Ethnomedical knowledge of plants and healthcare practices among the <i style="">Kalanguya </i>tribe in Tinoc, Ifugao, Luzon, Philippines

Abstract

Tinoc, Ifugao is located within the Cordillera Central Range, Northern Luzon, Philippines. It is inhabited by the <i style="">Kalanguya, </i>one of the indigenous societies in the Cordillera, who have a long tradition of using medicinal plants. The paper describes ethnomedicinal importance of 125 plant species, and healthcare practices as cited by 150 informers ranging between 16-90 yrs. Various ailments that are treated by the identified medicinal plants vary from common diseases such as headache, stomachache, toothache, cough and colds, and skin diseases to more serious ailments which includes urinary tract infection, dysentery, and chicken pox. There are different modes of preparation of these medicinal plants. For instance, immediate treatment for cuts was demonstrated by using crushed leaves of <i style="">Eupatorium adenophorum </i>L. An increased efficacy was noted by creating mixtures from combining certain plants. The medicinal plants are summarized by giving their scientific name, family, vernacular name and utilization.