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Use of Traditional Medicine in Indigenous Communities from Mexico: A Practice for Sustainable Development

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Indigenous Methodologies, Research and Practices for Sustainable Development

Part of the book series: World Sustainability Series ((WSUSE))

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Abstract

Since 2015, the United Nations call to action about the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals, including targets related to the health and well-being of populations. Indigenous populations in southern Mexico are the most affected by social inequities, making traditional medicine more accessible and affordable for their treatment. This chapter aims to describe traditional medicine practices in the main illness conditions of Mexican indigenous communities. A case study was carried out in Oaxaca (Mexico) between 2017 and 2019. Surveys were applied to retrieve information on these communities’ knowledge and practices regarding traditional medicine. Several traditional practices were recovered to cure diseases cataloged in international classifications and cultural affiliation syndromes among the main results. 70.3% of the participants used homemade remedies, topically, in preparation of tea, and some compositions of medicinal herbs. Mezcal, the typical alcoholic beverage of the region, has also been reported as one of the most widely used. In addition to the conception of biomedical disease, a total of 40 syndromes of cultural filiation or “cultural diseases” were reported; the most frequent were empacho (indigestion), followed by the mal de ojo (the evil eye), and susto (frighten). This chapter brings us closer to knowing how they cope with illness by using traditional medicine in indigenous communities without the use of health services. Contributing to reach the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Postgraduate Studies Division, Masters in Public Health, Guillermo Rojas Mijangos S/N, Col. Ciudad UniversitariaMiahuatlán de Porfirio Díaz, Universidad de La Sierra Sur, Oaxaca, CP, 70800, México

    Ana María González-Villoria, María Alejandra Sánchez Bandala, Juan José Barrios Gutiérrez & Roberto Ariel Abeldaño Zuñiga

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  1. Ana María González-Villoria
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  2. María Alejandra Sánchez Bandala
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  3. Juan José Barrios Gutiérrez
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  4. Roberto Ariel Abeldaño Zuñiga
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Correspondence to Roberto Ariel Abeldaño Zuñiga .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

    Marcellus F. Mbah

  2. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

  3. Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

    Sandra Ajaps

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González-Villoria, A.M., Sánchez Bandala, M.A., Barrios Gutiérrez, J.J., Abeldaño Zuñiga, R.A. (2022). Use of Traditional Medicine in Indigenous Communities from Mexico: A Practice for Sustainable Development. In: Mbah, M.F., Leal Filho, W., Ajaps, S. (eds) Indigenous Methodologies, Research and Practices for Sustainable Development. World Sustainability Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12326-9_14

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