MEDICINAL AND POISONOUS PLANT DIVERSITY OF THE ETHNIC MINORITIES IN TAM DAO MOUNTAIN AREA

Abstract

Tam Dao mountainous area not only compries high biodiversity with many medicinal and poisonous plants, but also is the habitat of ethnic minority communities such as San Diu, San Chi, Dao, Tay, Nung, Cao Lan,... Due to human impacts, medicinal plant resources, knowledge and experience of using medicinal plants of ethnic minorities in that area have been facing the risk of decline and loss. This study was conducted to conserve and promote the traditional knowledge in using of medicinal plant resources in the area. With the ethnobotanical method, combined with the traditional medicinal plant investigation methods, we have determined 253 medicinal and poisonous plant species used by ethnic minorities in Tam Dao mountain area. Of which, 15 species were recorded as threatened plants. Medicinal plants for treatment of osteoarthritis have the highest rate, accounting for 22.09%; followed by those for treatment of gastrointestinal diseae with 21.29%; treatment of liver diseae with 19.28%; treatment of kidney diseae with 14.06%; and the other groups accounted for 23.27% of the total species. About usage, drying and boiling in water for drink comprises 187 species; 33 species are used by boiling in water for showering; 22 species are pounded and crushed to wash wounds,; 12 species are crushed for drink,; 9 species are soaked with alcohol for drink or massage.