Abstract
Background
This paper is based on an ethnobotanical investigation that focused on the traditional medicinal plants used by local Maonan people to treat human diseases in Maonan concentration regions. The Maonan people have relied on traditional medicine since ancient times, especially medicinal plants. The aim of this study is to document medicinal plants used by the Maonans and to report the status of medicinal plants and associated traditional knowledge.
Methods
Ethnobotanical data were collected from June 2012 to September 2014 in Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County, northern Guangxi, southwest China. In total, 118 knowledgeable informants were interviewed. Following statistically sampling method, eighteen villages from 5 townships were selected to conduct field investigations. Information was collected through the approache of participatory observation, semi-structured interviews, ranking exercises, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory rural appraisals.
Results
A total of 368 medicinal plant species were investigated and documented together with their medicinal uses by the Maonans, most of which were obtained from the wild ecosystems. The plants were used to treat 95 human diseases. Grinding was a widely used method to prepare traditional herbal medicines. There were significant relationships between gender and age, and between gender and informants’ knowledge of medicinal plant use. Deforestation for agricultural purposes was identified as the most destructive factor of medicinal plants, followed by drought and over-harvest.
Conclusions
The species diversity of medicinal plants used by the Maonans in the study area was very rich. Medicinal plants played a significant role in healing various human disorders in the Maonan communities. However, the conflicts between traditional inheriting system and recent socio-economic changes (and other factors) resulted in the reduction or loss of both medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge. Thus, conservation efforts and policies, and innovation of inheriting system are necessary for protecting the medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge. Awareness is also needed to be raised among local Maonans focusing on sustainable utilization and management of both medicinal plants and traditional knowledge.
Keywords: Medicinal plants, Traditional knowledge, The Maonans, Ethnomedicine, Huanjiang county
Background
Traditional medicine is used to maintain people’s health, as well as to prevent, diagnose, improve or treat physical and mental illnesses all over the world [1,2]. Medicinal plants are believed to be with healing powers, and people have used them for many centuries. Aimed to modern drug discovery, traditional medicinal plants have been studied and developed which is followed the ethnobotanical lead of indigenous cures used by traditional medical systems [3-5]. Traditional medicinal knowledge, especially using medicinal plants in the developing countries, has been in existence and use, and has been a part of therapeutic practices [6]. Therefore, the investigation of plants and their uses (especially medicinal purposes) is one of the most primary human concerns and has been practiced in the world [7-12].
The traditional use of medicinal plants in China is widely accepted. The population of 55 minorities is 11.2 millions occupying 8% of China’s population, and these minorities distribute in 65% of the country’s territory. Each minority has its own medicinal characteristic, and has various experiences of medicinal knowledge [13]. Traditional medicinal plants play an important role of protecting people’s lives and health in minority regions, especially in remote and poor area [14,15]. Because of unique natural conditions and customs in the ethnic minority areas, long-term practices of using medicinal plants have formed various systems of treating diseases [16-18]. For example, Tibetan medicine is famous for treating digestive disorders, rheumatic diseases and wounds [19,20]. The Mongolians have a long history of horse riding, and their medicine is effective to deal with bone fracture and brain concussion. Yao medicine has special advantages in cancers and skin problems [21].
North Guangxi has been recognized as a rich biodiversity and world-famous karst area. With the elevation between 700–1500 m, it is obviously affected by plateau terrain and subtropical monsoon climate. Thus, the temperature difference of four seasons is small but the vertical climate changes significantly. There are more than 10 ethnic groups living in north Guangxi and formed colorful ethnic characteristic. As one of the indigenous minorities, Maonan is mainly living in Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southwest China. The exceptional altitudinal range, topography and climatic variability in this region have fostered a center of plant species endemism. Here the majority of Maonan people rely on medicinal plants for self-medication. The Maonan medicine has made a great contribution to protect the health of local people. This is due to free access to medicinal herbs, cultural traditions and high cost of hospital treatments in the town nearby. Local people widely utilize endemic species, and they have developed their own traditional medicinal knowledge. Without writing language, Maonan people pass on their indigenous knowledge from generation to generation orally. Nowadays, the Maonan children spend most of their time in schools, where they are taught in Han language. This decreases their chances to learn about the uses of the medicinal plants from the old people. Therefore, important information about medicinal plants is easily lost in the transfer process of indigenous knowledge. With the impact of increasing modern health facilities and modern civilization in Maonan area, indigenous knowledge is depleting rapidly. Although a number of ethnobotanical documentations about several ethnic groups have been published during the past decades in China, few field ethnobotanical studies have been conducted in Maonan society. It is therefore necessary to carry out a survey to document the medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge in Maonan region.
Thus, the purposes of the present work were as follows: (i) to document and analyze the knowledge and use of medicinal plants by Maonan people at the study area; (ii) to circulate the results within the scientific community in order to open a door for research in other disciplines; (iii) to document the medicinal plants that could be valuable in future’s phytochemical and pharmacological discoveries, and (iv) to contribute to the knowledge and conservational possibilities of plant biodiversity, bearing in mind that biological diversity is also related to the use and applications of natural resources.
Materials and methods
Study area and the people
The study area covered 18 villages of Huanjiang County (the only Maonan autonomous County in China) in the northern part of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southwest China (Figure 1). The villages are located in 5 townships, which were selected based on Maonan traditional settlements, namely: Chengnan, Chengbei, Luoyang, Shuiyuan, Shangnan, Youdong, Mulun, Xia’nan, Pochuan, Fengyi, Zhongnan, Tangba, Xiatang, Yuhuan, Caimen, Guzhou, Xiyuan, and Jingyang villages. Huanjiang County is situated in the subtropical zone, located between 24°83′ and 25°06′ east longitude and between 107°92′ and 108°26′ north latitude, with the annual average temperature of 20°C and annual rain fall of 1500 mm. The vegetation of the county belongs to the subtropical evergreen montane forest. It is humid in summer and relatively dry in winter. The most Maonan villages are seated on the small strips of flat land or slopes in the rocky mountainous area at 500–1000 meters above sea level. The sinkholes and underground caverns in the area have well developed because of karst landform. Despite abundant rainfall, there are no big rivers but only a small number of streams. Water shortage has been a major obstacle to economic and social development in the Maonan areas.
The Maonan minority, with a total population of about 107,200, is one of the 55 officially recognized ethnic groups in China. With no written language [22], the Maonans’ stories and traditions are remembered and passed down orally from generation to generation, but these are becoming less and less. The Maonan language belongs to the Dong-Shui branch of the Zhuang-Dong language group in the Chinese-Tibetan language family. The Maonan language is widely spoken in Maonan communities. Almost all of the Maonans know both Han and Zhuang languages, because they need to communicate with the Zhuang and Han people, the majorities in Guangxi. About 60% of the Maonan people live in Huanjiang County, which is the only Maonan autonomous county in China. The Maonans are polytheistic, and they pay homage to dozens of deities or immortals on various occasions. These icons include figures from myths, legends, celebrities of historical events, divinities from Taoism or Buddhism, ancestors of the family and so on [22]. Due to remote mountainous regions and poor economic environment, traditional remedies of medicinal plants are the most important and sometimes the only source of therapeutics in the Maonan villages. The long utilization history and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants had supported their livelihoods. The Maonan healers and farmers have developed their own ethnomedicinal knowledge.
Field works and ethnobotanical data collection
A total of 118 (106 males and 12 females) informants were interviewed in the study area, in which 80 were selected using snowball technique and 38 key informants were selected purposively and systematically based on the recommendations of knowledgeable elders, local authorities and development agents. All of the informants were local inhabitants aged between 21 and 85 years. Local Maonan healers were surely identified as key informants, because they were important custodians and participants of indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants. Interestingly, all these traditional healers were males. A few women were also interviewed to examine their medicinal knowledge and opinions.
Ethnobotanical investigations were carried out to collect data on medicinal plants used to treat human ailments following standard methods in Maonan area. The methodological approaches were semi-structured interviews, field observations, group discussions and guided field walks. The data were collected from June 2012 to September 2014. Interviews and discussions were undertaken based on a checklist of questions prepared in Chinese and translated into Maonan language. Information was carefully recorded during interviews with each informant. Field observations were performed with traditional healers guided on the morphological features and habitats of each medicinal plant species. Voucher specimens of cited medicinal plants were collected and their local identity was re-confirmed by other informants. The information obtained was cross-checked with the other informants. The information such as the local name, habit, wild/cultivated, availability of medicinal plants, need of conservation and efforts made by inhabitants, and traditional medicinal uses of plants were recorded. Group discussions were conducted on multipurpose, conservation, threats of the medicinal plants, and transferability of knowledge with the healers and local people in the villages. Also, the key informants were selected for preference ranking exercise.
Specimen collection and identification
The listed medicinal plants were collected from field and gardens, and the habits of these plants were recorded. The voucher specimens were made and deposited in the Herbarium, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China, for future references. The botanical identities of collected specimens were confirmed by the authors and other taxonomists at Minzu University of China. Plant names were checked with Flora of China and botanical websites (e.g. http://www.tropicos.org/).
Data analysis
The data were summarized using Microsoft Office Excel sheet. Descriptive statistical methods were applied to analyze and summarize the ethnobotanical data such as frequency and percentage.
Preference ranking exercise [23,24] was conducted by 8 key informants on 7 medicinal plants used to treat traumatic injury in the study area. The highest number of medicinal plants was prescribed by informants to fight traumatic injury. The plants in this exercise were short-listed by the key informants, and then their importance to manage traumatic injury was discussed. The plants were given to the informants and were ranked based on their efficacy. Medicinal plant that was believed to be the most effective was given the highest value 7, and the one with the least effectiveness a value of 1. Rank was determined based on the total score of each species. A total rank of preference exercise was obtained by summing the number of informant given.
The reported ailments were grouped into 21 categories based on the information gathered from the interviewees. Factor of informant consensus (FIC) was calculated for each category to test the agreements of the informants on the reported cures for the group of diseases. The FIC was calculated as follows: number of use citations in each category (Nur) minus the number of species used (Nt), and divided by the numbers of use citations in each category minus one [25,26]. The formula was listed as below:
Results
Medicinal plants reported
The study recorded 368 medicinal plant species (see Table 1). Ethnomedicinal information for each species, including scientific name, Chinese name, local name, family name, life form, habitat, plant parts used, preparation and uses, was listed in Table 1. The species belonged to 295 genera and 115 families were used by Maonan people to treat various human ailments. Among the families that contributed more medicinal species were Asteraceae, represented by 24 species (6.52%), Fabaceae with 19 (5.16%) species, and Rosaceae with 16 (4.35%), while other 292 families contributed 309 (83.97%) species were mostly represented by 1 or 2 species (Table 2).
Table 1.
