description: Strong, epiphyte with condensed to shortly developed stem, internodes to 4cm
thick; persistent and up to 15cm long. Leaves are widely-spreading with overhanging tips;
petiole is 17cm long, 1.4cm thick, much shorter than blade, broadly sulcate on upper surface
narrowly-winged margins. The leaf blade are linear to oblong-elliptic, to 90cm long, 16cm
broad, coriaceous, dull dark green on upper surface, paler below.
Traditional Uses: This epiphyte is used to treat CIR: Hypertension, MEN: Madness, and MUS:
Numbness
Preparation: These species works best in a combination of two plants of the same family
namely A. gladiifolium Schott and A. pentaphyllum. One of the elongated leaf (1-B) and (1-C)
can be crushed in room temperature water just enough so that the individual can bathe the head
to treat sickness like pressure and madness. As for the numbness, both leaves will be heated on a
comal and will be crushed to be placed on the area of numbness.
18
[Figure 1] Plate 1
B
A
Squirrel's Tail – (Sa’x jolom Chacmut)
Devil Sword (X Ch’ich Ma’us)
Acanthaceae - Justicia adhatoda
Araceae - Anthurium gladiifolium Schott
C
D
Tail-Flower/Flamingo Flower (Ru’j Ma’us)
Jackass Bitters (K’a Mank)
Araceae - Anthurium pentaphyllum
Asteraceae - Neurolaena lobata
19
Araceae
Common Name: Tail-Flower/Flamingo Flower (Plate 1-C)
Local Name: Ru’j Ma’us
Scientific Name: Anthurium pentaphyllum
Part Used: Leaves
Description: These herb are hemi epiphytic climber that consists of palmately divided leaves
and represent a very distinct morphological group within the genus. In these species, leaflets are
free to the base, or leaf segments (i.e. lobes) are united at the base. They are large succulent
leaves, simple or dissected. Leaf is green, cylindrical, slightly grooved, apical geniculate, sheath
1.8 to 4.3 cm long; blade spanking, green discolour, oblanceolate, apex long-pointed, sometimes
asymmetric, the entire margin slightly wavy.
Traditional Uses: This herb is used to treat CIR: Hypertension, MEN: Madness, and MUS:
Numbness
Preparation: These species works best in a combination of two plants of the same family
namely A. gladiifolium Schott and A. pentaphyllum. One of the elongated leaf (1-B) and (1-C)
can be crushed in room temperature water just enough so that the individual can bathe the head
to treat sickness like pressure and madness. As for the numbness, both leaves will be heated on a
comal and will be crushed to be placed on the area of numbness.
Asteraceae
Common Name: Jackass Bitters (Plate 1-D)
Local Name: K’a Mank
Scientific Name: Neurolaena lobata
Part Used: Leaves
Description: Herb growing to 1-4m tall, with a few main stems and numerous branches on each
stem; leaves often with 3 distinctive points and are bitter tasting and has yellow flowers. This
plan is one of the common weed found.
Traditional Uses: DIG: Stomach ache, Ulcer, Vomiting; END: Diabetes; INF: Fever; RES: Flu
& Coughs;
20
Preparation: Only two leaves are boiled in about 3-4 glasses of water. After the leaves are
boiled the liquid is left to cool down before drinking. Two glasses of the liquid should be drunk
daily, one in the morning and one in the evening.
Begoniaceae
Common Name: Hardy Begonia (Plate 2-A)
Local Name: Xaq Pek
Scientific Name: Begonia grandis
Part Used: Leaves
Description: An herb which has a height of 1-3ft. and bears green heart-shaped leaves with red
veining and claret stained undersides. The stem is red and the flowers are pinkish/white and
usually bloom in early fall, fall, late summer or summer.
Traditional Uses: INF: Athlete’s foot, bay sore; SKI: Itchy sores
Preparation: The leaves are crushed with a little bit of water and the material is applied to the
skin as poultice. The leaves are heated on the comal before being applied to an athlete’s foot or
itchy sores.
Combretaceae
Common Name: Chameleon Vine (Plate 2-B)
Local Name: K’an shan K’ajam
Scientific Name: Combretum fruticosum
Part Used: Leaves & Stem
Description: A bushy tropical evergreen vine that can grow to 20 feet if supported or be pruned
into a shrub or even espaliered. They have slender leaves and long showy orange-red tubular
flowers in clusters like a toothbrush, giving the vine a multi-colored appearance.
Traditional Uses: DIG: Diarrhea, Ulcer, Vomiting
Preparation: The leaves (4-5) and stem are boiled in about 4 glasses of water for 15-20 minutes.
After the concoction is warm the person may drink it twice a day. It can only be effective if the
liquid is warm.
21
[Figure 2] Plate 2
B
A
Chameleon Vine (K’an shan K’ajam)
Hardy Begonia (Xaq Pek)
Begoniaceae - Begonia grandis
Combretaceae - Combretum fruticosum
C
D
(Sh’ik K'uay)
Pumpkin Vine (K’uum Pim)
Cucurbitaceae – Gurania makoyana
Crassulaceae - Bryophyllum pinnatum
22
Crassulaceae
Common Name: (Plate 2-C)
Local Name: Sh'ik K'uay
Scientific Name: Bryophyllum pinnatum
Part Used: Leaves
Description: Glaucous shrub 0.3–2 m high, little-branched, suckering at the base, stems
cylindrical. Leaves are elliptic, 5–25 cm long, 2–7 cm wide, crenate, lower ones simple, upper
ones often pinnate with leaflets elliptic. Its relatively broad leaves have scalloped margins and
are oppositely arranged; they may be simple or compound, with three or five leaflets. Its
drooping bell-shaped flowers, borne in branched clusters at the top of its stems, are greenishyellow to pinkish-red in colour.
Traditional Uses: CIR: Hypertension; MUS: Crazy Headache
Preparation: Work best in a combination with Souroubea sympetala (Plate 5-C). Both leaves (4
each) are being crushed in room temperature water and the liquid is used to bathe the head three
times a day.
Cucurbitaceae
Common Name: Pumpkin Vine, Jungle Cucumber (Plate 2-D)
Local Name: K’uum Pim
Scientific Name: Gurania makoyana
Part Used: Leaves
Description: Dioecious vine; stems and leaves sparsely to densely white-vinous; tendrils simple.
Petioles 4-10 cm long; blades usually deeply 3-5 lobed, 15-30 cm long, nearly as wide as long,
cordate at base, chartaceous, the lobes acuminate, 4-7 cm wide, with apiculate teeth, the upper
surface minutely pustulate; juvenile leaves often entire or shallowly lobed. Inflorescences
sparsely to densely pilose; flowers are 5-parted; calyx orange; corolla yellow; staminate
inflorescences solitary, pendent; peduncles to 15 cm long
Traditional Uses: SKI: Sores; Boils
Preparation: Only 1 leaf can do the job by heating on comal or fire then it should be crushed
and applied to the sore or boil.
23
Fabaceae
Common Name: Billy Web (Plate 3-A)
Local Name: K’a Che’
Scientific Name: Acosmium panamense
Part Used: Bark
Description: Evergreen with heights of 30-40 m and diameters of 90-100 cm Tree; Umbellate
closely cops or shortly rounded, dense, dark green foliage, with obliquely ascending branches;
bole straight, cylindrical, elongated base. The bark is gray to yellowish gray, moderately rough,
cracked surface and emerges in large blanks. The total thickness of the crust varies from 0.5 to 1
cm. The leaves are compound, alternate of 5-22 cm long with the central axis enlarged at the
base; 7-10 leaflets in pairs except for the terminal.
Traditional Uses: END: Diabetes; INF: Yellow Fever; RES: Coughs
Preparation: Only a small portion of the bark (10 inches) is sliced and is then boiled in 2-3
glasses of water for 15 minutes to drink twice a day in order to treat yellow fever and coughs.
