Medical potential of plants used by the Q'eqchi Maya of Livingston, Guatemala for the treatment of women's health complaints.
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.
Michel
Joanna
J
Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. joannamichel@yahoo.com
Duarte
Reinel Eduardo
RE
Bolton
Judy L
JL
Huang
Yue
Y
Caceres
Armando
A
Veliz
Mario
M
Soejarto
Djaja Doel
DD
Mahady
Gail B
GB
D001294:Attitude to Health; D001681:Biological Assay; D003625:Data Collection; D036262:Empirical Research; D005260:Female; D006166:Guatemala / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007197:Indians, Central American / Q000208:ethnology*; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000187:drug effects; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects; D008598:Menstruation / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011247:Pregnancy; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D016387:Women's Health