Traditional knowledge and use of medicinal plants in the Ayllu Niño Corin (Prov. Bautista Saavedra, La Paz, Bolivia)

Authors

  • Elizabeth Rocabado Imaña Instituto de Investigación de Antropología y Arqueologia UMSA
  • Rosa Carita Cahua Miembro Ayllu Niño Corín
  • Feliciano Patty Mullisaca Miembro Ayllu Niño Corín
  • Mario Ríos Guzmán
  • Damián Carita Patty Miembro Ayllu Niño Corín
  • Narel Paniagua-Zambrana Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Illia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia

Abstract

Background: The traditional knowledge of the use of medicinal plants in the Kallawaya region of Bolivia has been extensively studied and documented, however there are no studies for the Ayllu Niño Corin, which is part of the municipality of Charazani, and where research has focused mainly on the festivity and music of Qanthus.

Methods: The data were collected through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and walks to collect specimens. A total of four local experts and 25 general participants between the ages of 18 and 80 were interviewed to document their knowledge. The data obtained were systematized into 19 subcategories of medicinal use, and three ethnobotanical indices were applied to identify the most important species.

Results: A total of 90 species were reported, distributed in 42 botanical families. The Asteraceae family, presents the highest number of species, followed by the Lamiaceae and Solanaceae, with a higher proportion of native species in relation to the introduced ones. A total of 88 diseases were recorded, distributed in 17 categories. Fifty-three percent of all uses reported in the Ayllu corresponded to experts. The greatest use of medicinal plants applies to General ailments with unspecified symptoms, Digestive system, Musculoskeletal system, Reproductive system and sexual health, and Respiratory system. The most frequent diseases are cough, fever, bile, stomach-ache, female problems, worms, cancer and rheumatism. Clinopodium bolivianum (locally called Muña), is the single most important species in common for both sages and general participants.

Conclusions: These results confirm the importance of medicinal plants for primary health care in rural and isolated areas, and the differences found between the two types of participants allow us to confirm the role of experts within the communities, mainly in the Andes.

Keywords: Healer, Kallawaya, traditional medicine, community health.

Downloads

Published

2025-11-20

How to Cite

Rocabado Imaña, E., Carita Cahua, R., Patty Mullisaca, F., Ríos Guzmán, M., Carita Patty, D., & Paniagua-Zambrana, N. (2025). Traditional knowledge and use of medicinal plants in the Ayllu Niño Corin (Prov. Bautista Saavedra, La Paz, Bolivia). Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 32, 1–33. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/7512

Issue

Vol. 32 (2025)

Section

Research

License

All articles are copyrighted by the first author and are published online by license from the first author. Articles are intended for free public distribution and discussion without charge. Accuracy of the content is the responsibility of the authors.