When treating diabetes the same should be done but however only ½ glass of the concoction
should be drank until felt better.
Fabaceae
Common Name: Cow's Hoof (Plate 3-B)
Local Name: Ru’k Qwakash
Scientific Name: Bauhinia forficate
Part Used: Leaves and Root
Description: This is a woody vine that grows to 50 m long, growing into the canopy; leaves are
in the shape of a cow’s hoof, some are modified into incurved tendrils; flowers are with orangeyellow petals, numerous and showy on the vine.
Traditional Uses: END: Diabetes
Preparation: At least 2-3 leaves are added with the roots to boil in a small pot with 4 glasses of
water for 15-20 minutes. The decoction should be drunk when it is warm to be much effective in
treating diabetes until the blood sugar alleviates.
24
[Figure 3] Plate 3
B
A
Billy Web (K’a Che’)
Cow's Hoof (Ru’k Qwakash)
Fabaceae - Acosmium panamense
Fabaceae- Bauhinia forficate
C
D
Strong Back (Ch’inta Pim)
Sensitive Plant, Touch-me-not (Cuara K’ish)
Fabaceae - Desmodium adscendens
Fabaceae - Mimosa pudica
25
Fabaceae
Common Name: Strong Back (Plate 3-C)
Local Name: Ch’inta Pim
Scientific Name: Desmodium adscendens
Part Used: Leaves & Stem
Description: Perennial herb, multi-branched, usually prostate but sometimes erect to 50 cm tall;
leaves with 3 leaflets, each 1-3 cm long; inflorescences slender, with numerous light purple
flowers. The fruit is a legume, ca. 3 cm long.
Traditional Uses: MET: Rheumatism; MUS: Muscle Pain,
Preparation: The leaves and stem of the entire herb are boiled together in about 3 cups of water
for 10 minutes. 1 cup of this decoction is taken twice daily for relief of backache, and muscle
pains.
Fabaceae
Common Name: Sensitive Plant, Touch-me-not (Plate 3-D)
Local Name: Cuara K’ish
Scientific Name: Mimosa pudica
Part Used: Leaves, Stem and Roots
Description: This small ground herb closes up and droops down when touched, which indicates
one of its properties - to induce sleep. It can grow up to 20 cm tall, spreading to 60 cm; stems
thorny; leaves pinnate, with 15-25 pairs of pinnae, each 5-10 mm long and folding up when
touched; flowers fluffy, mauve.
Traditional Uses: CIR: Hypertension; DIG: Stomach Ache; MUS: Cramps;
Preparation: For stomach ache and high blood pressure about 2 plants along with its roots can
be boiled in 4 glass of water for 10-15 minutes. The liquid should be drunk twice a day. As for
cramps at least 6 entire plants can be boiled in 2 gallons of water and then the individual can
bathe with the warm decoction. More should be applied where the cramp is.
26
Fabaceae
Common Name: Goat Pea (Plate 4-A)
Local Name: Se’ Ru’ K’an Tyaj
Scientific Name: Securigera securidaca
Part Used: Roots
Description: A vine with low to short sprawling to ascending annual, hairless. Its leaves are 4-7
pairs of oblong, sometimes notched leaflets. Stem is 10-50 cm with yellow flowers, 4-8 mm
long, borne in long-stalked heads of 4-8, keel beaked. Its fruits are legume narrow, 50-100 mm
long, with a recurved, pointed, tip, ascending to erect, with thickened margins and no obvious
segments.
Traditional Uses: DIG: Stomach Ache; INF: Yellow Fever
Preparation: Only the roots of the plant will do the job by boiling it in 4 glasses of water. The
tea should be drunk only warm. Before eating the individual should drink 3 cups of the tea at
once.
Lamiaceae
Common Name: Wild Mint, John Charles (Plate 4-B)
Local Name: Chu’ Pim
Scientific Name: Hyptis verticillata
Part Used: Leaves
Description: This grows to a height of approximately 2 meters. The leaves are oval and the
flowers are white.
Traditional Uses: INF: Fever, Malaria; MET: Rheumatism; MUS: Cramps, GEN: Heavy
Menstrual Cycle
Preparation: The leaves of the plant are boiled in water and are drink for all the sickness that is
mentioned above. As for fever and cramps the warm liquid of the plants after being boiled can be
used to bathe the individual for a better treatment. For heavy menstrual cycle the female can
drink the decoction twice a day.
27
[Figure 4] Plate 4
B
A
Goat Pea (Se’ Ru’ K’an Tyaj)
Wild Mint, John Charles (Chu’ Pim)
Lamiaceae – Hyptis verticillata
Fabaceae - Securigera securidaca
C
D
Chicoloro Vine, Snake Seed (Curux K’ix)
Japanese Climbing Fern (Ruxb’ I Kaak’ #1)
Loganiaceae – Strychnos panamensis Seem
Lygodiaceae - Lygodium japonicum
28
Loganiaceae
Common Name: Chicoloro Vine, Snake Seed (Plate 4-C)
Local Name: Curux K’ix
Scientific Name: Strychnos panamensis Seem
Part Used: Leaves and Roots
Description: A slender almost glabrous vine with cream-colored flowers. The fruits have a
diameter of 4-8cm.
Traditional Uses: DIG: Ulcer, Vomiting, Diarrhea; INF: Yellow Fever
Preparation: The leaves and roots of a plant are boiled together in 5 glasses of water for about
10 minutes. The liquid should be drunk warm for twice a day to treat the sickness.
Lygodiaceae
Common Name: Japanese Climbing Fern (Plate 4-D)
Local Name: Ruxb’ I Kaak’ #1
Scientific Name: Lygodium japonicum
Part Used: Leaves
Description: Perennial viney fern, climbing and twining, to 90 feet long, with lacy finely divided
leaves along green to orange to Black wiry vines, often forming mats of shrub- and tree-covering
infestations. Vines arise as branches from underground, widely creeping rhizomes that are
slender, Black, and wiry.
Traditional Uses: CUL: Susto
Preparation: The leaves are crushed in a gallon of room temperature water with Lygodium
palmatum leaves also. The person then bathes the body with this decoction four times a day.
Young leaves are better to use in healing these sickness. Another plant is added also but it
couldn’t be found due to scarcity around the healer’s garden.
29
Lygodiaceae
Common Name: Climbing Fern (Plate 5-A)
Local Name: Ruxb’ I Kaak’ #2
Scientific Name: Lygodium palmatum
Part Used: Leaves
Description: This is a vining fern that creeps along the ground and also climb on other plants.
The leaves have brown sori (spore capsules) on edges. Frond reaches 300 cm high and is
evergreen; Pinnae: alternate, sterile pinnae on 1-2 cm stalks, a pair of pinnules very broadly
ovate, deeply and palmately 3-7-lobed, to 6 cm;
Traditional Uses: INF: Fever; MUS: Headache; NER: Epilepsy
Preparation: The leaves of a plant are crushed in about 2 gallons of room temperature water in
order for the person to drink and bathe the body. For epilepsy the individual can drink the liquid
for 3 times daily until progress is seen. For fever and headache the person can also drink the
liquid twice daily and can use it to bathe the body.
Malvaceae
Common Name: Broom weed, Common Wireweed (Plate 5-B)
Local Name: Mes’ B’eel
Scientific Name: Sida rhombifolia L.
Part Used: Leaves
Description: A low shrub or herb; stems woody, growing to 50-150 cm tall; leaves ca. 1-2cm
long, tinted red, with pointed tips; flowers solitary, yellow, forming in the leaf axils, each ca. 1
cm across, opening at noon.