No. | Scientific name | Chinese name | Maonan name | Family | Life form | Habit | Parts used | Preparation and uses |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Abelmoschus sagittifolius (Kurz) Merr. | Jianyeqiukui箭叶秋葵 | -- | Malvaceae | Herb | Wild | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for furuncle |
2 | Abrus cantoniensis Hance | Guangdong xiangsizi广州相思子 | rouŋ2ra2təp7 | Fabaceae | Shrub | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for acute and chronic hepatitis, stomachache, rheumatism, ostealgia, traumatic injury, liver cirrhosis and common cold |
3 | Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet | Mopancao磨盘草 | ruoŋ2ŋaŋ³luiŋ5 | Malvaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Boiled with meat; Taken orally soup, treating for fever due to common cold, bronchitis, epidemic parotitis and tuberculosis |
4 | Acanthopanax gracilistylus W. W. Smith. | Wujia五加 | mba³tshi2an2lau4 | Araliaceae | Shrub | Both | Root, Bark | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for rheumatic arthritis, traumatic injury, carminative, bone fracture and pain of limbs |
5 | Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr. | Baile白簕 | mba³tshi6man2ndi5 | Araliaceae | Shrub | Both | Stem, Root | Medicinal liquor for treating rheumatic arthritis, traumatic injury, waist and legs pain, ostealgia and sciatica; Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for eczema, ulcer and furuncle |
6 | Achillea wilsoniana Heimerl ex Hand. -Mazz. | Yunnanshi云南蓍 | -- | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for ulcer |
7 | Achyranthes bidentata Blume | Niuxi牛膝 | ma6wei5gou2ɣou¹ | Amaranthaceae | Herb | Wild | Root | Grinding and drink with wine for traumatic injury, removing blood stasis |
8 | Aconitum carmichaeli Debx. | Wutou乌头 | taŋ5gou²ʔno² | Ranunculaceae | Herb | Both | Tuber | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for scrofula, perineum ache |
9 | Acorus calamus L. | Shuichangpu水菖蒲 | baːŋ5sjɛm2rəm³ | Acoraceae | Herb | Wild | Root | Powder; Taken orally for diarrhea |
10 | Acorus tatarinowii Schott | Shichangpu石菖蒲 | ruoŋ2jɛŋ³vu2 | Acoraceae | Herb | Wild | Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for epilepsy and convulsion |
11 | Adenophora tetraphylla (Thunb.) Fisch. | Lunyeshashen轮叶沙参 | mua²ʨiɔ³gʔai² | Campanulaceae | Herb | Wild | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for complications after measles |
12 | Adiantum capillus-junonis Rupr. | tuanyutiexianjue团羽铁线蕨 | ya2bou³ | Adiantaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant, Rhizome | Boiled with meat and drunk the soup, treating for piles |
13 | Aeginetia indica L. | Yegu野菰 | -- | Orobanchaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for swelling, clearing away heat and toxic materials |
14 | Ageratum conyzoides L. | Huoxiangji藿香蓟 | -- | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for fever due to common cold, empyrosis and abscess |
15 | Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. | Longyacao龙芽草 | ruoŋ2hiu¹cia³ | Rosaceae | Herb | Wild | Root | Boiled with meat or wine and drunk the soup, treating for piles, enteritis, diarrhea, hemafecia, hematuria |
16 | Ainsliaea bonatii Beauverd | Xinyetu'erfeng心叶兔儿风 | ma6ka6ʑai2 | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for cough, asthma with throat itching |
17 | Akebia quinata (Houtt.) Decne. | Mutong木通 | -- | Lardizabalaceae | Liana | Wild | Stem, Root, Fruit | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for rheumatism, diuresis, promoting lactation |
18 | Alangium chinense (Lour.) Harms | Bajiaofeng八角枫 | mei4da2 | Alangiaceae | Tree | Both | Fibrous root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for rheumatic arthritis, lumbar muscle degeneration, asthma and bleeding |
19 | Allium fistulosum L. | Cong葱 | soŋ³xien³nien2 | Liliaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for common cold, pains, rheumatic headache, numbness of limbs and replenishing the liver |
20 | Allium sativum L. | Suan蒜 | kɔŋ¹do2 | Liliaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Bulb | Grinding, dispersed in water and drunk for pertussis cough, enteritis, tuberculosis, poor appetite, indigestion, diarrhea |
21 | Allium tuberosum Rottl. ex Spreng. | Jiu韭 | mba³kən5 | Liliaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for toothache, piles, traumatic injury and insect bite |
22 | Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G. Don | Reyahaiyu热亚海芋 | -- | Araceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for snake bite and innominate inflanunatory of unknown origin |
23 | Alpinia katsumadai Hayata | Caodoukou草豆蔻 | -- | Zingiberaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Fruit | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for indigestion |
24 | Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. | Yizhi益智 | -- | Zingiberaceae | Herb | Wild | Fruit | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for warming the spleen, kidney deficiency, diarrhea and spermatorrhea |
25 | Alternanthera sessilis (L.) DC. | Lianzicao莲子草 | -- | Amaranthaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for reducing fever and causing diuresis |
26 | Amomum tsaoko Crevost et Lemarie | Caoguo草果 | -- | Zingiberaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Fruit | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for eliminating phlegm, indigestion, diarrhea and malaria |
27 | Amomum villosum Lour. | Sharen砂仁 | -- | Zingiberaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Fruit | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for indigestion |
28 | Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees | Chuanxinlian穿心莲 | -- | Acanthaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for clearing away heat and toxic materials |
29 | Androsace umbellata (Lour.) Merr. | Diandimei点地梅 | -- | Primulaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for inflammation and traumatic injury |
30 | Anemone hupehensis Lem. | Dapowanhuahua打破碗花花 | ma2miŋ5yɛ5 | Ranunculaceae | Herb | Wild | Root, Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for biliary tract ascariasis |
31 | Aralia chinensis L. | Songmu楤木 | -- | Araliaceae | Tree | Wild | Seed | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for snake bite |
32 | Aralia undulata Hand.-Mazz. | Boyuansongmu波缘楤木 | mei5ȵun4 | Araliaceae | Shrub | Wild | Root | Boiled with meat and drunk the soup, treating for cough |
33 | Arctium lappa L. | Niubang牛蒡 | maː6kaː6wei5 | Asteraceae | Herb | Homegarden | Fruit | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for infantile fever and cough |
34 | Ardisia gigantifolia Stapf | Zoumatai走马胎 | ruoŋ2loŋ2mia4 | Myrsinaceae | Shrub | Wild | Rhizome, Whole plant | Medicinal liquor for treating rheumatism, rheumatic arthritis, waist and legs pain, paralysis, hemiplegia and traumatic injury |
35 | Ardisia japonica (Thunb.) Blume | Zijinniu紫金牛 | wa5ʨiɛm²wei³ | Myrsinaceae | Shrub | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for jaundiced hepatitis, cough, traumatic injury and preventing phlegm |
36 | Arisaema erubescens (Wall.) Schott | Yibasannanxing一把伞南星 | ma¹gəp8tai5 | Araceae | Herb | Wild | Tuber | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for snake bite |
37 | Arisaema heterophyllum Blume | Tiannanxing天南星 | jɛk7khω6dɔŋ2 | Araceae | Herb | Wild | Tuber | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for traumatic injury, cough, hypertension, acute inflammation and abdomen pain |
38 | Arisaema rhizomatum C. E. C. Fischer | Xuelijian雪里见 | kɣou²ŋau4 | Araceae | Herb | Wild | Tuber | Medicinal liquor for treating scrofula and perineum ache |
39 | Aristolochia fangchi Y. C. Wu ex L. D. Chow et S. M. Hwang | Guangfangji广防己 | ruoŋ2dak8loŋ² | Aristolochiaceae | Liana | Wild | Tuber | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for acute nephritis, urinary tract infection, hypertension, rheumatic heart disease, edema |
40 | Aristolochia kwangsiensis Chun et How ex C. F. Liang | Guangximadouling广西马兜铃 | -- | Aristolochiaceae | Liana | Wild | Tuber | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for snake bite, stomachache, diarrhea, strep throat, epidemic parotitis, lymphnoditis |
41 | Aristolochia versicolor S. M. Hwang | Biansemadouling变色马兜铃 | -- | Aristolochiaceae | Liana | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for snake bite |
42 | Armeniaca vulgaris Lam. | Xing杏 | dəŋ¹vɔŋ5ʑa2 | Rosaceae | Tree | Homegarden | Seed | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for chronic trachitis, cough |
43 | Artemisia annua L. | Huanghuahao黄花蒿 | ruoŋ2nŋai6min³ | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for malaria, fever, indigestion, tuberculosis hot flashes and night sweat; washing for scab, pruritus and mosquito bite |
44 | Artemisia capillaris Thunb. | Yinchenhao茵陈蒿 | ma6ʔai³ | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for hepatitis and jaundice |
45 | Artemisia japonica Thunb. | Muhao牡蒿 | -- | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for clearing away heat and toxic materials, inflammation and blood stasis |
46 | Asarum longerhizomatosum C. F. Liang et C. S. Yang | Xijingjin'erhuan长茎金耳环 | -- | Aristolochiaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for headache, toothache, cough, diarrhea, acute enteritis |
47 | Asarum sieboldii Miq. | Xixin细辛 | ruoŋ2ndeŋ5kha³ | Aristolochiaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant, Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for cough, relieving pain |
48 | Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. | Tianmendong天门冬 | lak5mən2tuŋ¹ | Asparagaceae | Herb | Wild | Tuber | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for tuberculosis, cough, constipation, diabetes and sore throat after rash |
49 | Azolla imbricata (Roxb.) Nakai | Manjianghong满江红 | -- | Azollaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for measles |
50 | Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek. | Banlan板蓝 | ruoŋ2wom¹ | Acanthaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction drunk for common cold, sore throat, parotitis and epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis |
51 | Bauhinia brachycarpa Wall. | Anyeyangtijia鞍叶羊蹄甲 | yaŋm³gəm³duo5 | Fabaceae | Tree | Both | Root, Leaf | Boiled with meat and drunk the soup, treating for cough, hemoptysis |
52 | Bauhinia championii (Benth.) Benth. | Longxuteng龙须藤 | bjeu³in5 | Fabaceae | Liana | Both | Stem | Grinding, decoction drunk for rheumatism, traumatic injury, stomachache, waist and legs pain |
53 | Belamcanda chinensis (L.) Redoute | Shegan射干 | mei5van³biɛn² | Iridaceae | Herb | Both | Root | Grinding, decoction drunk for sore throat |
54 | Berberis julianae Schneid | Haozhuci豪猪刺 | taːŋm2mɛn5sem5 | Berberidaceae | Shrub | Wild | Root | Grinding, boiled with water and washed the affected area for clearing away heat and toxic materials, inflammation |
55 | Bidens pilosa L. | Guizhencao鬼针草 | wɔk7cut7na5 | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for nephritis, jaundice, rheumatism, ostealgia, diarrhea, throat ache, kidney deficiency and waist pain |
56 | Bischofia javanica Bl. | Qiufeng秋枫 | -- | Euphorbiaceae | Tree | Both | Stem, Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orallyfor removing blood stasis, carminative, improving indigestion |
57 | Bletilla striata (Thunb. ex A. Murray) Rchb. f. | Baiji白及 | kɔŋ¹nat7 | Orchidaceae | Herb | Both | Bulb | Powder swallowed for tuberculosis and empyrosis |
58 | Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. | Ainaxiang艾纳香 | ruoŋ2nŋai6lau4 | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for common cold, rheumatic arthritis, traumatic injury, dysmenorrhea and afterpains |
