"Traditional Utilization of ""Cai"" - A Kind of Medicinal Plant Resources Used by Li Minority" / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

ABSTRACT

Cai which are stem or heartwood of trees or stem of woody liana are a kind of medicinal plant resources traditionally used by Li Minoriy. Ethnobotanical methods were adopted for the investigation on traditional utilization of cai. Totally, 44 species in 26 families and 30 genera were reported to be used as cai. Most of the species were applied as decoction (70.5%) and medicinal liquor (27.3%) to treat a wide range of diseases, such as rheuma-toid arthritis (34.1%), liver diseases (18.2%), injuries and weak (15.9% respectively). Through literature survey, it was found that 7 species (15.9%) were used by Li Minority only. Besides, 13 species (29.5%) were used differently compared with that of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Consequently, it is indicated that indigenous knowledge of using medicinal plants by Li Minority is unique.