Traditional Uses: INF: Athlete’s Foot; SKI: Boils
Preparation: The leaves of one plant can be crushed in room temperature water and place as a
poultice on the boil or athlete’s foot until it is healed. It can be left up to three days without
changing for the boil to heal.
30
[Figure 5] Plate 5
A
B
Climbing Fern (Ruxb’ I Kaak’ #2)
Broom weed, Common Wireweed (Mes’ B’eel)
Malvaceae – Sida rhombifolia L.
Lygodiaceae - Lygodium palmatum
D
C
(Hub’ub’)
Ever-blooming Eavender, Pink-fringe (Tzeleq’ a Za’ak)
Marcgraviaceae – Souroubea sympetala
Melastomataceae - Arthrostemma ciliatum
31
Marcgraviaceae
Common Name: None (Plate 5-C)
Local Name: Hub’ub’
Scientific Name: Souroubea sympetala
Part Used: Leaves
Description: Hemi-epiphytic, vine like shrub, usually fastened to other vegetation with
numerous, long, aerial roots; stems with papery-brown outer bark, often rooting at nodes.
Petioles to 12 mm long; blades mostly obovate, rounded to obtuse at apex, acute at base, 8-14 cm
long, 3.5-6 cm wide, thick, with 1 or 2 rows of minute glands within 1 cm of margins below. It
has reddish pedicels and flowers.
Traditional Uses: CIR: Hypertension; MEN: Madness; MUS: Heavy Headache
Preparation: Works best in a combination with Bryophyllum pinnatum to treat all the sickness
above. Leaves of both plants are crushed in 2 gallons of room temperature water so that it can be
drunk three times daily and can be used to constantly bathe the head.
Melastomataceae
Common Name: Ever-blooming Eavender, Pink-fringe (Plate 5-D)
Local Name: Tzeleq’ a Za’ak
Scientific Name: Arthrostemma ciliatum
Part Used: Leaves and Vine
Description: A 1-4m herb with purple flowers that reaches up to 2 1/2 inches across and have
flower buds and 4 egg-shaped, point-tipped petals that may be banded with pink on the back. The
leaves have 5 or 7 longitudinal, palmate veins and are green, slightly bristly, opposite, eggshaped to broadly lanceolate, and edged with tiny, bristly-hairy, reddish teeth. The young stems
are reddish. These weedy, climbing and sprawling plants can cover and smother other plants.
Traditional Uses: GEN: Urinary Retention
Preparation: The leaves of the plant are crushed in half glass of room temperature water. After
this is completed then a little bit of warm water is added along with two cups of coconut water.
This should then be drunk until the person’s kidney is cleaned. Young herb of this species works
best.
32
Melastomataceae
Common Name: None (Plate 6-A)
Local Name: Oxlaju’ Ch’ajom
Scientific Name: Blakea cuneata
Part Used: Leaves
Description: A small tree generally growing as an epiphyte in forest shade. Flowers are 1 inch in
diameter of a bright rose colour.
Traditional Uses: CUL: Stomach Issues (Have worms or animals inside body) Well-known as
Obeah
Preparation: The leaves of one plant are boiled in a small pot of water and the decoction is
drunk three times daily and used to bathe the body twice a day (morning and evenings).
Menispermaceae
Common Name: False Pereira, Pereira Brava (Plate 6-B)
Local Name: Ch’ up I Al
Scientific Name: Cissampelos pareira L
Part Used: Leaves
Description: A woody vine with heart-shaped leaves and inedible dark berries. It resembles a
ruffled ribbon, winding its way up to the top of the tree. The stem is deeply furrowed, grey, and
covered with patches of lichen. The odor of the vine is slightly aromatic.
Traditional Uses: PRE: Prolonged Labour;
Preparation: The leaves (about 10) are crushed in 5 glass of room temperature water. Three
glass of the decoction is then drunk at once to be effective.
33
[Figure 6] Plate 6
B
A
(Oxlaju’ Ch’ajom)
False Pereira, Pereira Brava (Ch’ up I Al)
Melastomataceae – Blakea cuneata
Menispermaceae – Cissampelos pareira L
C
D
(Sak’ I K’ejen)
Cinnamon fern (Rok Ch’it quan)
. Monimiaceae - Mollinedia guatemalensis
Osmundaceae - Osmunda cinnamomea
34
Monimiaceae
Common Name: None (Plate 6-C)
Local Name: Sak’ I K’ejen
Scientific Name: Mollinedia guatemalensis
Part Used: Leaves
Description: A 4m shrub with leaves smelling the camphor and orange fruits.
Traditional Uses: INF: Fever, MEN: Madness; NER: Epilepsy
Preparation: Leaves are boiled in water enough to have for drink and to bathe the body with. A
glass of the decoction should be drunk three times a day and can be used to bathe the body twice.
Osmundaceae
Common Name: Cinnamon fern (Plate 6-D)
Local Name: Rok Ch’it quan
Scientific Name: Osmunda cinnamomea
Part Used: Leaves
Description: The fronds of cinnamon fern occur in groups, rising from a shallow, black
rootstock. Fertile fronds appear first as silvery, furry fiddleheads, ultimately becoming stiff,
erect, and covered with specialized pinnae, which turn their upper portions into a thick spike of
fruit dots – turning from green to chocolate brown. Sterile fronds bend outwards forming a vaseshaped circle enclosing the cinnamon fronds. The fern can reach a height of 6 ft.
Traditional Uses: INF: Fever; MUS: Headache; NER: Epilepsy
Preparation: The leaves of about five fern can be crushed in water. A glass of the decoction can
be drink twice a day and can also be used to bath the body to treat headache and fever. Likewise
it is done the same for epilepsy.
35
Piperaceae
Common Name: Buttonwood (Plate 7-A)
Local Name: Tz’ iritok’
Scientific Name: Piper amalago L.
Part Used: Leaves
Description: A slender, much branched shrub to 1.5-3 m tall; branches shiny, leaves 7-14 cm
long x 3.5-7 cm wide; flowers in greenish or white spikes each 3-7 cm long and 2.5 mm thick.
Traditional Uses: MUS: Backache
Preparation: This species of plant only works with a combination of two other plants which
couldn’t be identified. However, their leaves are all mixed together and boiled in a pot of water.
The concoction is then drunk twice a day and can also be used to bathe the body.
Piperaceae
Common Name: Pepper plants (Plate 7-B)
Local Name: Maj’us K’ejen
Scientific Name: Piper dilatatum
Part Used: Leaves
Description: Untrained, the plant will climb 20 or more feet, but for commercial purposes it is
restricted to 12 feet. It is a perennial with a round, smooth, woody stem, with articulations,
swelling near the joints and branched; the leaves are entire, broadly ovate, acuminate,
coriaceous, and smooth, with seven nerves; colour dark green and attached by strong sheath-like
foot-stalks to joints of branches. Flowers small, white, sessile, covering a tubular spadix; fruits
globular, red berries when ripe, and surface coarsely wrinkled.
Traditional Uses: DIG: Stomach ache; MUS: Back ache
Preparation: The leaves (5-6) of the plant and its roots are both boiled in 4 glass of water. A
glass of the concoction is drunk when it is warm twice a day in order to treat the stomach ache.
When there is back ache then the individual will need to bathe the body with the mixture while it
is warm.
36
[Figure 7] Plate 7
B
A
Buttonwood (Tz’ iritok’)
Pepper plants (Maj’us K’ejen)
Piperaceae – Piper amalago L.
Piperaceae- Piper dilatatum
C
D
Jamaican Pepper (K’an Pom Che’)
Felted Pepperface (X Cua’ I Xul)
Piperaceae – Piper hispidum Sw.
Piperaceae - Peperomia incana
37
Piperaceae
Common Name: Jamaican Pepper (Plate 7-C)
Local Name: K’an Pom Che’
Scientific Name: Piper hispidum Sw.
