Ethnobotanical Remedies for Acute Diarrhea in Central Anatolian Villages


Rose J. L., Ölçer Özünel E., Bennett B. C.

Economic Botany, vol.67, no.2, pp.137-146, 2013 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 67 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2013
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s12231-013-9233-8
  • Journal Name: Economic Botany
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.137-146
  • Keywords: Central Anatolia, diarrhea, ethnobotanical knowledge, Medicinal plants, ranked saliency, Turkey
  • Ankara Haci Bayram Veli University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Ethnobotanical Remedies for Acute Diarrhea in Central Anatolian Villages. Acute gastrointestinal illness is a common, life-threatening complication for rural villagers in developing countries such as Turkey. Our study identifies and describes the classification schemes surrounding acute gastrointestinal illness, or diarrhea, and its folk treatments among Central Anatolian villagers. We conducted informal interviews with small groups of rural Turkish villagers in the spring of 2009, using scenarios, recall, free-listing, and ranked saliency techniques to amass information on knowledge and beliefs about diarrhea and its treatments. We also compared treatments from published ethnobotanical studies with 8 of 44 plants still used today. Foods available in the home as well as nearby wild plants were used by 96% of villagers to treat diarrhea. Species in the Rosaceae, Lamiaceae, and Asteraceae families were used most frequently. Villagers blended folk and biomedical concepts to explain their preferences for botanical remedies and to explain the perceived treatment efficacy. © 2013 The New York Botanical Garden.