59 | Boehmeria nivea(L.) Gaudich. | Zhuma苎麻 | mba³ŋan³ | Urticaceae | Shrub | Wild | Root Bark, Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for miscarriage prevention, hematuria, traumatic injury, bone fracture, diuresis, measles, joint sprain |
60 | Bombax malabaricum DC. | Mumian木棉 | wai5mei4 | Bombacaceae | Tree | Both | Flower, Root bark, Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally; Flower is treating for enteritis, stomach ulcer; Root bark is treating for rheumatism, traumatic injury; Root is treating for chronic nephritis gastricism, stomach ulcer, tuberculosis of cervical lymph nodes |
61 | Botrychium ternatum (Thunb.) Sw. | Yindijue阴地蕨 | do5gʔom2daːŋ³ | Botrychiaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for cough |
62 | Brucea javanica (L.) Merr. | Yadanzi鸦胆子 | -- | Simaroubaceae | Shrub | Wild | Seed | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for diarrhea, malaria and chromic diarrhea |
63 | Bryophyllum pinnatum (L. f.) Oken | Luoyeshenggen落地生根 | ruoŋ2ra2pu³ | Crassulaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for detumescence by detoxification, promoting blood circulation to arrest pain, draw out pus and toxin |
64 | Buddleja officinalis Maxim. | Mimenghua密蒙花 | wa³kuŋ³ruo² | Loganiaceae | Shrub | Wild | Flower | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for swelling and pain of eye, hyperdacryosis and cloudness of cornea |
65 | Caesalpinia sappan Linn. | Sumu苏木 | mei4sam³mɔk8 | Fabaceae | Tree | Wild | Heartwood | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for traumatic injury, rheumatism, ostealgia, bleeding |
66 | Caesalpinia sepiaria Roxb. | Yunshi云实 | ʔŋən5ʔniao2 | Fabaceae | Tree | Wild | Root, Seed | Medicinal liquor for treating contraception in the menstrual period |
67 | Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl | Dayezizhu大叶紫珠 | ruoŋ2lak8phau5 | Verbenaceae | Shrub | Wild | Root, Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for hemafecia and hemoptysis |
68 | Campanumoea javanica Bl. | Jianqianbao金钱豹 | bieu³thωp8jou¹ | Campanulaceae | Herb | Wild | Root | Powdered and swallowed for tuberculosis, enteritis, diarrhea, appendicitis, traumatic injury and piles |
69 | Camptotheca acuminata Decne. | Xishu喜树 | -- | Nyssaceae | Tree | Both | Fruit, Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for cancer and schistosome |
70 | Canscora lucidissima (Levl. et Vaniot) Hand.-Mazz | Chuanxincao穿心草 | ma6chuan2 | Gentianaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for stranguria, snake bite, stomachache, cough and jaundiced hepatitis |
71 | Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. | Ji荠 | mba³kɔŋ¹pia³ | Cruciferae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for catching common cold, fever, nephritis, edema, hypertension, enteritis |
72 | Cassia tora Linn. | Jueming决明 | thou6maŋ³xiзŋ³ | Fabaceae | Herb | Both | Seed | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for hyperlipidemia, hepatitis, stomachache, acute conjunctivitis, habitual constipation, dental ulcer |
73 | Cassytha filiformis L. | Wugenteng无根藤 | bieu³chim6cieu¹ | Lauraceae | Herb | Wild | Stem | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for vitiligo, jaundice, constipation, waist and knees pain, impotence and spermatorrhea |
74 | Cayratia japonica (Thunb.) Gagnep. | Wulianmei乌蔹莓 | -- | Vitaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant, Root | Medicinal liquor for paralysis |
75 | Celosia argentea L. | Qingxiang青葙 | mba³pωm³pa5 | Amaranthaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for trachitis, gastricism |
76 | Cerastium glomeratum Thuill. | Qiuxujuan'er球序卷耳 | maː6ʔan4ʑau2 | Caryophyllaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for febrile convulsion |
77 | Chaenomeles sinensis (Thouin) Koehne | Mugua木瓜 | -- | Rosaceae | Shrub | Homegarden | Fruit | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for smooth the liver and stomach |
78 | Chirita eburnea Hance | Niu'erduo牛耳朵 | ma5ba5 | Gesneriaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for bronchitis |
79 | Chloranthus holostegius (Handel-Mazzetti) Pei & Shan | Quanyuanjinlilan全缘金栗兰 | tei³kuai5wa5 | Chloranthaceae | Herb | Wild | Root | Boiled with meat and drunk the soup, treating for weakness |
80 | Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl | Xiangzhang香樟 | mei4kau¹ | Lauraceae | Tree | Homegarden | Bark | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for acute gastroenteritis, rheumatism, ostealgia, emesis, diarrhea and bone fracture |
81 | Cinnamomum cassia Presl | Rougui肉桂 | -- | Lauraceae | Tree | Homegarden | Stem | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for cough, dysmenorrhea and sweating |
82 | Cinnamomum subavenium Miq. | Xianggui香桂 | -- | Lauraceae | Tree | Both | Bark | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for antiseptic |
83 | Cirsium japonicum Fisch. ex DC. | Daji大蓟 | mba³tin³tsuok7lau4 | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Root, Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for jaundice, scabies, hemafecia, muscle swelling and gastroduodenal ulcer |
84 | Clematis chinensis Osbeck. | Weilingxian威灵仙 | ruoŋ2pek7mi6saŋ³ | Ranunculaceae | Liana | Wild | Root, Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for tonsillitis, jaundice, migraine and rheumatism |
85 | Clerodendrum chinense (Osbeck) Mabb. | Choumoli臭茉莉 | ruoŋ2phuŋ6hi6 | Verbenaceae | Shrub | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for rheumatic arthritis, traumatic injury, rheumatism and detumescence |
86 | Clerodendrum cyrtophyllum Turcz. | Daqing大青 | -- | Verbenaceae | Shrub | Wild | Leaf | Ground, decoction; Taken orally for fever due to common cold, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, parotitis, enteritis and diarrhea |
87 | Coix lacryma-jobi L. | Yiyi薏苡 | ɣhou6gaŋ5yə4 | Gramineae | Herb | Both | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for acute nephritis |
88 | Colocasia antiquorum Schott | Yeyu野芋 | phi²niəŋ6 | Araceae | Herb | Wild | Tuber | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for bleeding, furuncle, empyrosis and snake bite |
89 | Commelina communis L. | Yazhicao鸭趾草 | mba³ciap7 | Commelinaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for diarrhea, influenza, acute tonsillitis, edema, enteritis, urinary tract infection, empyrosis and bleeding |
90 |
Crataegus pinnatifida
Bunge |
Shanzha山楂 | dɛŋ¹miɛ5²yə2 | Rosaceae | Tree | Homegarden | Fruit | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for poor appetite, blood stasis |
91 | Croton tiglium L. | Badou巴豆 | ruoŋ2mei4miət7 | Euphorbiaceae | Tree | Homegarden | Root Bark, Leaf | Pound fresh leaf applied on the affected area, treating for bleeding, herpes zoster; Pound root bark applied on the affected area, treating for snake bite |
92 | Cucumis sativus L. | Huanggua黄瓜 | -- | Cucurbitaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Fruit | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for bleeding and skin whitening |
93 | Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. | Xianmao仙茅 | ruoŋ2saŋ³thɔk8 | Amaryllidaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for headache due to common cold, rheumatic arthritis, neurasthenia, chronic nephritis, erectile dysfunction and seminal leakage |
94 | Curcuma aromatica Salisb. | Yujin郁金 | -- | Zingiberaceae | Herb | Wild | Tuber | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for bleeding, jaundice and cooling blood |
95 | Curcuma longa L. | Jianghuang姜黄 | ruoŋ2cɛŋ³woŋ² | Zingiberaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for abnormal menstruation, amenorrhea, flatulence and blood stasis |
96 | Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe | E'zhu莪术 | pi6cɛŋ³nəm³ | Zingiberaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for rheumatism, ostealgia, traumatic injury, abdomen pain |
97 | Cuscuta chinensis Lam. | Tusizi菟丝子 | -- | Convolvulaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for hepatitis |
98 | Cyclea hypoglauca (Schauer) Diels | Fenyelunhuanteng粉叶轮环藤 | -- | Menispermaceae | Liana | Wild | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for toothache, urinary tract infection, rheumatism, diphtheria, ostealgia; Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for carbuncle, snake bite |
99 | Cynanchum atratum Bunge | Baiwei白薇 | lau2ʨiŋ5xi5 | Asclepiadaceae | Herb | Wild | Root | Medicinal liquor for treating rheumatic arthritis |
100 | Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight | Niupixiao牛皮消 | gʔɛ2lin5xiao5 | Asclepiadaceae | Shrub | Wild | Root | Boiled with meat and drunk the soup, treating for infantile dry-sickness and malnutrition |
101 | Cynanchum officinale (Hemsl.) Tsiang & H.D.Zhang | Zhushateng朱砂藤 | -- | Asclepiadaceae | Shrub | Wild | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for pain killer and weakness |
102 | Cynanchum paniculatum (Bunge) Kitag. | Xuchangqing徐长卿 | ta6ʔnu2 | Asclepiadaceae | Herb | Both | Root, Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for enteritis and diarrhea |
103 | Cyperus rotundus L. | Xiangfuzi香附子 | lak8rut8 | Cyperaceae | Herb | Wild | Tuber | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for clearing and activating the channels and collaterals, common cold, abnormal menstruation |
104 | Cyrtomium fortunei J. Sm. | Guanzhong贯众 | rin³tsiɛk7lau4 | Dryopteridaceae | -- | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for common cold, parotitis, gastrorrhagia, hematuria, postpartum lochiorrhea and body deficiency disease |
105 | Datura metel L. | Yangjinhua洋金花 | -- | Solanaceae | Herb | Wild | Flower | Pound and applied on the affected area for ulcer and pains |
106 | Datura stramonium L. | Mantuoluo曼陀罗 | ruoŋ2chou6dun³ | Solanaceae | Herb | Wild | Leaf | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for furuncle and traumatic injury |
107 | Davallia mariesii T. Moore ex Baker | Gusuibu骨碎补 | xiŋ5bɔa5 | Davalliaceae | -- | Wild | Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for bone fracture and fructus psoraleae |
108 | Desmodium heterocarpon (L.) DC. | Jiadidou假地豆 | thou6ti5pa5 | Fabaceae | Shrub | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for preventing mumps, epidemic encephalitis B, kidney and vesical stone |
109 | Dichondra repens J.R. Forst. & G. Forst. | Matijin马蹄金 | ruoŋ²tin³mia4 | Convolvulaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for bleeding, urinary stone and jaundiced hepatitis |
110 | Dicliptera chinensis (L.) Juss. | Gougancai狗肝菜 | ruoŋ2təp7ma³ | Acanthaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for fever due to common cold, epidemic hepatitis B, rheumatic arthritis, conjunctivitis, diuresis and measles |
111 | Dimocarpus longan Lour. | Longyan龙眼 | ruoŋ2kuei4juon² | Sapindaceae | Tree | Homegarden | Aril | Medicinal liquor for cosmetic, insomnia, forgetfulness, replenishing heart, tonic and blood deficiency |
112 | Dioscorea bulbifera L. | Huangdu黄独 | lak8phuo2 | Dioscoreaceae | Liana | Homegarden | Tuber | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for cough, hemoptysis and epistaxis |
113 | Dioscorea cirrhosa Lour. | Shuliang薯莨 | daŋ5gʔui5pɛ² | Dioscoreaceae | Liana | Homegarden | Tuber | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for gastroduodenal ulcer |
114 | Dioscorea opposita Thunb. | Shuyu薯蓣 | -- | Dioscoreaceae | Liana | Homegarden | Tuber | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for weakness, cough and frequent urination |