Part Used: Leaves
Description: A 2 to 3 m shrub with red inflorescences and an anis odour.
Traditional Uses: INF: Fever, Gastritis; MUS: Headache;
Preparation: The leaves of the plant are boiled in water and are used to drink and bathe the
body. About 5-6 leaves are boiled with 4 glasses of water and are drink twice a day to treat fever
and gastritis. When a person is suffering from headache they can crush the leaves in room
temperature water and drink the decoction but can also bathe the head with the liquid.
Piperaceae
Common Name: Felted Pepperface (Plate 7-D)
Local Name: X Cua’ I Xul
Scientific Name: Peperomia incana
Part Used: Leaves
Description: Felted Peperomia is a stiff semi-erect perennial, later spreading, with succulent,
broadly ovate, gray-green leaves, 1 1/4 - 2 1/2" long, covered in white-woolly hairs. This
produce green flowers with purple anthers are produced in spikes 6-8" long.
Traditional Uses: CIR: Hypertension; POI: Snake Bite (Yellow Jaw)
Preparation: To treat snake bites the leaves (3) need to be crushed in about half glass of room
temperature water then add quarter glass of warm water to the concoction. Every hour this
poultice should be applied to the area where the snake bites. The liquid should be dropped on it
first then the poultice should be tied with a cloth. When treating high blood pressure the leaves
can also be boiled and the liquid should be drunk and used to bathe the body.
38
Piperaceae
Common Name: Santa María / Monkey’s Hand (Plate 8-A)
Local Name: Tyut It Pim
Scientific Name: Piper peltatum L.
Part Used: Leaves and Stem
Description: Large herb growing to 2m tall, with few branches; leaves heart-shaped, highly
aromatic, large, to 20-30 cm long; inflorescence a white or pale green spike, 8-9 cm long x 3.5
mm thick and occurring in groups of 4-10.
Traditional Uses: GEN: Heavy Menstrual Cycle; SKI: Allergy (skin)
Preparation: The leaves (2) and stem are being used by boiling in 4 glass of water to prepare a
decoction to treat the sickness. The females suffering from heavy menstrual cycle can drink the
liquid twice a day. Those suffering from allergies can use the decoction from the leaves and stem
to bathe the body.
Piperaceae
Common Name: None (Plate 8-B)
Local Name: Cux Sawi’ K’ejen
Scientific Name: Piper tuerckheimii
Part Used: Leaves and Root
Description: A 1 m shrub with ovate and very long acuminate leaves.
Traditional Uses: DIG: Dysentery; GEN: Heavy Menstrual Problems
Preparation: The roots and leaves of the shrub is being used to treat dysentery and heavy
menstrual problems in female by boiling both in a medium pot of water. The leaves from two
plants along with the roots will surely do the job. The concoction should be drunk warm and can
also be used to bathe the body.
39
[Figure 8] Plate 8
B
A
Santa María / Monkey’s Hand (Tyut It Pim)
(Cux Sawi’ K’ejen)
Piperaceae – Piper peltatum L.
Piperaceae – Piper tuerckheimii
D
C
Spanish Elder (Tz’ulub’ Pim)
Easter Flower (Ch’ Up K’an Tyaj)
Piperaceae – Piper yucatanense
Polygalaceae - Securidaca diversifolia
40
Piperaceae
Common Name: Spanish Elder (Plate 8-C)
Local Name: Tz’ulub’ Pim
Scientific Name: Piper yucatanense
Part Used: Leaves and Root
Description: A slender shrub with short-petioled, ovate-oval leaves and pedicellate flowers.
Traditional Uses: GEN: Female Sterility
Preparation: Roots and leaves of the plant are being boiled in water for 15 minutes. The
concoction is then dunk in one day but a glass is drunk three times morning, midday, and
evening.
Polygalaceae
Common Name: Easter Flower (Plate 8-D)
Local Name: Ch’ Up K’an Tyaj
Scientific Name: Securidaca diversifolia
Part Used: Roots
Description: A vine growing to 15 m high with alternate small leaves and white flowers. It has
anomalous secondary growth; shoots dimorphic, short with short internodes and crowded
distichous leaves or elongate with long internodes and spirally arranged leaves; leaves alternate,
elliptic, base rounded, margin entire, apex rounded; flowers somewhat papilionoid, but with
dimorphic sepals and crowded petals.
Traditional Uses: DIG: Stomach ache; INF: Yellow Fever
Preparation: Only the roots of the plant are used and boil in 4-5 glass of water for 10 minutes.
The tea should be drink three cups at once before the individual have a meal for the day.
41
Polypodiaceae
Common Name: Common Polypody (Plate 9-A)
Local Name: Rok So’ Sol
Scientific Name: Polypodium vulgare
Part Used: Leaves
Description: smallish evergreen fern of rock crevices, 10 - 25 cm high; fronds form a network of
spreading, mat-like rhizomes. Leaves are single; leathery, green, erect or spreading; blade
elongated, tapering to a pointed tip, deeply cut almost to the central axis; leaflets almost
alternate, hairless, margins entire or shallowly toothed, blunt-tipped; central axis basically
winged; leafstalk lightly scaled near the base. Spore Clusters - spores produced in large,
spherical, dot-like clusters on the undersides of leaflets; spore clusters formed in 2 rows, more
abundant on upper leaflets.
Traditional Uses: CIR: Hypertension; INF: Fever; NER: Epilepsy
Preparation: Only the little leaves are being crushed in room temperature water. The person can
then drink the decoction twice daily and can also bathe the body in order to cool down the body
when being affected by hypertension or high fever.
Rubiaceae
Common Name: None (Plate 9-B)
Local Name: Tzuul Che’
Scientific Name: Gonzalagunia panamensis
Part Used: Leaves
Description: A 2 m shrub with pendulous twig and white flowers.
Traditional Uses: INF: Fever; MET: Rheumatism; NER: Epilepsy;
Preparation: The leaves (a handful) are boil in 5 glass of water for 15 minutes. The liquid is left
to cool then the person suffering from one of the mentioned sickness must drink a glass of the
decoction twice a day and can cool the body by bathing with the liquid.
42
[Figure 9] Plate 9
B
A
Common Polypody (Rok So’ Sol)
(Tzuul Che’)
Rubiaceae – Gonzalagunia panamensis
Polypodiaceae - Polypodium vulgare
D
C
Cheese fruit/Indian mulberry (K’an I Che’)
Brimstone tree (K’an I K’aham)
Rubiaceae – Morinda citrifolia
Rubiaceae – Morinda lucida
43
Rubiaceae
Common Name: Cheese fruit/Indian mulberry (Plate 9-C)
Local Name: K’an I Che’
Scientific Name: Morinda citrifolia
Part Used: Leaves
Description: A small tree with white flowers in clusters and edible fruits. It is usually less than
10 feet high, occasionally rising to 20 feet. The noticeable large dark green shiny leaves are
generally paired, except where forming fruit. Thick and oval in shape, these leaves are deep
veined, short-stemmed and 8 inches or longer. The flowers form in globose heads, about an inch
long and bearing many small white flowers. The flower heads grow to become mature fruit, 3 to
4 inches in diameter.
Traditional Uses: INF: Fever, Hepatitis, and Yellow Fever
Preparation: The leaves are boiled in water for about 15 minutes then it is consumed to treat the
sickness. A glass of the decoction should be drunk twice a day. It works best with a combination
of two other herbs like Morinda lucida and another which was not identified but can work by
itself nonetheless it will take much longer to be effective.
