Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants used for treatment of puerperal diseases by Dai people / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Xishuangbanna Dai prefecture has high temperature and high humidity all throughout the year, and puerperal diseases are very common to local Dai women. This paper focused on the medicinal plants using knowledge by Xishuangbanna Dai ethnic people and conducted a series of medicinal ethnobotanical study. In total, 27 plant species were investigated and recognized; The plants near to Dai village had the highest utilization; The selection of medicinal plant reflects the manifested time and space characteristics; Taking herbal decoction with water was the most-used method; Furthermore, the local Dai people attached more importance to the compatibility of different medicines to get better curative effect. The study indicates that the Dai medicine should take the different time and occasion into account when used for treating puerperal diseases, and the treatment is very complicated and variable. The authors have called on more attention to Dai medicinal ethnobotanical study.