115 | Diospyros kaki Thunb. | Shi柿 | den³mian5 | Ebenaceae | Tree | Homegarden | Fruit, Persistent calyx | Pound fresh part mixing the rice wine applied on the affected area, treating for lymphadenectasis |
116 | Dipsacus asperoides C.Y. Cheng & Ai | Chuanxuduan川续断 | noŋ²bu²yɛ5 | Dipsacaceae | Herb | Wild | Seed, Root | Boiled with meat and drunk the soup, treating for leucorrhoea and bone fracture |
117 | Disporum cantoniense (Lour.) Merr. | Wanshouzhu万寿竹 | ma6mei5vɛn³ | Liliaceae | Herb | Wild | Root, Rhizome | Boiled with meat and drunk the soup, treating for cough |
118 | Drynaria propinqua (Wall. ex Mett.) J. Sm. | Shilianjianghujue石莲姜槲蕨 | -- | Drynariaceae | -- | Wild | Rhizome | Medicinal liquor for treating rheumatic arthritis, traumatic injury, bone fracture and blood stasis |
119 | Duchesnea indica (Andrews) Teschem. | Shemei蛇莓 | taːŋm²bei²zeŋ¹ | Rosaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for empyrosis, snake bite, furuncle |
120 | Dysosma versipellis (Hance) M. Cheng ex T.S. Ying | Bajiaolian八角莲 | va5piat7lim6 | Berberidaceae | Herb | Both | Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for mumps, traumatic injury, lymphnoditis, snake bite, breast carcinoma |
121 | Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. | Lichang鳢肠 | wɔk7mək8 | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for infantile diarrhea, enteritis, hemafecia, hematuria, hemoptysis and bleeding |
122 | Elephantopus scaber L. | Didancao地胆草 | ruoŋ²təp7do6 | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for common cold, acute tonsillitis, acute jaundiced hepatitis, ascites due to cirrhosis, chronic gastricism and furuncle |
123 | Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. | Niujincao牛筋草 | ruoŋ²su5chin6 | Gramineae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for traumatic injury, rheumatism, ostealgia, infantile indigestion |
124 | Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC. | Yidianhong一点红 | mba³kha³tu5 | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for inflammation, sore throat, cough, fever due to common cold, urticaria, herpes zoster |
125 | Epimedium brevicornu Maximowicz Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. | Yinyanghuo淫羊藿 | ma5gan²duo³ | Berberidaceae | Herb | Both | Stem, Leaf | Medicinal liquor for treating rheumatism, tonic |
126 | Epimeredi indica (L.) Rothm. | Guangfangfen广防风 | ruoŋ²woŋ² | Lamiaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for common cold, acute gastroenteritis; boiled with water and washed the affected area for snake bite, furuncle, eczema |
127 | Equisetum arvense L. | Wenjing问荆 | gɔŋ²dau5 | Equisetaceae | -- | Wild | Whole plant | Powder swallowed for headache |
128 | Equisetum hyemale L. | Bitongcao笔筒草 | -- | Equisetaceae | -- | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for bleeding, diuresis |
129 | Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. | Pipa枇杷 | va³bi²ba5 | Rosaceae | Tree | Homegarden | Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for pertussis cough |
130 | Eucalyptus robusta Sm. | An桉 | mei4cau5xui4 | Myrtaceae | Tree | Homegarden | Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for influenza, diarrhea |
131 | Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. | Duzhong杜仲 | thu6tsuŋ5 | Eucommiaceae | Tree | Both | Bark | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for hypertension, kidney deficiency, lumbago |
132 | Eupatorium chinense L. | Duoxugong多须公 | -- | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for clearing away heat and toxic materials, blood stasis, traumatic injury |
133 | Euphorbia antiquorum L. | Huoyangle火殃勒 | ruoŋ²ko³loŋ² | Euphorbiaceae | Shrub | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part and fried with wine, applied on the affected area, treating for furuncle, innominate inflanunatory of unknown origin |
134 | Euphorbia chrysocoma H. Lév. & Vaniot | Shuihuanghua水黄花 | maː³nom²ʔan² | Euphorbiaceae | Herb | Wild | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for infectious hepatitis |
135 | Euphorbia hirta L. | Feiyangcao飞扬草 | ruoŋ²jɛŋ³thuŋ6thin6 | Euphorbiaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for bacillary diarrhea, enteritis, bronchitis, nephritis |
136 | Euphorbia humifusa Willdenow | Dijin地锦 | -- | Euphorbiaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for malaria, diuresis |
137 | Euphorbia milii Des Moul. | Tiehaitang铁海棠 | ruoŋ²ndunŋ³waŋ³ | Euphorbiaceae | Shrub | Both | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for carbuncle |
138 | Euphorbia thymifolia L. | Qian'gencao千根草 | -- | Euphorbiaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for bacillary diarrhea, enteritis, diarrhea, piles, bleeding |
139 | Evodia lepta (Spreng.) Merr. | Sanyaku三桠苦 | ruoŋ²sam³tsha³ | Rutaceae | Tree | Wild | Root, Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for epidemic meningitis, influenza, fever, epidemic encephalitis B |
140 | Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. | Wuzhuyu吴茱萸 | tsha6la6 | Rutaceae | Shrub | Wild | Fruit | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for diarrhea, abnormal menstruation, diseases of liver stasis, emesis |
141 | Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn. | Kuqiao苦荞 | -- | Polygonaceae | Herb | Wild | Fruit | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for stomachache, indigestion |
142 | Fallopia multiflora (Thunb.) Haraldson | Heshouwu何首乌 | mən6daŋ³yɛ5 | Polygonaceae | Herb | Both | Tuber, Stem | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for weakness |
143 | Fibraurea recisa Pierre | Tianxianteng天仙藤 | -- | Menispermaceae | Liana | Wild | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for headache, fever, acute tonsillitis, strep throat, diarrhea, jaundiced hepatitis, gastricism, enteritis |
144 | Ficus microcarpa L. f. | Rongshu榕树 | ruoŋ²mei4joŋ² | Moraceae | Tree | Homegarden | Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for flu, malaria, bronchitis, acute enteritis, bacillary diarrhea, pertussis cough, tonsillitis |
145 | Ficus tikoua Bureau | Diguo地果 | -- | Moraceae | Liana | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for jaundice, diarrhea and internal injury |
146 | Flemingia prostrata Roxb. | Qianjinba千斤拔 | ruoŋ²sωt7khui² | Fabaceae | Shrub | Wild | Root | Grinding, decoction or medicinal liquor drunk for lumbar muscle degeneration, traumatic injury, rheumatic arthritis and tonsillitis |
147 | Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis | Zhizi栀子 | lak8kei³ | Rubiaceae | Shrub | Both | Fruit | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for jaundiced hepatitis, fever, diarrhea, nephritis and edema |
148 | Gastrodia elata Blume | Tianma天麻 | ŋoŋ5bu4noŋ² | Orchidaceae | Herb | Wild | Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for headache and stomachache |
149 | Gaultheria leucocarpa var. yunnanensis (Franch.) T.Z. Hsu & R.C. Fang | Baiguobaizhu白果白珠 | mei5ʔa5 | Ericaceae | Shrub | Wild | Whole plant, Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for rheumatic arthritis and traumatic injury |
150 | Gelsemium elegans (Gardner & Champ.) Benth. | Gouwen钩吻 | ruoŋ²sai³mu5 | Loganiaceae | Liana | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for furuncle, carbuncle |
151 | Gentiana rhodantha Franch. | Honghualongdan红花龙胆 | ya5ma²mənp8 | Gentianaceae | Herb | Wild | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for furuncle |
152 | Geranium nepalense Sweet | Nibo'er'laoguancao尼泊尔老鹳草 | ma6ʑaŋ5nan5 | Geraniaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for pertussis cough |
153 | Gerbera piloselloides (L.) Cass. | Maodadingcao毛大丁草 | ruoŋ²təp7thi6 | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for clearing away heat and toxic materials, fever due to common cold, cough, diarrhea, infantile indigestion |
154 | Geum aleppicum Jacq. | Lubianqing路边青 | mba³men² | Rosaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Boiled with meat and drunk the soup, treating for deficiency of dizziness |
155 | Ginkgo biloba L. | Yinxing银杏 | -- | Ginkgoaceae Engler | Tree | Homegarden | Fruit, Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for moistening lung, cough |
156 | Gleditsia sinensis Lam. | Zaojia皂荚 | -- | Fabaceae | Tree | Both | Pod | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for apocenosis, detumescence |
157 | Glochidion puberum (Linnaeus) Hutchinson | Suanpanzi算盘子 | mei4thω6teŋ5 | Euphorbiaceae | Shrub | Wild | Root, Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for bacillary diarrhea, infantile indigestion, diarrhea, abdomen pain, proctoptosis, migraine , lymphnoditis |
158 | Gomphrena globosa L. | Qianrihong千日红 | xien³vən³lan¹ | Amaranthaceae | Herb | Wild | Flower | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for asthma, bronchitis, pertussis cough, tuberculosis, diarrhea and hemoptysis |
159 | Gonostegia hirta (Blume ex Hassk.) Miq. | Nuomituan糯米团 | -- | Urticaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant, Root | Grinding, decoction or boiled with meat and drunk for clearing away heat and removing dampness, innominate inflanunatory of unknown origin |
160 | Gymnotheca chinensis Decne. | Luoshuo裸蒴 | maŋ5wɛŋ³bɔa5 | Saururaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Whole plant | Boiled with meat and drunk the soup, treating for weakness and cough |
161 | Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino | Jiaogulan绞股蓝 | -- | Cucurbitaceae | Liana | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for rheumatism, bronchitis and stomachache |
162 | Hedyotis diffusa Willd. | Baihuasheshecao白花蛇舌草 | ruoŋ²ma²rui²sɛ5 | Rubiaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for hepatitis, cough, bronchitis, tonsillitis |
163 | Hemsleya sphaerocarpa Kuang & A. M. Lu | Shelian蛇莲 | tei5ʔŋaːn² | Cucurbitaceae | Liana | Wild | Tuber | Powdered; Taken orally for appendicitis |
164 | Homalomena occulta (Lour.) Schott | Qiannianjian千年健 | ma6moŋ³ʨɛ5 | Araceae | Herb | Wild | Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for rheumatism, numbness of limbs, traumatic injury, bone fracture |
165 | Houttuynia cordata Thunb. | Yuxingcao鱼腥草 | mba³wət8 | Saururaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for edema, bronchopneumonia, nephritis, enteritis, diarrhea, cough |
166 | Hydrocotyle nepalensis Hook | Hongmaticao红马蹄草 | -- | Umbelliferae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part mixing with hot liquor and applied on the affected area, treating for traumatic injury |
167 | Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam. | Tianhusui天胡荽 | na5ʨiao²nɛm³ | Umbelliferae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for headache due to common cold |
168 | Hypericum japonicum Thunb. | Tianjihuang田基黄 | ruoŋ²kha³kai5 | Guttiferae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for hepatitis, acute conjunctivitis, tonsillitis and forepart hepatocirrhosis |
169 | Hypericum sampsonii Hance | Yuanbaocao元宝草 | wa³ciɛn³ | Guttiferae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for traumatic injury, pain, indigestion, chest congestion |
170 | Illicium difengpi B.N. Chang | Difengpi地枫皮 | -- | Magnoliaceae | Shrub | Wild | Stem, Bark | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for rheumatism, rheumatic arthralgia and lumbar muscle degeneration |
171 | Impatiens balsamina L. | Fengxianhua凤仙花 | wa³dip7sim¹ | Balsaminaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Whole plant, Seed | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for furuncle, carbuncle |
172 | Impatiens pinfanensis Hook. f. | Kuaijiefengxianhua块节凤仙花 | fan4mɛ5ma² | Balsaminaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Tuber | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for scrofula |