Rubiaceae
Common Name: Brimstone tree (Plate 9-D)
Local Name: K’an I K’aham
Scientific Name: Morinda lucida
Part Used: Leaves
Description: This distinctive tree has light coloured, scaly or fissured bark and dark shiny leaves
on the upper surface. The shiny leaves are simple and opposite. Petiole: 0.5 - 1.6 cm and flowers
are White/green-yellow. Unlike most members of Rubiaceae the stipules fall very early, leaving
a clear scar. The ‘fruit’ of this species is actually a compound inflorescence made of several
flowers fused together at their base. In the axils of the veins and the midrib there are small tufts
of hair called ‘domatia’.
Traditional Uses: INF: Fever, Hepatitis, and Yellow Fever
Preparation: The leaves are boiled in water for about 15 minutes then it is consumed to treat the
sickness. A glass of the decoction should be drunk twice a day. It works best with a combination
44
of two other herbs of the same family like Morinda citrifolia and another which was not
identified but can work by itself nonetheless it will take much longer to be effective.
Rubiaceae
Common Name: Hot Lips (Plate 10-A)
Local Name: Peren Pim
Scientific Name: Psychotria poeppigiana
Part Used: Leaves and Flower
Description: This plant has opposite leaves with no teeth or lobes on the margins. The stipules
are small appendages or outgrowths found near the base of the leaf stalk, or petiole. Stipules may
be between the petiole bases or between the petiole and the stem. Not all plants have stipules, but
the ones found in Rubiaceae are found between the petiole bases, which are on opposite sides of
the stem.
Traditional Uses: For Females mainly. GEN: Contraceptive
Preparation: The leaf and flower of the plant is boiled together for about 15 minutes then the
individual can drink a glass of the concoction twice a day for contraceptive.
Selaginellaceae
Common Name: Spike moss (Plate 10-B)
Local Name: Ch’ok Pim
Scientific Name: Selaginella umbrosa
Part Used: Leaves
Description:
Traditional Uses: RES: Asthma, Tuberculosis
Preparation: Only the leaves of one plant are boil in 4 glass of water for 10 minutes. A glass of
the decoction should be drunk twice a day to be effective.
45
[Figure 10] Plate 10
B
A
Spike moss (Ch’ok Pim)
Hot Lips (Peren Pim)
Selaginellaceae – Selaginella umbrosa
Rubiaceae - Psychotria poeppigiana
C
D
Prickly solanum (P’aj’)
Trailing lantana (Chu’ Pim)
Solanaceae - Solanum torvum
Verbenaceae - Lantana montevidensis
46
Solanaceae
Common Name: Prickly solanum (Plate 10-C)
Local Name: P’aj’
Scientific Name: Solanum torvum
Part Used: Leaves
Description: The plant is usually 2 or 3 m in height and 2 cm in basal diameter, but may reach
5m in height and 8 cm in basal diameter. The shrub usually has a single stem at ground level, but
it may branch on the lower stem. The stem bark is gray and nearly smooth with raised lenticels.
The twigs are gray-green and covered with star shaped hairs. The spines are short and slightly
curved and vary from thick throughout the plant. The leaves are opposite or one per node,
broadly ovate with the border entire or deeply lobed. The petioles are 1 to 6 cm long and the
blades are 7 to 23 by 5 to 18 cm and covered with short hairs. The fruits are berries that grow in
clusters of tiny green spheres that look like green peas
Traditional Uses: SKI: Itchy sores, Sores
Preparation: The leaves of the plant should be boiled in a gallon of water for about 15 minutes
and then the decoction should be drunk twice a day. After drinking the person can also bathe the
body using the same liquid so as to cool the sore and itching.
Verbenaceae
Common Name: Trailing lantana (Plate 10-D)
Local Name: Chu’ Pim
Scientific Name: Lantana montevidensis
Part Used: Leaves
Description: This is a small strongly scented flowering low shrub with oval-shaped green leaves.
With support it has a climbing 'vine' form, when on edge a trailing form, and on the flat a
groundcover form. The inflorescence is a circular head of several purple to lavender to white
funnel-shaped flowers with lobed corollas.
Traditional Uses: INF: Fever, Malaria, MUS: Cramp; GEN: Heavy Menstrual Cycle
Preparation: The leaves of the plant should be boiled in a gallon of water for about 15 minutes
and then the decoction should be used to bathe the body in treating fever. As for menstrual
47
problems the female should boil about a handful of leaves in 4 glasses of water for 10 minutes.
Then the female should drink this decoction twice a day also.
Verbenaceae
Common Name: Lavender Popcorn, Wild Sage (Plate 11-A)
Local Name: Tulush Pim
Scientific Name: Lantana trifolia L
Part Used: Leaves
Description: A 1 to 3 m shrub with lavender flowers in clusters. It is often grown as an
ornamental, and as a hedge, valued particularly for its popcorn-like spikes of lavender fruits.
Traditional Uses: INF: Fever; RES: Cough & Flu, Tuberculosis
Preparation: The leaves of the plant should be boiled in a gallon of water for about 15 minutes
and then the decoction should be used to bathe the body in treating fever. As for flu and
tuberculosis the person should boil about a handful of leaves in 4 glasses of water for 10 minutes.
Then the individual should drink this decoction twice a day.
Verbenaceae
Common Name: Velvet-burr (Plate 11-B)
Local Name: None
Scientific Name: Priva lappulacea
Part Used: Leaves
Description: Indigenous very common herb found in open and semi-open dry and moist areas.
Traditional Uses: DIG: Excess Diarrhea
Preparation: The leaves of the entire plant should be crushed in 4 glass of room temperature
water and then should be drunk for two times daily.
48
[Figure 11] Plate 11
A
B
Lavender Popcorn , Wild Sage (Tulush Pim)
Velvet-burr
Verbenaceae – Lantana trifolia L.
Verbenaceae - Priva lappulacea
D
C
Wild Grape Vine (T’usub’ K’aham)
Blue Porterweed, Vervain (Tye Aj Pak)
Verbenaceae – Stachytarpheta jamaicensis L. Vahl.
49
Vitaceae - Vitis riparia
Verbenaceae
Common Name: Blue Porterweed, Vervain (Plate 11-C)
Local Name: Tye Aj Pak
Scientific Name: Stachytarpheta jamaicensis L. Vahl.
Part Used: Leaves
Description: This plant grows as a low woody herb up to 1 m in height creeping along the
ground. The leaves are arranged oppositely and are up to 7 cm long. The leaves are ovate to
elliptic in shape with a crenate/toothed leaf margin. The stems and leaves are covered with small
hairs and are typically square in cross section. It has reddish-purple to deep blue flowers which
open continuously for months with 2-3 new flowers appearing every few days.
Traditional Uses: SKI: Boils, Sores
Preparation: The leaves of the plant are crushed in a small amount of water about one glass and
is then applied as poultice on the boil or sore. It is tied using a cloth so as to ensure it doesn’t fell
off or affected by air. It should be changed regularly until the boil or sore disappears.
Vitaceae
Common Name: Wild Grape Vine (Plate 11-D)
Local Name: T’usub’ K’aham
Scientific Name: Vitis riparia
Part Used: Leaves
Description: This is a native woody perennial vine up to 50' long that usually climbs trees,
shrubs, or fence rows through the use of tendrils, but will rise only ½–2' above the ground while
sprawling in open areas. The smaller non-woody stems are yellowish green to red, hairless, and
sometimes glaucous. The leaves are cordate or orbicular in overall shape, and palmately lobed.
The margins are coarsely serrated and slightly ciliate. The lower leaf surface is pale green, where
there are white hairs along the major veins. The upper leaf surface is yellowish green to dark
green and glabrous.
Traditional Uses: CUL: Susto; INF: Fever,
Preparation: A handful of leaves are crushed in 5 glasses of room temperature water and is
drunk and used to bathe the body. The individual should drink a glass of the decoction twice a
day so that it can be effective.
50
Table 1. Inventory of Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used by the Q'eqchi' Mayas of Toledo District
No
Scientific Name
Family
Parts Used
(English/Q’eqchi’)
.
