Medical potential of plants used by the Q’eqchi Maya of Livingston, Guatemala for the treatment of women's health complaints

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2007-10, Vol.114 (1), p.92-101
• Main Authors: Michel, Joanna, Duarte, Reinel Eduardo, Bolton, Judy L., Huang, Yue, Caceres, Armando, Veliz, Mario, Soejarto, Djaja Doel, Mahady, Gail B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitude to Health; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Assay; chemical constituents of plants; childbirth; Data Collection; Empirical Research; Estrogen receptor assay; ethnobotany; Female; General pharmacology; Guatemala; Guatemala - ethnology; herbal medicines; Humans; Indians, Central American - ethnology; Labor, Obstetric - drug effects; Maya medicine; Medical sciences; Medicinal plants; medicinal properties; Medicine, Traditional; menopause; Menopause - drug effects; menstruation; Menstruation - drug effects; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phytotherapy; plant extracts; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Plants, Medicinal; Pregnancy; Q’eqchi Maya; Receptors, Estrogen - metabolism; Receptors, Serotonin - metabolism; reproductive disorders; Serotonin receptor assay; traditional medicine; women; Women's Health
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2007.07.033

Investigation on the medical ethnobotany of the Q’eqchi Maya of Livingston, Izabal, Guatemala, was undertaken in order to explore Q’eqchi perceptions, attitudes, and treatment choices related to women's health. Through participant observation and interviews a total of 48 medicinal plants used to treat conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, menstruation, and menopause were collected and identified followed by the evaluation of 20 species in bioassays relevant to women's health. Results of field interviews indicate that Q’eqchi cultural perceptions affect women's health experiences while laboratory results (estrogen receptor and serotonin receptor binding assays) provide a scientific correlation between empirical medicinal plant use among the Q’eqchi and the pharmacological basis for their administration. These data can contribute to Guatemala's national effort to promote a complementary relationship between traditional Maya medicine and public health services and can serve as a basis for further pharmacology and phytochemistry on Q’eqchi medicinal plants for the treatment of women's health conditions.