173 | Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv. | Baimao白茅 | taŋ5ya³guaŋ4 | Gramineae | Herb | Wild | Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for nephritis, edema, bleeding |
174 | Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet | Wuzhaojinlong五爪金龙 | ruoŋ²lak8oŋ5 | Convolvulaceae | Herb | Both | Leaf, Tuber | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for carbuncle, clearing away heat and toxic materials |
175 | Ipomoea mauritiana Jacq. | Qizhualong七爪龙 | miau²ren³sen5 | Convolvulaceae | Liana | Both | Tuber, Leaf | Boiled with meat and drunk the soup, treating for nephritis |
176 | Ipomoea pescaprae (L.) R. Br. | Houteng厚藤 | ruoŋ²an³mia4 | Convolvulaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for rheumatic lumbocrural pain and lumbar muscle degeneration |
177 | Iris tectorum Maxim | Yuanwei鸢尾 | ʑo5waːŋ¹ | Iridaceae | Herb | Both | Rhizome | Pound fresh part with water is taken as a drink for improving indigestion |
178 | Juglans regia L. | Hutao胡桃 | den³van5kɔŋ² | Juglandaceae | Tree | Both | Fruit | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for tonic, back pain |
179 | Juncus effusus L. | Dengxincao灯心草 | ȵan6daːŋ5 | Juncaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for jaundiced hepatitis |
180 | Justicia gendarussa Burm. f. | Xiaobogu小驳骨 | ruoŋ²tiək7dak8sɛ5 | Acanthaceae | Shrub | Wild | Stem, Leaf | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for bone fracture, traumatic injury, 2rheumatic arthritis, ulcer |
181 | Justicia ventricosa Wall. ex Hook. f. | Heiyexiaobogu黑叶小驳骨 | -- | Acanthaceae | Shrub | Wild | Stem, Leaf | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for bone fracture, traumatic injury, rheumatic arthritis, waist pain, bleeding |
182 | Kadsura heteroclita (Roxb.) Craib | Yixingnanwuweizi异形南五味子 | ruoŋ²li5rωp8 | Magnoliaceae | Liana | Wild | Stem | Grinding, decoction or infusion with wine drunk for bone fracture, ostealgia, chronic gastricism, acute gastroenteritis |
183 | Kadsura longipedunculata Finet & Gagnep. | Nanwuweizi南五味子 | -- | Magnoliaceae | Liana | Wild | Fruit | Decoctionn; Taken orally for cough, insomnia |
184 | Kalimeris indica (L.) Sch. Bip. | Malan马兰 | ruoŋ²xien³sɔk7 | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for pneumonia, bronchitis |
185 | Kyllinga brevifolia Rottb. | Duanyeshuiwugong短叶水蜈蚣 | -- | Cyperaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for infantile malnutrition, helminth |
186 | Laggera alata (D. Don) Sch. Bip. ex Oliv. | Liulengju六棱菊 | ruoŋ²jɛn³nəm¹ | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for rheumatic arthritis, nephritis, edema |
187 | Laportea cuspidata (Wedd.) Friis | Aima艾麻 | tuɔm²rɛn5 | Urticaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant, Root | Medicinal liquor for rheumatic arthritis |
188 | Leonurus artemisia (Lour.) S.Y. Hu | Yimucao益母草 | ra²loŋ²cit7vən6 | Lamiaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for edema, nephritis, abnormal menstruation, promoting blood circulation due to menstruation |
189 | Ligusticum chuanxiong S.H. Qiu, Y.Q. Zeng, K.Y. Pan, Y.C. Tang & J.M. Xu | Chuanxiong川芎 | ta5chuan²wɔŋ5 | Umbelliferae | Herb | Both | Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for carminative, activate blood for acesodyne |
190 | Ligusticum sinense Oliv. | Gaoben藁本 | -- | Umbelliferae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Medicinal liquor for waist pain, kidney deficiency |
191 | Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton | Nüzhen女贞 | -- | Oleaceae | Tree | Homegarden | Fruit | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for tonifying kieney and liver |
192 | Ligustrum robustum subsp. chinense P.S. Green | Cuzhuangnüzhen粗壮女贞 | va³zhɛ5gaŋm² | Oleaceae | Tree | Homegarden | Leaf | Drink like the tea for dizziness |
193 | Lilium brownii F.E. Brown ex Miellez | Yebaihe野百合 | kɔŋ¹dɔ²pa5 | Liliaceae | Herb | Both | Bulb | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for tuberculosis, edema, insomnia, neurasthenia and palpitation |
194 | Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm. | Wuyao乌药 | -- | Lauraceae | Shrub | Wild | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for stomachache, abdomon pain |
195 | Litchi chinensis Sonn. | Lizhi荔枝 | -- | Sapindaceae | Tree | Homegarden | Stone fruit | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for rheumatism, pain and removing moping |
196 | Lithospermum erythrorhizon Siebold & Zucc. | Zicao紫草 | gaŋ5pat8 | Boraginaceae | Herb | Wild | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for measles |
197 | Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers. | Shanjijiao山鸡椒 | -- | Lauraceae | Shrub | Both | Fruit | Pound fresh/dry fruit, decoction; Taken orally for cough, diarrhea, stomachache, toothache, bleeding |
198 | Litsea pungens Hemsl. | Mujiangzi木姜子 | ruoŋ²mei4saŋ¹ | Lauraceae | Tree | Both | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for gastricism |
199 | Livistona chinensis (Jacq.) R. Br. ex Mart. | Pukui蒲葵 | ruoŋ²xien5phu² | Palmae | Tree | Homegarden | Seed | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for cancer |
200 | Lobelia chinensis Lour. | Banbianlian半边莲 | nun³mua²ʔnɛm4 | Campanulaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, boiled with water and washed the affected area for snake bite |
201 | Lobelia sequinii Levl. et Vant. | Xi'nanshan'gengcai西南山梗菜 | ruoŋ²thai6tsɛŋ¹cuωn³ | Campanulaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, boiled with water and washed the affected area for rheumatic arthritis, traumatic injury, ulcer |
202 | Lonicera japonica Thunb. | Rendong忍冬 | wa³cim³mən² | Caprifoliaceae | Liana | Both | Stem, Flower | Grinding and decoction; Taken orally; Stem is for jaundice, clearing away heat and toxic materials, headache and fever; flower is for enteritis, diarrhea, pneumonia, influenza |
203 | Lophatherum gracile Brongn. | Danzhuye淡竹叶 | mei4tim¹sɛ5 | Gramineae | Herb | Both | Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for urinary tract infection, aphthous stomatitis, swelling, aching of gum |
204 | Loropetalum chinense (R. Br.) Oliv. | Jimu檵木 | ruoŋ²mei4ci5 | Hamamelidaceae | Shrub | Wild | Leaf, Flower, Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally; Leaf is for abdomen pain, metrorrhagia; Flower is for bleeding; Root is for traumatic injury, chronic arthritis, amenorrhea, bleeding |
205 | Lycopodium japonicum Thunb. | Shisong石松 | mʔau²muan4 | Lycopodiaceae | -- | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for rheumatic arthritis, arthralgia, leg cramp, hand and foot numbness |
206 | Lycopus lucidus Turcz. ex Benth. | Disun地笋 | -- | Lamiaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for abnormal menstruation, amenorrhea, traumatic injury, bone fracture |
207 | Lygodium japonicum (Thunb.) Sw. | Haijinsha海金沙 | ma²goŋ²bou³ | Lygodiaceae | -- | Wild | Whole plant, Sporangium | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for chronic ulcer, skin infection, furuncle, foot rot |
208 | Lysimachia christinae Hance | Guoluhuang过路黄 | ma6gʔou²ʔan² | Primulaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for urinary tract infection, jaundice, hepatitis |
209 | Lysimachia paridiformis Franch. | Luodimei落地梅 | -- | Primulaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for infantile convulsions |
210 | Lysionotus pauciflorus Maxim. | Diaoshijutai吊石苣苔 | ba5dau³ma4 | Gesneriaceae | Shrub | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for bronchitis, asthma |
211 | Magnolia officinalis Rehder & E.H. Wilson | Houpo厚朴 | -- | Magnoliaceae | Tree | Both | Bark | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for emesis, diarrhea |
212 | Mahonia bealei (Fortune) Carrière | Kuoyeshidagonglao阔叶十大功劳 | ruoŋ²waŋ6lien4 | Berberidaceae | Shrub | Wild | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for pneumonia, tuberculosis, infectious hepatitis, acute gastroenteritis, bronchitis |
213 | Mallotus apelta (Lour.) Müll. Arg. | Baibeiye白背叶 | mei4phiau6sei¹ | Euphorbiaceae | Shrub | Wild | Root, Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally; Root is for chronic hepatitis, hepatosplenomegaly, gestational edema, enteritis, diarrhea; Leaf is for traumatic injury, otitis media, furuncle, bleeding, thrush |
214 | Mallotus barbatus Müll. Arg. | Maotong毛桐 | -- | Euphorbiaceae | Shrub | Wild | Leaf | Pound fresh part and applied on the affected area, treating for clearing away heat and toxic materials, bed ulcer, eczema |
215 | Marsilea quadrifolia L. | Ping苹 | phuŋ6phieu²lau4 | Marsileaceae | -- | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for jaundiced hepatitis, asthma, edema, hepatic ascites, fever due to common cold |
216 | Melastoma candidum D. Don | Yemudan野牡丹 | ruoŋ²lak8ma5ndi5 | Melastomataceae | Shrub | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for hemafecia, watery diarrhea |
217 | Melastoma dodecandrum Lour. | Dinie地菍 | lak8nin¹ | Melastomataceae | Shrub | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for removing blood stasis, traumatic injury, diarrhea, lithangiuria, urinary obstruction |
218 | Melia azedarach L. | Lian楝 | ruoŋ²ku¹lien4 | Meliaceae | Tree | Both | Fruit, Leaf | Grinding, boiled with water and washed the affected area for scabies, tinea capitis and rice paddies dermatitis |
219 | Mimosa pudica L. | Hanxiucao含羞草 | ruoŋ²ra²nŋei³ | Fabaceae | Herb | Both | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for insomnia |
220 | Mirabilis jalapa L. | Zimoli紫茉莉 | ruoŋ²jɛn³wa³ | Nyctaginaceae | Herb | Both | Root | Boiled with meat and drunk the soup, treating for leucorrhoea, abnormal menstruation, prostatitis, metrorrhagia |
221 | Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng. | Mubiezi木鳖子 | tiŋ5ndiŋ5ka³ | Cucurbitaceae | Liana | Wild | Seed, Leaf, Stem | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for innominate inflanunatory of unknown origin, carbuncle, lymphnoditis |
222 | Morus alba L. | Sang桑 | ruoŋ²tshaŋ¹ | Moraceae | Tree | Both | Leaf, Bark | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for lung heat panting and cough, hypertension, edema |
223 | Munronia henryi Harms | Aituotuo矮陀陀 | -- | Meliaceae | Shrub | Wild | Whole plant | Medicinal liquor for traumatic injury |
224 | Murraya exotica L. | Jiulixiang九里香 | ruoŋ²mei4ndaŋ³ | Rutaceae | Tree | Both | Root, Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for rheumatism, ostealgia, traumatic injury, toothache and stomachache |
225 | Mussaenda pubescens W.T. Aiton | Yuyejinhua玉叶金花 | ruoŋ²phiɛ³va5phuok8 | Rubiaceae | Shrub | Both | Stem, Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for hyperthermia, influenza, tonsillitis, enteritis, diarrhea and sphagitis |
226 | Myrica rubra (Lour.) Siebold & Zucc. | Yangmei杨梅 | lak8se5 | Myricaceae | Tree | Homegarden | Root Bark | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for traumatic injury, bone fracture, diarrhea, stomach and duodenal ulcer |
227 | Nandina domestica Thunb. | Nantianzhu南天竹 | waŋ6liɛn4sɛ5 | Berberidaceae | Shrub | Wild | Root, Stem, Fruit | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally; Root and stem are for cough, fever, conjunctivitis, diarrhea, jaundice, hepatitis, traumatic injury. Fruit is for cough, asthma, pertussis |
228 | Nepeta cataria L. | Jingjie荆芥 | -- | Lamiaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for common cold |
229 | Nephrolepis cordifolia (L.) C. Presl | Shenjue肾蕨 | lak8ȵən4 | Davalliaceae | -- | Wild | Rhizome, Leaf, Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for fever due to common cold, cough, diarrhea, acute enteritis, jaundiced hepatitis |