1
Common Names
Justicia adhatoda
Acanthaceae
Squirrel's Tail
Leaves
Medicinal
Type of
Uses
Plant
CIR, INF,
Shrub
NER
2
Anthurium gladiifolium
Araceae
Devil Sword
Leaves Work in 2
Schott
3
Anthurium pentaphyllum
Neurolaena lobata
Epiphyte
MUS
Araceae
Tail-Flower/Flamingo
Leaves Work in 2
Flower
4
CIR, MEN,
Asteraceae
Jackass Bitters
Leaves
CIR, MEN,
Hemi-
MUS
epiphytic
DIG, END,
Herb
INF, RES
5
Begonia grandis
Begoniaceae
Hardy Begonia
Leaves
INF, SKI
Herb
6
Combretum fruticosum
Combretaceae
Chameleon Vine
Leaves & Stem
DIG
Vine
7
Bryophyllum pinnatum
Crassulaceae
Sh'ik K'uay
Leaves Work
CIR, MUS
Shrub
(Q’eqchi’)
with Huj bub
8
Gurania makoyana
Cucurbitaceae
Pumpkin Vine
Leaves
SKI
Vine
9
Acosmium panamense
Fabaceae
Billy Web
Bark
END, INF,
Tree
RES
10
Bauhinia forficate
Fabaceae
Cow's Hoof
Leaves and Root
END
Vine
11
Desmodium adscendens
Fabaceae
Strong Back
Leaves and Stem
MET, MUS
Herb
12
Mimosa pudica
Fabaceae
Sensitive Plant,
Leaves, Stem and
CIR, DIG,
Herb
Touch-me-not
Root
MUS
13
Securigera securidaca
Fabaceae
Goat Pea
Roots
DIG, INF
Vine
14
Hyptis verticillata
Lamiaceae
Wild Mint, John
Leaves
INF, MET,
Herb
Charles
15
Strychnos panamensis
Loganiaceae
Seem
16
Lygodium japonicum
MUS, GEN
Chicoloro Vine, Snake
Leaves and Root
DIG, INF
Vine
Leaves and Vine
CUL
Fern
Leaves and Vine
INF, MUS,
Fern
Seed
Lygodiaceae
Japaneses Climbing
Fern
17
Lygodium palmatum
Lygodiaceae
Climbing Fern
NER
18
Sida rhombifolia L.
Malvaceae
Broom weed,
Leaves and Stem
INF, SKI
Shrub
Leaves
CIR, MEN,
Vine
Common Wireweed
19
Souroubea sympetala
Marcgraviaceae
Hub'ub’
(Q’eqchi’)
20
Arthrostemma ciliatum
Melastomataceae
Ever-blooming
MUS
Leaves and Vine
GEN
Herb
Leaves
CUL
Shrub
Leaves
PRE
Vine
Leaves
INF, MEN,
Shrub
Eavender, Pink-fringe
21
Blakea cuneata
Melastomataceae
Oxlaju' Ch'ajom
(Q’eqchi’)
22
Cissampelos pareira L
Menispermaceae
False Pereira, Pereira
Brava
23
Mollinedia guatemalensis
Monimiaceae
Sak' I K'ejen
(Q’eqchi’)
52
NER
24
Osmunda cinnamomea
Osmundaceae
Cinnamon fern
Leaves
INF, MUS,
Fern
NER
25
Piper amalago L.
Piperaceae
Buttonwood
Leaves
MUS
Shrub
26
Piper dilatatum
Piperaceae
Pepper plants
Leaves and Root
DIG, MUS
Tree
27
Piper hispidum Sw.
Piperaceae
Jamaican Pepper
Leaves
INF, MUS
Shrub
28
Peperomia incana
Piperaceae
Felted Pepperface
Leaves
CIR, POI
Herb
29
Piper peltatum L.
Piperaceae
Santa María /
Leaves and Stem
GEN, SKI
Herb
Leaves and Root
DIG, GEN
Shrub
Monkey’s Hand
30
Piper tuerckheimii
Piperaceae
Cux Sawi' K'ejen
(Q’eqchi’)
31
Piper yucatanense
Piperaceae
Spanish Elder
Leaves and Root
GEN
Shrub
32
Securidaca diversifolia
Polygalaceae
Easter Flower
Roots
DIG, INF
Vine
33
Polypodium vulgare
Polypodiaceae
Common Polypody
Leaves
CIR, INF,
Fern
NER
34
Gonzalagunia panamensis Rubiaceae
Tzuul Che'
Leaves
(Q’eqchi’)
35
Morinda citrifolia
Rubiaceae
Cheese fruit/Indian
INF, MET,
Shrub
MUS, NER
Leaves
INF
Tree
mulberry
36
Morinda lucida
Rubiaceae
Brimstone tree
Leaves
INF
Tree
37
Psychotria poeppigiana
Rubiaceae
Hot Lips
Leaves and
GEN
Herb
RES
Spike moss
Flower
38
Selaginella umbrosa
Selaginellaceae
Spike moss
53
Leaves
39
Solanum torvum
Solanaceae
Prickly solanum
Leaves
SKI
Shrub
40
Lantana montevidensis
Verbenaceae
Trailing lantana
Leaves
INF, MUS,
Shrub
GEN
41
Lantana trifolia L.
Verbenaceae
Lavender Popcorn ,
Leaves
INF, RES
Shrub
Wild Sage
42
Priva lappulacea
Verbenaceae
Velvet-burr
Leaves
DIG
Herb
43
Stachytarpheta
Verbenaceae
Blue Porterweed,
Leaves
SKI
Herb
Leaves
CUL, INF
Vine
jamaicensis L. Vahl.
44
Vitis riparia
Vervain
Vitaceae
Wild Grape Vine
Table 1 contains ethnomedicinal information for each species, such as scientific name, family name, common name, plant parts used,
traditional uses, and what type of plant it is. The references for its medicinal uses are as follows: CIR = Circulatory System Disorders;
CUL = Culture-Bound Syndromes; DIG = Digestive System Disorders; END = Endocrine System Disorders; GEN = Genitourinary
System Disorders; INF = Infectious/Infestations; MEN = Mental Disorders; MET = Metabolic System Disorders; MUS = MuscularSkeletal System Disorders; NER = Nervous System Disorders; POI = Poisonings; PRE = Pregnancy/Birth Disorders; RES =
Respiratory System Disorders; SKI = Skin/Subcutaneous Cellular Tissue Disorders.
54
Table 2. Showing the Taxonomic Diversity of Medicinal Plants in the Study Area
Family
Number of
Percentage
Number of
Percentage of
Genera
(%)
Species
Species (%)
Acanthaceae
1
2.86
1
2.27
Araceae
1
2.86
2
4.55
Asteraceae
1
2.86
1
2.27
Begoniaceae
1
2.86
1
2.27
Combretaceae
1
2.86
1
2.27
Crassulaceae
1
2.86
1
2.27
Cucurbitaceae
1
2.86
1
2.27
Fabaceae
5
14.3
5
11.4
Lamiaceae
1
2.86
1
2.27
Loganiaceae
1
2.86
1
2.27
Lygodiaceae
1
2.86
2
4.55
Malvaceae
1
2.86
1
2.27
Marcgraviaceae
1
2.86
1
2.27
Melastomataceae
2
5.71
2
4.55
Menispermaceae
1
2.86
1
2.27
Monimiaceae
1
2.86
1
2.27
Osmundaceae
1
2.86
1
2.27
Piperaceae
2
5.71
7
15.9
Polygalaceae
1
2.86
1
2.27
Polypodiaceae
1
2.86
1
2.27
Rubiaceae
3
8.57
4
9.09
Selaginellaceae
1
2.86
1
2.27
Solanaceae
1
2.86
1
2.27
Verbenaceae
3
8.57
4
9.09
Vitaceae
1
2.86
1
2.27
35
100
44
100
Total:
Table 2 consists of the various medicinal plants’ taxonomic diversity. It shows the different
families of plants and how many Species and Genus that fall under each. A percentage of this
was also calculated for both genera and number of species. Among the families that contributed
more medicinal species were Piperaceae, represented by 7 species (15.9%), Fabaceae with 5
(11.4%) species, Rubiaceae and Verbenaceae both with 4 (9.09%) species each. All the other 21
families contributed to 24 (54.5%) species which were mostly represented by 1 or 2 species.
