INVESTIGATION OF MEDICAL PLANTS USED TO TREAT STOMACH DISEASES BELONGING TO EXPERIENCES OF ETHNIC COMMUNITIES IN THAI NGUYEN PROVINCE

Abstract

Thai Nguyen is a province with different ethnic groups living together. Each ethnic group has its own experience in using plants to prevent and cure many different diseases, including stomach disease. In order to assess the diversity of plants used to treat gastric as well as stomach remedies, in this study we used methods of investigation, classification and evaluation of diversity of genetic resources and life forms of plants. The results included 45 species of plants used to treat stomach deases belonging to 40 genera, 29 families of 2 vascular plants with a variety of parts used as medicine. In addition, 12 remedies used to treat stomach diseases based on experience of ethnic communities in Thai Nguyen province were also collected. This study indicate that the ethnic minorities of Thai Nguyen province have raditional experiences in using plant species to treat stomach diseases.