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Medicinal plants of the Argentine Yungas plants of the Las Yungas biosphere reserve, Northwest of Argentina, used in health care

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Abstract

We have compared the species richness of medicinal plants and the differential patterns of use amongst settlements in the Andean communities of Northwest Argentina which have differing levels of isolation. About 259 ethnoespecies, belonging to 74 plant families, were included, representing between 70 and 80% of the total estimate. The results indicate that Coronopus didymus is the most relevant and important species. The method of use of medicinal plants and the ailments treated by rural doctors compared to those of the layperson is different. Native and exotic plants are used differently according to the body system treated. There are some relationships between internal and external use and body systems and recipes. The greater medicinal species richness found in the less isolated locations is due to external enriching cultural influences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Consejo Nacional de (Conicet), Casilla de Correo 8, 3370, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina

    Norma I. Hilgert & Guillermo E. Gil

  2. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, México

    Norma I. Hilgert

  3. Administración de Parques Nacionales, Argentina

    Guillermo E. Gil

Authors
  1. Norma I. Hilgert
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  2. Guillermo E. Gil
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Correspondence to Norma I. Hilgert.

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Hilgert, N.I., Gil, G.E. Medicinal plants of the Argentine Yungas plants of the Las Yungas biosphere reserve, Northwest of Argentina, used in health care. Biodivers Conserv 15, 2565–2594 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-005-3874-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-005-3874-6

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