Table 3. Showing the Number of Species Used in Treating Different Diseases
Caused To The Body System.
Disease Treated by Medicinal Plants
Number of Species
CIR = Circulatory System Disorders
CUL = Culture-Bound Syndromes
DIG = Digestive System Disorders
END = Endocrine System Disorders
GEN = Genitourinary System Disorders
INF = Infectious/Infestations
MEN = Mental Disorders
MET = Metabolic System Disorders
MUS = Muscular-Skeletal System Disorders
NER = Nervous System Disorders
POI = Poisonings
PRE = Pregnancy/Birth Disorders
RES = Respiratory System Disorders
SKI = Skin/Subcutaneous Cellular Tissue Disorders
8
3
9
3
7
20
4
3
14
6
1
1
4
6
Table 3 consists of the number of medicinal plant species used in treating the different disease to
the body system. The category of diseases which is treated more by these herbal practitioners are
those that are related to cause infectious and infestations on the body. The number of plant
species being used is 20 being the highest. These different diseases range from individuals with
Athlete’s Foot, Bay Sore, Fever, Yellow Fever, Gastritis, Hepatitis, and Malaria. The herbal
practitioners also used a total of 14 plant species which is the second highest in treating disorders
caused to the muscular-skeletal system. Individuals that suffers from Back ache, Cramps, Crazy
Headache, and Numbness are the ones that are being cured. The third highest was a total of 9
56
plant species used to treat sicknesses caused to the digestive system. This is then followed by 8
species used to treat circulatory system disorders, 7 species used to treat genitourinary system
disorders, 6 species used to treat nervous system disorders and skin tissue disorders. All the rest
of plant species represented by either 4, 3 or 1 are used to treat the rest of disorders being caused
to the body.
Figure 12 illustrating the number of species that were found in each plant type
Number of Species In Each Plant Type
Spike moss
Shrub
Epiphyte
Herb
Fern
Vine
Tree
Tree
Vine
Fern
Herb
Epiphyte
Spike moss
Shrub
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
The type of medicinal plants that were used most is depicted in the bar chart above. The type
ranges from shrubs, epiphytes, herb, vine, tree, fern, and spike moss. The result of medicinal
plants used showed that shrubs plants constituted the highest proportion represented by 13
(29.55%) species, while there were 11 (25%) herbaceous species, 9 (20.45%) vines, 4 (9.09%)
trees and ferns distinctively, 2 (4.55%) epiphyte and 1 (2.27%) spike moss species.
57
Figure 13 Illustrating The Parts Used From The Plant Species
Of the 44 plant species collected, herbal practitioners of the study area used different plant parts
for the preparation of traditional drugs (e.g. leaves, stem, bark, roots, vine, flowers or a
combination). Figure 13 above displays the different parts of the plant being used most. From the
pie chart it can be seen that leaves is the one being used most at a percentage of 94% total.
However, only 62% of the plant species used leaves alone to prepare these traditional drugs. The
other 32% is being used in a combination with roots, stems, vines or flowers. Herbal
practitioners also reported that 2% of roots and 5% of bark is being used to prepare traditional
remedies.
58
CHAPTER V – DISCUSSION
As a foundation of this field research and literature reviews, 44 species of medicinal
plants belonging to 35 genera and 25 families were successfully documented. The plants species
recorded are used mainly by the Q’eqchi’ Maya Healers of Toledo District. The common name,
local Q’eqchi’ name, scientific name and family name were all identified and listed in table 1.
Other important inventories like the description, traditional use of the plant, part being used, and
the preparation techniques were also noted. Piperaceae (with 7 species) occupied the highest
proportion (15.9%), followed by Fabaceae with 5 (11.4%) species, and Rubiaceae and
Verbenaceae both with 4 (9.09%) species each. All the other 21 families contributed to 24
(54.5%) species which were mostly represented by either 1 or 2 species. Journals done on
medicinal plants studies by Kalita et al., 2015, obtained similar results on having Piperaceae
among the highest plants species used for traditional medicine. Toumnou et al., 2012 also had
Fabaceae as part of the most frequently used medicinal plants in some rural districts in Senegal
of West Africa. In addition to the family being used, the most widely used plant remedies by the
Q’eqchi’ Mayas were obtained from shrub species which ranked the highest category of 13
species (29.55%), followed by herbaceous species with 11 (25%), 9 (20.45%) species of vines, 4
(9.09%) of trees and ferns distinctively, 2 (4.55%) species of epiphyte and 1 (2.27%) spike moss
species. Similar findings were reported by Pan et al., 2014 showing that herbs were also used at a
vast number in treating human ailments. Furthermore, it was seen that the plants used consist of
39 species of angiosperms and 5 species of seedless vascular plants. As a result, showing more
angiosperms being used to treat ailments.
The geographic location and environment results in rich biodiversity of medicinal plants
in the study area. Despite the increase in deforestation and slash/burn by nearby inhabitants the
Q’eqchi’ Mayas have still been hunting local medicinal plants for the treatment and prevention
of ailments that the Mayas struggle with. The number of medicinal plants recorded shows the
depth of indigenous knowledge on the medicinal plants and their applications by the Q’eqchi’
Mayas. Interviews conducted showed that the traditional healers of the Qeqchi’ group consists of
mostly males within the age range of 40-60 years. The data recorded discovered that the herbal
practitioners had no educational background; they gained knowledge and experience of
medicinal plants either on their own or from past generation such as community elders, parents
59
and uncles. The herbal practitioners also commented that at an average they began practicing
healing at an age of 17 and as time went by they knew more plants leading to over 50 plants.
They heal a wide variety of individuals rather than simply treating only individuals from the
same culture. This is mainly so because they depend on doing these healing for a living and
earning their little money. When being asked what they harvest plants for: the herbal
practitioners said they mainly do it for their own use and practice. One particular healer said that
he already went to Canada in the year 2001 to practice the use of these medicinal plants on
people that were sick there.
As time went by these traditional healers faced a loss in finding a few of the medicinal
plants at a close distance. Herbal practitioners mentioned that the developments in different areas
of the country cause large forest to be cutted down for agricultural and urbanization purposes
causing these plants to diminish. Inorder for the healers to have plants closeby in case a patient
comes unexpectedly, they begin the practice of planting herbs and shrubs which are hard to find
closeby in gardens and around their houses. The most uncommon ones up to date were the trees
and only a few of the herbs and shrubs; these may need additional walk into the forest to find
these plants.
The most widely harvested part of the plants used were the leaves followed by a
combination with roots, stems, vines, flowers and bark. The Q’eqchi’ Maya mainly use the
leaves alone at a percentage of 62%; however leaves are also said to be used in a combination
with roots at 11%, with stem at 9%, with vines at 7%, with flowers at 2% and with both stems
and roots at 2%. On the other hand, roots at 2% and bark at 5% can be effective when used alone
to treat ailments. Research done in China by Hong et al., 2014, finds that the utilization of leaves
might not cause detrimental effect on the plants compared with other plant species where roots
were used. This therefore could be the possible reason why the Q’eqchi Maya herbal
practitioners mainly used the leaves as opposed to its roots and bark. Most of the medicinal
plants collected were claimed to be used solely while only a few were being used in a
combination to treat ailments. The few being used in combination were the species Anthurium
gladiifolium Schott, Anthurium pentaphyllum, and Bryophyllum pinnatum. Although some of the
healers treat ailments with single species there were also a few which mentioned that they rather
use multiple species or plant parts so that it increases the function and effectiveness of the drug.