230 | Oenanthe javanica (Blume) DC. | Shuiqin水芹 | maː6ʨip7ʑam5 | Umbelliferae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for hypertension |
231 | Ophioglossum reticulatum L. | Xinyeping'erxiaocao心叶瓶尔小草 | ruoŋ²ma²rui² | Ophioglossaceae | -- | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for furuncle, snake bite and acute conjunctivitis |
232 | Ophiopogon japonicus (L. f.) Ker Gawl. | Maidong麦冬 | ruoŋ²lak8ju³ | Liliaceae | Herb | Both | Tuber | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for chronic bronchitis, cough |
233 | Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. var. dillenii (Ker-Gawl.) Benson | Xianrenzhang仙人掌 | ma²mωm4 | Cactaceae | Shrub | Both | Stem | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for parotitis, carbuncle, empyrosis |
234 | Oroxylum indicum (L. ) Kurz | Muhudie木蝴蝶 | mei4ən³eu5 | Bignoniaceae | Tree | Homegarden | Bark, Seed | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for acute bronchitis, tuberculosis, jaundiced hepatitis, sore throat |
235 | Osbeckia opipara C.Y. Wu & C. Chen | Chaotianguan朝天罐 | -- | Melastomataceae | Shrub | Wild | Root | Boiled with meat and drunk the soup, treating for tonic, bleeding, diarrhea |
236 | Oxalis corniculata L. | Cujiangcao酢浆草 | mba³thωm6sou¹ | Oxalidaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for febrile convulsion, enteritis, diarrhea, parotitis |
237 | Paederia scandens (Lour.) Merr. | Jishiteng鸡矢藤 | bieu³tωt7ma³ | Rubiaceae | Liana | Wild | Whole plant, Root | Medicinal liquor for treating flu, cough, pertussis cough, diarrhea, stomachache, chest stuffiness |
238 | Paeonia lactiflora Pall. | Shaoyao芍药 | -- | Ranunculaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Root | Powder tied for pain and blood stasis |
239 | Paeonia suffruticosa Andrew | Mudan牡丹 | ma5muan4 | Ranunculaceae | Shrub | Homegarden | Root Bark | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for lobar pneumonia |
240 | Palhinhaea cernua (L.) Vasc. & Franco | Chuisuishisong垂穗石松 | -- | Lycopodiaceae | -- | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for relaxing tendons and activating collaterals, carminative, blood stasis, bleeding |
241 | Paris polyphylla Sm. | Qiyeyizhihua七叶一枝花 | wa6ten5va¹ | Trilliaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for traumatic injury and snake bite |
242 | Pentasacme championii Benth. | Shiluomo石萝藦 | ruoŋ²saŋ³nut8 | Asclepiadaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for rheumatism, ostealgia, traumatic injury and ascites due to cirrhosis; Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for snake bite, herpes zosters |
243 | Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton | Zisu紫苏 | mba³ha5lan¹ | Lamiaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for common cold, cough, asthma, emesis |
244 | Periploca forrestii Schltr. | Heilonggu黑龙骨 | mei5ʑa²nam5 | Asclepiadaceae | Shrub | Wild | Whole plant | Medicinal liquor for treating rheumatic arthritis |
245 | Phellodendron amurense Rupr. | Huangbo黄檗 | mei5bɛ²ʔan³ | Rutaceae | Tree | Wild | Bark | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for diabetes insipidus |
246 | Pholidota chinensis Lindl. | Shixiantao石仙桃 | ruoŋ²xien³thui² | Orchidaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for cough, tuberculosis, scrofula, diuresis, infantile malnutrition |
247 | Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. | Luwei芦苇 | gaŋ5diɛ²nau5 | Gramineae | Herb | Wild | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for infantile whitish aphthae |
248 | Phyllanthus urinaria L. | Yexiazhu叶下珠 | thuŋ6thin6sei¹ | Euphorbiaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for jaundiced hepatitis, diarrhea, enteritis, nephritis, edema and lithangiuria |
249 | Phyllodium pulchellum (L.) Desv. | Paiqianshu排钱树 | ruoŋ²vak8rjen² | Fabaceae | Shrub | Wild | Leaf, Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for fever, diarrhea, malaria, hepatitis, rheumatic ostealgia, traumatic injury, schistosome |
250 | Physalis angulata L. | Kuzhi苦蘵 | -- | Solanaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for epidemic parotitis, cough, jaundice, hepatitis, diarrhea |
251 | Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. | Shanglu商陆 | lak8phək8doŋ² | Phytolaccaceae | Herb | Both | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for cervical erosion, digestibility ulcer, liver ascites, constipation, diuresis |
252 | Pilea cavaleriei H. Lév. | Shiyoucai石油菜 | bma³ju²thui² | Urticaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for lung heat panting, cough, tuberculosis, traumatic injury, empyrosis, furuncle |
253 | Piper hancei Maxim. | Shanju山蒟 | tshuon5pi6fuŋ¹ | Piperaceae | Liana | Wild | Stem, Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for lumbar muscle degeneration, chronic gastricism, cough, ostealgia, rheumatic arthritis, heatstroke, numbness of limbs |
254 | Pistia stratiotes Linnaeus Sp. | Dapiao大漂 | -- | Araceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for removing blood stasis |
255 | Plantago asiatica L. | Cheqian车前 | mba³bɔk8 | Plantaginaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for urinary tract infection, urinary stone, fever and cough due to common cold, nephritis, edema, bronchitis, hypertension |
256 | Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A. DC. | Jiegeng桔梗 | -- | Campanulaceae | Herb | Both | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for inflammation, cough |
257 | Plumbago zeylanica L. | Baihuadan白花丹 | ruoŋ²ra²vɔk7 | Plumbaginaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for traumatic injury |
258 | Pogonia japonica Rchb. f. | Zhulan朱兰 | ma6ʑa4zao² | Orchidaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Boiled with meat and drunk the soup, treating for enuresis |
259 | Polygala japonica Houtt. | Guazijin瓜子金 | ya¹yiŋ4ʑɛm² | Polygalaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for neurasthenia |
260 | Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua | Duohuahuangjing多花黄精 | xiŋ²ʑa² | Liliaceae | Herb | Wild | Rhizome | Pound fresh part mixed with rice wine, applied on the affected area, treating for lymphadenectasis |
261 | Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce | Yuzhu玉竹 | -- | Liliaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for moistening lung for rresting cough |
262 | Polygonatum sibiricum Redouté | Huangjing黄精 | ruoŋ²siŋ³mωmŋ4 | Liliaceae | Herb | Both | Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for tuberculosis, diabetes, hypertension, weakness after ill, invigorating spleen, reinforcing stomach |
263 | Polygonum aviculare L. | Shegan射干 | laŋ5lu5kun² | Polygonaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for stranguria due to hematuria |
264 | Polygonum chinense L. | Huotanmu火炭母 | va5mba³sωm¹ | Polygonaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant, Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for diarrhea, enteritis, indigestion, hepatitis, pharyngitis. Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for traumatic injury, furuncle, eczema, dermatitis, pruritus |
265 | Polygonum hydropiper L. | Shuiliao辣蓼 | mba³we5 | Polygonaceae | Herb | Both | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for diarrhea, acute ulcer, common cold, typhoid, rheumatism, ostealgia, traumatic injury. Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for eczema, centipede bite |
266 | Polygonum perfoliatum (L.) L. | gangban'gui杠板归 | ruoŋ²tin³diək8 | Polygonaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for jaundice, diarrhea, malaria, nephritis, edema. Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for furuncle, eczema, carbuncle |
267 | Portulaca oleracea L. | Machixian马齿苋 | ruoŋ²mba³nəm¹ | Portulacaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for acute cystitis, diarrhea, hypertension |
268 | Potentilla chinensis Ser. | Weilingcai委陵菜 | ma6ʔgou²dui³ | Rosaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for clearing away heat and toxic materials, diarrhea |
269 | Potentilla reyniana Bornm. | Sanyeweilingcai三叶委陵菜 | -- | Rosaceae | Herb | Wild | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for preventing rabies |
270 | Potentilla kleiniana Wight & Arn. | Shehanweilingcai蛇含委陵菜 | ɣo6bei6rɛnm4 | Rosaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding the fresh part, decoction drunk for infantile fever |
271 | Prunella vulgaris L. | Xiakucao夏枯草 | -- | Lamiaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for clearing away heat and toxic materials |
272 | Psoralea corylifolia L. | Buguzhi补骨脂 | -- | Fabaceae | Herb | Wild | Seed | Medicinal liquor for treating rheumatism and kidney deficiency |
273 | Pteris multifida Poir. | Jinglanbiancao井栏边草 | ruoŋ²sωt7kai5 | Pteridaceae | -- | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for diarrhea, jaundiced hepatitis, hemafecia, hematuria |
274 | Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi | Ge葛 | bieu³chai5 | Fabaceae | Liana | Wild | Tuber | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for fever, hypertension, protecting the liver, promoting salivation |
275 | Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel | Baitouweng白头翁 | wɔk7fian³puok8 | Ranunculaceae | Herb | Wild | Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for diarrhea, malaria, dysmenorrhea, uterine bleeding |
276 | Punica granatum L. | Shiliu石榴 | lak8liu² | Punicaceae | Shrub | Homegarden | Pericarp | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for diarrhea, acute enteritis, piles, proctoptosis |
277 | Pyrola calliantha Andres | Luticao鹿蹄草 | -- | Pyrolaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for cough, weakness |
278 | Pyrrosia lingua (Thunb.) Farw. | Shiwei石韦 | mba³mei4ri² | Polypodiaceae | -- | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for senile chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, nephritis, edema, urinary tract infection |
279 | Quisqualis indica L. | Shijunzi使君子 | lak6rəm² | Combretaceae | Liana | Wild | Seed | Chewed for infantile malnutrition product, depriving ascarid |
280 | Rabdosia ternifolia (D. Don) H. Hara | Niuweicao牛尾草 | tɛ5vɛn³ŋoŋ² | Lamiaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant, Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for hepatitis, enteritis, common cold |
281 | Raphanus sativus L. | Luobo萝卜 | vɛ³loŋ5bu³ | Cruciferae | Herb | Homegarden | Seed | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for senile chronic bronchitis |
282 | Rauvolfia verticillata (Lour.) Baill. | Luofumu萝芙木 | -- | Apocynaceae | Shrub | Both | Root | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for bleeding, pain killer, hypertension, dispersing blood stasis |
283 | Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex Fisch. & C.A. Mey. | Dihuang地黄 | ma6liao²lip7 | Scrophulariaceae | Herb | Wild | Tuber | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for removing heat to promote salivation |
284 | Reineckia carnea (Andr.) Kunth. | Jixiangcao吉祥草 | taŋ6kəp8 | Liliaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for bronchitis |
285 | Reynoutria japonica Houtt. | Huzhang虎杖 | ruoŋ²waŋ6chin6 | Polygonaceae | Herb | Wild | Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for cough, blood stasis, rheumatism, traumatic injury, jaundice, amenorrhea |
286 | Rhoeo discolor (L'Hér.) Hance ex Walp. | Zibeiwannianqing紫背万年青 | ruoŋ²phuoŋ²wa³ | Commelinaceae | Herb | Wild | Flower | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for cough, pertussis cough, diarrhea, hemoptysis, sore throat, scrofula |
