RESUMO
El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar en forma comparativa el conocimiento etnobotánico médico especializado de poblaciones urbanas y rurales de Córdoba. Se colectaron e identificaron las especies medicinales, y mediante un análisis cuali-cuantitativo se señalaron singularidades, continuidades y divergencias en relación con las prácticas etnomédicas y especies utilizadas en tres contextos: Sierras Grandes, Sierras Chicas y Area Urbana. Se trabajó con las metodologías de trabajo etnobotánico, y a la vez se analizaron datos numéricos en forma comparativa por medio del índice de similitud y métodos multivariados. Se observó mayor similitud entre el Área Urbana y de Sierras Grandes tanto en su etnomedicina, como en la composición de especies (Índice Similitud S=0.65, 159 especies coincidentes sobre un total de 436), y una mayor diferenciación respecto de Sierras Chicas. El Análisis de Correspondencia permitió definir agrupamientos de especies y áreas de la salud en función del perfil de los diferentes actores y áreas. Los resultados dan cuenta del influjo del fenómeno de la neorruralidad y de los procesos de 'rurbanización' (asociados a la emigración de la ciudad al campo), así como de la influencia de las medicinas alternativas en el conocimiento tradicional.
This work aims at analyzing, comparatively, specialized medical ethnobotanical knowledge of urban and rural populations of Córdoba. Hence, medicinal species were documented; through a qualitative and quantitative analysis, certain peculiarities, continuities and divergences were identified in relation to ethnomedical practices and species used in three contexts: Sierras Grandes, Sierras Chicas and Urban Area. We adopted ethnobotanical methodologies and compared numerical data by similarity index and multivariate methods. Greater similarity was found between the Urban Area and that of Sierras Grandes in terms of both ethnomedicine and species composition (Similarity Index S=0.65, 159 out of 436 species matched). A larger difference was found in relation to the area of Sierras Chicas. Correspondence Analysis allowed determining groups of species and health areas according to the profile of the different actors and areas. Results show the influence of the "neorurality" phenomenon and processes of 'rurbanization' (associated with migration from the city to the countryside) and the influence of alternative medicine on traditional knowledge.
Assuntos
Etnobotânica , Medicina Tradicional , Plantas Medicinais , Argentina , População Rural , População UrbanaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: This is a first description of the main ethnoveterinary features of the peasants in the Sierras de Córdoba. The aim of this study was to analyze the use of medicinal plants and other traditional therapeutic practices for healing domestic animals and cattle. Our particular goals were to: characterize veterinary ethnobotanical knowledge considering age, gender and role of the specialists; interpret the cultural features of the traditional local veterinary medicine and plant uses associated to it; compare the plants used in traditional veterinary medicine, with those used in human medicine in the same region. METHODS: Fieldwork was carried out as part of an ethnobotanic regional study where 64 informants were interviewed regarding medicinal plants used in veterinary medicine throughout 2001-2010. Based participant observation and open and semi-structured interviews we obtained information on the traditional practices of diagnosis and healing, focusing on the veterinary uses given to plants (part of the plant used, method of preparation and administration). Plants speciemens were collected with the informants and their vernacular and scientific names were registered in a database. Non-parametric statistic was used to evaluate differences in medicinal plant knowledge, use, and valorization by local people. A comparison between traditional veterinary medicine and previous human medicine studies developed in the region was performed by analyzing the percentages of common species and uses, and by considering Sorensen's Similarity Index. RESULTS: A total of 127 medicinal uses were registered, corresponding to 70 species of plants belonging to 39 botanic families. Veterinary ethnobotanical knowledge was specialized, restricted, in general, to cattle breeders (mainly men) and to a less degree to healers, and was independent of the age of the interviewees. Native plants were mostly used as skin cicatrizants, disinfectants or for treating digestive disorders. Together with a vast repertoire of plant pharmacopoeia, the therapies also involve religious or ritualistic practices and other popular remedies that evidence the influence of traditional Hispanic-European knowledge. Although the traditional veterinary knowledge seems to be similar or else is inlcuded in the local human ethnomedicine, sharing a common group of plants, it has distinct traits originated by a constant assessment of new applications specifically destined to the treatment of animals. CONCLUSIONS: Veterinary medicine is a fountain of relevant vernacular knowledge, a permanent source for testing new applications with valuable ethnobotanical interest. Knowledge on medicinal applications of native plants will allow future validations and tests for new homeopathic or phytotherapeutic preparations.