60
Those plant species used in combination were mainly used to heal ailments caused to the
circulatory, mental, and muscular-skeletal system.
These herbal practitioners mainly use the method of boiling, crushing, and heating of
leaves or the combination of plant parts used to prepare the drug. Boiling was the most effective
method for the Q’eqchi’ Maya because they believe that this method extracts the essence of the
plant resulting into a drug. The use of fresh plants were utilize in the preparation of these drug
because the herbal practitioners believe that the fresh plants is more concentrated and have more
essence compared to older and dry plants. In terms of using these medicinal drugs made,
individuals mainly use it as a decoction to drink, a poultice to place on sores or boils and can be
used for the person to bathe the body or head. Q’eqchi’ herbal practitioners advised that most
herbs should be drank warm and rarely when it is cold. The Q’eqchi Mayas specifically the
elders know the benefits of conserving medicinal plants. Yet, the conservation of medicinal
plants is not a traditional practice as 64% of the plants were collected from nearby forests. The
36% plant species common around the homes of herbal practitioners sometimes are being lost
also due to the constant use of these plants for livelihood and medicinal purposes.
61
VI – CONCLUSION
This paper is a preliminary ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants that are widely used by the
Q’eqchi’ Mayas of Toledo District. A total of 44 species (belonging to 25 families and 35
genera) of medicinal plants were documented. These plants were used to treat diseases that
related to a total 14 system disorders. These were mainly fevers, headaches, stomach ache,
yellow fever, snake bites, madness, menstrual problems, sores, boils, hypertension and many
more. Traditional knowledge about the use, preparation, and application of these medicinal
plants was the main focus here as they are not being passed on into this present generation. The
valuable information about medicinal plants could be preserved as the elder folks are slowly
passing away. Moreover, the documentation of medicinal plants can serve as a basis for future
research of new medicinal resources. Government and non-governmental agencies should take
into consideration the rich biodiversity which Belize still holds today and can encourage these
types of studies to be carried out even to a further level. Doing this could only encourage
surrounding neighbourhoods to maintain the biodiversity and the ethnomedicinal knowledge by
providing the local people with funds to plant the most threatened and preferred medicinal
species in their home gardens or like in this case can develop the Itzamma Garden Center in the
Toledo District even bigger. A list of recommendations are as follows.

The medicinal plants used frequently in treating ailments should be documented in Belize
by the different cultures.

Deforestation and slash/burn should be decreased as this results into the loss of plant
species.

Afforestation should be enforced as people who cuts down trees and plants should ensure
that it is plant again.

Hospitals and herbal practitioners should collaborate to better serve the country in
lessening the amount of patients going to hospitals.

Elder herbal practitioners should have meetings often in the community so as to motivate
younger youths in wanting to practice the use of herbal practice.

The Government of Belize should make these herbal practitioners expose their talent
during expos and fairs.
62
REFERENCES
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Amiguet, V. T. (2005). Handbook of Kekchi Medicinal Plants of Belize. Ottawa ON: Viking
First Nation Press.Balick , M. J., & O’Brien, H. (2004). Ethnobotanical and Floristic
Research in Belize: Accomplishments, Challenge and Lessons Learned.
Arvigo, R. D., and Balick, M. (1998). Rainforest Remedies, One Hundred Healing Herbs of
Belize (2nd Revised and Expanded Edition ed.). United State of America: Lotus
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February 20, 2015, from Index Mundi:
www.indexmundi.com/belize/demographics_profile.html
Balick , M. J., and O’Brien, H. (2004). Ethnobotanical and Floristic Research in Belize:
Accomplishments, Challenge and Lessons Learned.
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64
APPENDIX
Medicinal plants Survey
Interview Number: ________________
________________________
Name of settlement/ District: _____________________
Date:
1. Gender
i.
Male
ii.
Female
2. What is your age Group
i.
8 – 28
ii.
29 – 39
iii.
40 – 50
iv.
51 >
3. Ethnicity
i.
Maya
ii.
Mestiso
iii.
Garifuna
iv.
Creole
v.
East Indian
vi.
Other (Specify)
4. Education
i.
None
ii.
Primary School
iii.
Secondary School
iv.
Tertiary <
5. The majority of people seeking assistance from you as herbalist
i.
Maya
ii.
Mestizo
iii.
Garifuna
iv.
Creole
v.
Asian
vi.
Other (specify)
6. How many years have you been practicing as a herbalist?
65
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
1- 5
6 -10
11- 15
16-20
21-25
26<
7. From whom you have acquired the herbal knowledge?
i.
Parents
ii.
Grandparents
iii.
Friend(s)
iv.
Community Elders
v.
other specify ________
8. Approximately how many medicinal plants do you use?
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
40-50
50<
9. Medicinal plant uses and preparation methods (this part may have more qualitative data)
Common name
Medicinal Use
Part of plant use
Preparation and
application
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
10. Where do you find the medicinal plants that you use in your preparations?
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Forest
Market
Garden
Other _______
66
11. Do you harvest medicinal plants for
i.
ii.
iii.
Own use/Practice
Commercial/resale
other _________
12. Compared to the past (ten years) how difficult is it to find the medicinal plants that you
use plant
i.
ii.
iii.
Very difficult
Difficult
Same
13. To what extent does community members use the medicinal plants
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
frequently
somewhat
rarely
not at all
14. Do you share your knowledge with others?
i.
Yes
ii.
No
15. Do you learn/Gather knowledge ?
i.
By meeting other herbalist
ii.
By reading books/articles/news papers
iii.
Other (specify)
16. Do you intend to pass your knowledge to someone in your family?
i.
Yes
ii.
No
17. Do you think that this knowledge of herbal use should be preserved for future
generations?
i.
Yes
ii.
No
18. What efforts can be made to keep this knowledge available for future generations?
……………………………………………………………………………………
67
LIST OF UNIDENTIFIED PLANTS
The list of unidentified plants collected throughout the research is listed below using their local
names in Q’eqchi’. Some of their spellings however are not accurate.
1. So’ Sol Pim
26. Loj Kab
2. K’et Sheb
27. Kwa’ak
3. Ik’ Che’
28. K’an I Cajam
4. Bajk’ Nil
29. Karaban Che’
5. Sam’ aj Tzuj’
30. Baj’er’
6. Holobob
31. Roq so-sol
7. Sup Inj
32. Roq Chitquan
8. Lej Tze Pim
33. Xucuy Coc
9. Muy Che’
34. Ruk Mukuy
10. Chuu Che’
35. Is’ Kajam
11. Siwapaka
36. Su pup
12. Kuchaar Majus
37. Rok K’an tyaj
13. Kok Mosh
38. Chikpal Pa’k
14. Naj Ich aj Pim
39. Ixnaj K’ejen
15. Chak polay Pim
40. Pu Ch’uuch
16. X cua’ aj Owchan
41. Culartz
17. Rash ij Paj
42. Herba del Cancer
18. Chi’ Payal
43. Nuq Che’
19. Kukulmeca
44. Chaj Mash
20.Kujcom or Holom kaminak
45. May Pim
21. Peren Pim
46. Rash Qajk Pim
22. Rokox aj Tzaj
47. Chiich I Mor
23. Ik Pulay Pim
48. Tui Kyejq Pim
24. Ruchirej I’ Kar
49. Ishq I Pim
25. Cherej Saq
50. Tzu Pim or Telom Pim
68