287 | Rhus chinensis Mill. | Yanfumu盐麸木 | mei4wωt7 | Anacardiaceae | Shrub | Both | Cecidium | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for bleeding, arrest sweating, piles, pharyngitis, inflammation |
288 | Ricinus communis L. | Bima蓖麻 | thuŋ6ju6 | Euphorbiaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Seed | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for scabies |
289 | Rorippa indica (L.) Hiern | Hancai蔊菜 | ma²you5yɛ5 | Cruciferae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part and mixed with rapeseed oil, applied on the affected area, treating for dermatitis |
290 | Rosa chinensis Jacq. | Yuejihua月季花 | ŋɛŋ4ŋɛŋ4ʑən5 | Rosaceae | Shrub | Homegarden | Flower | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for abnormal menstruation |
291 | Rosa laevigata Michx. | Jinyingzi金樱子 | lak8man4 | Rosaceae | Shrub | Both | Root, Fruit | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for bone fracture, traumatic injury, appendicitis, diarrhea, enteritis, stomachache |
292 | Rosa multiflora Thunb. | Yeqiangwei野蔷薇 | -- | Rosaceae | Shrub | Wild | Root, Seed | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for clearing and activating the channels and collaterals, diuresis |
293 | Rosa roxburghii Tratt. | Saosihua缫丝花 | taŋ5dɛnm³gaŋ4 | Rosaceae | Shrub | Wild | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for indigestion, stomachache |
294 | Rubus parvifolius L. | Maomei茅莓 | lak8thωm6pha³ | Rosaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding the fresh part, decoction; Taken orally for jaundice, toothache, chronic hepatitis, stomachache, diarrhea, sphagitis |
295 | Rumex nepalensis Spreng. | Nibo'er'suanmo尼泊尔酸模 | maː6ʔan6lou5 | Polygonaceae | Herb | Wild | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for nephritis |
296 | Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge | Danshen丹参 | dan5sen5 | Lamiaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for afterpains, removing blood stasis |
297 | Sambucus chinensis Lindl. | Jiegucao接骨草 | -- | Caprifoliaceae | Herb | Wild | Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for rheumatic arthritis, tonsillitis, rheumatoid arthritis, urinary tract infection |
298 | Sambucus williamsii Hance | Jiegumu接骨木 | ruoŋ²ra²liem² | Caprifoliaceae | Shrub | Both | Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for traumatic injury, rheumatic arthritis, waist and legs pain, bone fracture, scapulohumeral periarthritis |
299 | Sanguisorba officinalis L. | Diyu地榆 | gaŋ5gu²va³ | Rosaceae | Herb | Wild | Root | Grinding the fresh part, decoction; Taken orally for diarrhea |
300 | Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. | Wuhuanzi无患子 | ruoŋ²lak8rək7 | Sapindaceae | Tree | Wild | Seed | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for tuberculosis, pertussis cough |
301 | Sapium discolor (Champ. ex Benth.) Müll. Arg. | Shanwujiu山乌桕 | ruoŋ²mei4ək7 | Euphorbiaceae | Tree | Both | Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for traumatic injury, snake bite, constipation, carbuncle |
302 | Sargentodoxa cuneata (Oliv.) Rehder & E.H. Wilson | Daxueteng大血藤 | bieu³phiat7 | Lardizabalaceae | Liana | Wild | Root, Stem | Medicinal liquor for treating rheumatic arthritis, traumatic injury, ostealgia |
303 | Saurauia tristyla DC. | Shuidongge水东哥 | -- | Actinidiaceae | Shrub | Homegarden | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for carbuncle, cough, bronchitis, toothache |
304 | Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill. | Sanbaicao三白草 | ruoŋ²sωt7mbei¹ | Saururaceae | Herb | Both | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for nephritis, edema, lithangiuria, eczema, furuncle, carbuncle |
305 | Saxifraga stolonifera Curtis | Hu'er'cao虎耳草 | ruoŋ²kha³mωm4 | Saxifragaceae | Herb | Wild | Leaf | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for traumatic hemorrhage, furuncle, parotitis, empyrosis |
306 | Schefflera heptaphylla (L.) Frodin | E'zhangchai鹅掌柴 | mei5dian²ʔɛp8 | Araliaceae | Tree | Both | Root Bark, Stem Bark, Leaf | Grinding and decoction; Taken orally; Root and Stem bark are for fever, rheumatism, ostealgia, traumatic injury, sore throat; Leaf is for eczema, allergic dermatitis |
307 | Schizocapsa plantaginea Hance | Lieguoshu裂果薯 | suei¹lo6pu4 | Taccaceae | Herb | Wild | Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for cough, traumatic injury, pharyngitis, heart and stomach pain |
308 | Scutellaria barbata D. Don | Banzhilian半枝莲 | ruoŋ²wɔk7lim6sɛ5 | Lamiaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for cancer, appendicitis, hepatitis and hepatic ascites |
309 | Selaginella moellendorffii Hieron. | Jiangnanjuanbai江南卷柏 | ʔguit7miɛ²bua5 | Selaginellaceae | -- | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for hematoma after contusion |
310 | Selaginella tamariscina (P. Beauv.) Spring | Juanbai卷柏 | ruoŋ²sai³thui² | Selaginellaceae | -- | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for hemafecia, epistaxis, metrorrhagia, traumatic injury, chronic hepatitis, proctoptosis |
311 | Semiaquilegia adoxoides (DC.) Makino | Tiankui天葵 | ma³ɣe5ŋɔ² | Ranunculaceae | Herb | Wild | Tuber | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for stomachache |
312 | Senecio scandens Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don | Qianliguang千里光 | wa³nuk8so5 | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for fever, jaundiced hepatitis, throat ache, mumps, bleeding, eczema |
313 | Senna occidentalis (L.) Link | Wangjiangnan望江南 | -- | Fabaceae | Shrub | Both | Seed | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for habitual constipation, hypertension, headache, indigestion, epifolliculitis, oral mucosa ulcer |
314 | Serissa japonica (Thunb.) Thunb. | Liuyuexue六月雪 | taŋ5ʔnui5wai³ | Rubiaceae | Shrub | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for infantile convulsions |
315 | Setcreasea purpurea Boom | Zizhumei紫竹梅 | -- | Commelinaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for bleeding, snake bite, activating blood and herpes |
316 | Sida szechuensis Matsuda | Badusan拔毒散 | -- | Malvaceae | Shrub | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for traumatic injury and inflammation |
317 | Sigesbeckia orientalis L. | Xixian豨莶 | wɔk7cut7btio¹ | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for insomnia, hypertension, acute jaundiced hepatitis, diarrhea, malaria, numbness of limbs |
318 | Smilax glabra Roxb. | Tufuling土茯苓 | lak8dəm4sei¹ | Smilacaceae | Herb | Homegarden | Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for nephritis, diarrhea, detoxication, arthralgia |
319 | Solanum capsicoides All. | Niuqiezi牛茄子 | -- | Solanaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for fever due to common cold, headache, cough, abscess, chest stuffiness |
320 | Solanum violaceum L. | Citianqie刺天茄 | lak8khat8se5 | Solanaceae | Shrub | Wild | Leaf, Fruit | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for yellow-water ulcer, fingers ulcer and ringworm |
321 | Solidago decurrens Lour. | Yizhihuanghua一枝黄花 | wɔk7wa³man¹ | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for fever, headache, jaundice, bronchitis, acute gastricism, upper respiratory infection, swelling, throat ache |
322 | Sophora flavescens Aiton | Kushen苦参 | ruoŋ²ŋau³in5 | Fabaceae | Herb | Wild | Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for piles, cutaneous pruritus |
323 | Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep. | Yuenanhuai越南槐 | -- | Fabaceae | Shrub | Wild | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for acute pharyngitis, tonsillitis, swelling and aching of gum, cough, constipation |
324 | Sparganium stoloniferum (Buch.-Ham. ex Graebn.) Buch.-Ham. ex Juz. | Heisanleng黑三棱 | -- | Sparganiaceae | Herb | Wild | Tuber | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for blood stasis, pain killer |
325 | Spatholobus sinensis Chun & T.C. Chen | Hongxueteng红血藤 | ruoŋ²pu¹phiat7 | Fabaceae | Liana | Wild | Stem | Medicinal liquor for treating traumatic injury |
326 | Spatholobus suberectus Dunn | Mihuadou密花豆 | -- | Fabaceae | Liana | Wild | Stem | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for stomachache, enriching blood, waist and knees pain |
327 | Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames | Shoucao绶草 | ruoŋ²thou6neŋ4 | Orchidaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant, Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for diabetes, leucorrhoea, weakness, sore throat, neurasthenia and erectile dysfunction |
328 | Stahlianthus involucratus (King ex Baker) Craib | Tutianqi土田七 | ruoŋ²iŋ³doŋ² | Zingiberaceae | Herb | Both | Tuber | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for traumatic injury, rheumatism, ostealgia |
329 | Stemona tuberosa Lour. | Dabaibu大百部 | lak8ru³khui² | Stemonaceae | Liana | Wild | Tuber | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for pertussis cough, tuberculosis, bronchitis |
330 | Stephania cepharantha Hayata | Jinxiandiaowugui金线吊乌龟 | mɛi5miu² | Menispermaceae | Liana | Wild | Tuber | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for carbuncle, snake bite |
331 | Streptocaulon juventas (Lour.) Merr. | Anxiaoteng暗消藤 | -- | Asclepiadaceae | Liana | Wild | Root, Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally; Root is for diarrhea, piles, pneumonia, vitiligo and arrhythmia; Pound fresh leaf applied on the affected area, treating for snake bite, eczema and vaginitis |
332 | Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze | Dujiaojin独脚金 | ruoŋ²ra²mei³ | Scrophulariaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for infantile malnutrition, dampness-heat constitution, diarrhea, jaundiced hepatitis |
333 | Strophanthus divaricatus (Lour.) Hook. & Arn. | Yangjiaoniu羊角拗 | -- | Apocynaceae | Shrub | Wild | Stem, Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for rheumatic arthritis, traumatic injury, snake bite, sprain |
334 | Tadehagi triquetrum (L.) H. Ohashi | Hulucha葫芦茶 | tsha²ja¹ | Fabaceae | Shrub | Both | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for nephritis, enteritis, diarrhea, hepatitis |
335 | Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn. | Turenshen土人参 | kau5li6sωn¹ | Portulacaceae | Herb | Wild | Root | Boiled with meat and drunk the soup, treating for moistening lung, health tonic |
336 | Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. | Pugongying蒲公英 | mba³kat7sei¹ | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for conjunctivitis, epidemic parotitis, enteritis, gastricism, hepatitis, diarrhea, acute mastitis, sphagitis |
337 | Taxillus chinensis (DC.) Danser | Guangjisheng广寄生 | -- | Loranthaceae | Shrub | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for numbness of limbs, rheumatism, ostealgia, arthritis, lumbar muscle degeneration |
338 | Tetrapanax papyrifer (Hook.) K. Koch | Tongtuomu通脱木 | tai5poŋ² | Araliaceae | Shrub | Homegarden | Stem pith | Boiled with meat and drunk the soup, treating for promoting lactation |
339 | Tetrastigma planicaule (Hook. f.) Gagnep. | Biandanteng扁担藤 | mʔau5biɛn² | Vitaceae | Liana | Both | Root, Stem | Fried the root or stem, fumigation for pinkeye |
340 | Tinospora sagittata (Oliv.) Gagnep. | Qingniudan青牛胆 | kɔŋ¹piɛŋ5vi³ | Menispermaceae | Liana | Wild | Tuber | Powder, dispersed in water and drunk for acute gastroenteritis, acute pharyngitis, bacillary diarrhea, appendicitis |
341 | Tinospora sinensis (Lour.) Merr. | Zhonghuaqingniudan中华青牛胆 | yuoŋ²soŋ³jin³ | Menispermaceae | Liana | Wild | Stem | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for rheumatism, traumatic injury, lumbar muscle degeneration, sciatica |
