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Ethnobotany of the garífuna of Eastern Nicaragua

La etnobotánica de los Garífuna de Nicaragua oriental

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Abstract

We report the diversity of plants used by the Garifuna focusing on medicinals. Garifuna plants documented in this study are distributed among 75 families, 193 genera, and 254 species. Included are 229 medicinals, 93 food plants, and 94 species for other uses. Garifuna medicinals treat more than 30 human ailments and most are native (74%) to eastern Nicaragua. About 70% of the medicinals have some bioactive principle, most are herbs (37%) or trees (34%), and leaves are the most frequently utilized plant part. Most are prepared as decoctions and are administered orally. Most food plants are domesticates, and only 14 of 51 domesticated food species are native to the NW tropics with only three to Mesoamerica. Garifuna culture is changing rapidly as a result of contact with immigrating mestizos from central Nicaragua. This study provides a written record of folk medicine and ethnobotany for the people of eastern Nicaragua.

Resumen

Presentamos un informe sobre la diversidad de plantas usadas por los Garífunas con enfoque en aplicaciones medicinales. Las plantas Garífunas documentadas en este estudio (1992–1993) representan 75 familias, 193 géneros y 254 especies. De éstas, 229 son médicinales, 93 comestibles y 94 de usos anciliares. La farmacopea Garífuna se utiliza para tratar más de 30 dolencias humanas. El 74% de las plantas medicinales son nativas de Nicaragua oriental, aproximadamente el 70% tienen algún principio bioactivo, 37% son hierbas o árboles (34%) y la hoja es la parte más utilizada. Los remedios medicinales son preparados preferiblemente en decoción y administrados oralmente. La mayoría de las plantas comestibles son domesticadas y sólo l4 de 51 son nativas del neotrópico y sólo tres de Mesoamerica. Los Garífunas estan sujetos a una rápida aculturación debido a la inmigración de mestizos del área central de Nicaragua. Por consiguiente, este estudio documenta la etnomedicina y la etnobotánica para la población del oriente Nicaragüense.

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  1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Box U-43, 06269-3043, Storrs, CT

    Felix G. Coe & Gregory J. Anderson

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Coe, F.G., Anderson, G.J. Ethnobotany of the garífuna of Eastern Nicaragua. Econ Bot 50, 71–107 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02862114

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