342 | Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam. | Feilongzhangxue飞龙掌血 | cim³ce³vin¹ | Rutaceae | Liana | Wild | Root Bark | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for traumatic injury, skin disease, relieving pain, detumescence |
343 | Trachelospermum jasminoides (Lindl.) Lem. | Luoshi络石 | -- | Apocynaceae | Liana | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for bleeding, rheumatism, waist pain, dispersing blood stasis |
344 | Trachycarpus fortunei (Hook.) H. Wendl. | Zonglü棕榈 | wei5 | Palmae | Tree | Homegarden | Leaf, Fruit | Boiled with meat and drunk the soup, treating for epilepsy |
345 | Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. | Gualou栝楼 | -- | Cucurbitaceae | Liana | Wild | Root | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for removing heat to promote salivation, expel pus and disperse swelling |
346 | Trichosanthes rosthornii Harms | Zhonghuagualou中华栝楼 | gua5ʔe5ma² | Cucurbitaceae | Liana | Wild | Shuck, Seed | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for edema |
347 | Typhonium blumei Nicolson & Sivad. | Litoujian犁头尖 | lak8chieu4dɔŋ² | Araceae | Herb | Wild | Tuber | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for snake bite, scrofula, traumatic injury, hemangioma and furuncle |
348 | Typhonium giganteum Engl. | Dujiaolian独角莲 | -- | Araceae | Herb | Both | Tuber | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for gastroduodenal ulcer |
349 | Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Miq. ex Havil. | Gouteng钩藤 | mei5gʔau²dau³ | Rubiaceae | Liana | Wild | Hooked stem | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for jaundiced hepatitis, dizziness, headach, calming the liver |
350 | Urena lobata L. | Ditaohua地桃花 | ruoŋ²wɔk7cut7 | Malvaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for fever, diarrhea, enteritis, malaria; Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for traumatic injury, bone fracture, snake bite, mastitis |
351 | Valeriana jatamansi Jones | Zhizhuxiang蜘蛛香 | ma²va³ | Valerianaceae | Herb | Wild | Rhizome | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for furuncle |
352 | Ventilago leiocarpa Benth. | Yiheguo翼核果 | -- | Rhamnaceae | Shrub | Wild | Root | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for traumatic injury, rheumatism, numbness of limbs, edema and menorrhagia |
353 | Verbena officinalis L. | Mabiancao马鞭草 | ruoŋ²pien³mia4 | Verbenaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for hypertension, diarrhea, malaria, nephritis, fever due to common cold, urinary tract infection |
354 | Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less. | Yexiangniu夜香牛 | ruoŋ²məm5ndaŋ³ | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Pound fresh part applied on the affected area, treating for snake bite, swelling, furuncle |
355 | Viola inconspicua Blume | Chang'e'jincai长萼堇菜 | va5mba³kuei³ | Violaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for pharyngitis, jaundice, diarrhea, swelling, pain of eye |
356 | Viola philippica Cav. | Zihuadiding紫花地丁 | ya5mɛp8li² | Violaceae | Herb | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for appendicitis, piles |
357 | Viscum liquidambaricolum Hayata | Fengxianghujisheng枫香槲寄生 | sap7mei4hu³ | Loranthaceae | Shrub | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for lumbar muscle degeneration, cough, traumatic injury, rheumatic arthritis |
358 | Vitex negundo L. | Huangjing黄荆 | mei4ciŋ³ | Verbenaceae | Shrub | Wild | Stem, Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for diarrhea, malaria, enteritis, common cold, heatstroke |
359 | Vitex trifolia L. | Manjing蔓荆 | mei5ʨiɛ²ʑa² | Verbenaceae | Shrub | Wild | Fruit | Powder, swallowed for headache |
360 | Wikstroemia indica (L.) C.A. Mey. | Liaogewang了哥王 | ruoŋ²ljɛŋljeu4 | Thymelaeaceae | Shrub | Wild | Stem, Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for clearing away heat and toxic materials, traumatic injury, hepatitis, parotitis |
361 | Woodwardia japonica (L. f.) Sm. | Gouji狗脊 | waŋ6cin5kou¹ | Blechnaceae | Herb | Wild | Rhizome | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for neurasthenia, rheumatic arthralgia, diuresis, waist and knees pain |
362 | Wrightia laevis Hook. f. | Lanshu蓝树 | -- | Apocynaceae | Tree | Homegarden | Root, Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for bleeding, traumatic injury, mumps |
363 | Xanthium sibiricum Patrin ex Widder | Cang'er苍耳 | wɔk7cut7lau4 | Asteraceae | Herb | Wild | Fruit | Pound after fried and drunk with yellow wine for enteritis, rheumatic arthralgia, headache |
364 | Zanthoxylum armatum DC. | Zhuyehuajiao竹叶花椒 | lak8xieu³na4 | Rutaceae | Tree | Both | Fruit | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for traumatic injury, chronic gastricism, cough, depriving ascarid |
365 | Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb.) DC. | Liangmianzhen两面针 | lak8xieu³doŋ² | Rutaceae | Liana | Wild | Root, Stem, Leaf | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for duodenal ulcer, traumatic injury, rheumatism, diarrhea, malaria, chronic gastricism |
366 | Zea mays L. | Yumi玉米 | nui5wei5die³ | Gramineae | Herb | Homegarden | Column | Powder swallowed for diabetes |
367 | Zehneria indica (Lour.) Keraudren | Laoshuladonggua老鼠拉冬瓜 | lak8kua³no¹ | Cucurbitaceae | Liana | Wild | Whole plant | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for urinary tract infection, tonsillitis, acute conjunctivitis, carbuncle |
368 | Ziziphus jujuba Mill. | Zao枣 | zaːo³ziː² | Rhamnaceae | Tree | Homegarden | Fruit | Grinding, decoction; Taken orally for infantile diarrhea |
Table 2.
Family | Number of genera | Percentage (%) | Number of species | Percentage of species (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Asteraceae | 22 | 7.46 | 24 | 6.52 |
Fabaceae | 15 | 5.08 | 19 | 5.16 |
Rosaceae | 11 | 3.73 | 16 | 4.35 |
Euphorbiaceae | 8 | 2.71 | 14 | 3.80 |
Liliaceae | 9 | 3.05 | 13 | 3.53 |
Araceae | 7 | 2.37 | 11 | 2.99 |
Lamiaceae | 9 | 3.05 | 9 | 2.45 |
Polygonaceae | 4 | 1.36 | 8 | 2.17 |
Zingiberaceae | 4 | 1.36 | 8 | 2.17 |
Lauraceae | 4 | 1.36 | 7 | 1.90 |
Ranunculaceae | 6 | 2.03 | 7 | 1.90 |
Rutaceae | 5 | 1.69 | 7 | 1.90 |
Asclepiadaceae | 4 | 1.36 | 7 | 1.90 |
Cucurbitaceae | 6 | 2.03 | 7 | 1.90 |
Gramineae | 6 | 2.03 | 6 | 1.63 |
Araliaceae | 4 | 1.36 | 6 | 1.63 |
Rubiaceae | 6 | 2.03 | 6 | 1.63 |
Verbenaceae | 4 | 1.36 | 6 | 1.63 |
Other families | 162 | 54.92 | 188 | 51.09 |
Total | 295 | 100 | 368 | 100 |
The distribution of informants in age, gender and education class was shown in Table 3. The majority of informants interviewed were above 40 years old in this investigation. The male informants were 89.8% and less educated. There was a significant correlation between the informant age and phytomedicinal knowledge.
Table 3.
Indicator | Description | Frequency (%) |
---|---|---|
Age | 20-29 | 7 (5.9) |
30-39 | 23 (19.5) | |
40-49 | 38 (32.2) | |
50-59 | 29 (24.6) | |
60-69 | 12 (10.2) | |
70-79 | 5 (4.2) | |
≥80 | 4 (3.4) | |
Gender | Male | 106 (89.8) |
Female | 12 (10.2) | |
Education | None | 27 (22.9) |
Primary | 72 (61.0) | |
Secondary | 13 (11.0) | |
Tertiary | 6 (5.1) |
Life forms, plant parts used, method of collection and administration
The result of life form analysis of medicinal plants showed that herbaceous plants constituted the highest proportion represented by 203 (55.16%) species, while there were 67 (18.21%) shrubs species, 43 (11.68%) lianas and 41 (11.14%) tree species (Figure 2).
Informants of the study area used different plant parts for preparation of traditional drugs (e.g. leaves, roots, seeds, barks and fruits). The informants reported that more species (153) of medicinal plants were harvested for their whole plants, and these were followed by roots (83), leaves (45), stems (30), fruits (29), tubers (29), rhizomes (27) and 51 other parts (seed, bark, flower and so on) (Figure 3). The majority of remedies were prepared from fresh materials, and some were prepared from either dried or fresh materials while a few were only used from dried materials.
Of these 368 species of medicinal plants collected from the study area, most of them (256, 67.72%) were obtained from the wild habitats whereas 54 (14.67%) were from home gardens, and only 58 (15.76%) species were from both home gardens and wild habitats (see Table 1). The majority of plants used as medicine were freely harvested by healers from natural environment, while some exotic or difficult-accessed species were bought from medicinal materials suppliers. Generally fresh parts were wild harvest. Most medicinal plants were not available from local market, only some species were found to be sold but mainly for their uses as spice or food, such as Zanthoxylum armatum, Nepeta cataria and Houttuynia cordata.
Diseases treated in the study area
The medicinal plants were used to treat 95 human ailments in the study area. With regard to human diseases, traumatic injury was the one against which a high number of medicinal plants (67 species) were prescribed, followed by diarrhea (65 species), cough (44 species), hepatitis (37 species), enteritis (35 species), rheumatism (30 species), arthritis (27 species), bleeding (26 species), snake bite (24 species), furuncle (22 species) and nephritis (22 species).
The highest number of species (139, 37.57%) was used for the treatment of internal organs like liver (hepatitis, cirrhosis, jaundice, hepatic ascites, hepatosplenomegaly and so on), stomach (stomachache, stomach ulcer, gastroduodenal ulcer, flatulence, gastricism, indigestion and poor appetite), enteron (enteritis, proctoptosis, appendicitis and so on), spleen and diarrhea, with 251 (20.69%) of all conditions (Table 4 Rheumatic problems (83 species used, 22.4%) were mentioned as 140 (11.54%) of all uses; 83 species (22.4%) were used to treat respiratory problems, with 112 applications (9.23%). Bone problems were treated with 72 species (19.46%), with 85 conditions (7.01%). Skin problems were mentioned in 87 uses (7.17%), with 65 species (17.57%) used for treatment. Inflammation was treated with 48 species (12.97%), and comprised 67 (5.52%) of all conditions (Table 4).
Table 4.
Category | Number of spp. | Total of spp. (%) | Number of use citation | Total of use citations (%) | F IC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stomach, intestine and liver diseases (Internal Organ) | 139 | 37.57 | 236 | 10.69 | 0.41 |
Respiratory system | 83 | 22.43 | 153 | 6.93 | 0.46 |
Rheumatic problems | 83 | 22.43 | 217 | 9.83 | 0.62 |
Traumatic injury and sprain | 72 | 19.46 | 275 | 12.46 | 0.74 |
Skin diseases, skin cut and wound | 65 | 17.57 | 152 | 6.89 | 0.58 |
Urinary system | 47 | 12.70 | 105 | 4.76 | 0.56 |
Inflammation | 48 | 12.97 | 143 | 6.48 | 0.67 |
Infectious diseases | 40 | 10.81 | 78 | 3.53 | 0.49 |
Fever and malaria | 36 | 9.73 | 132 | 5.98 | 0.73 |
Bleeding and hemorrhages | 36 | 9.73 | 95 | 4.30 | 0.63 |
Pain | 30 | 8.11 | 64 | 2.90 | 0.54 |
Animal bite (snake, centipede, mosquito and bat) | 30 | 8.11 | 86 | 3.90 | 0.66 |
Gynecological problems | 29 | 7.84 | 54 | 2. 45 | 0.47 |
Infantile diseases | 28 | 7.57 | 110 | 4.98 | 0.75 |
Heart and circulatory system | 25 | 6.76 | 42 | 1.90 | 0.41 |
Male problems | 25 | 6.76 | 76 | 3.44 | 0.68 |
Nerves and psychosomatic problems | 12 | 3.24 | 14 | 0.63 | 0.15 |
Hyperlipidemia and diabetes | 6 | 1.62 | 13 | 0.59 | 0.58 |
Brain diseases | 5 | 1.35 | 7 | 0.32 | 0.33 |
Cancer and tumors | 4 | 1.08 | 6 | 0.27 | 0.40 |
Other Uses (edema, swelling and so on) | 87 | 23.51 | 149 | 6.75 | 0.42 |
Ranking, informant consensus factor and multipurpose of medicinal plants
Among all ailments in the villages surveyed, traumatic injury was the most commonly disease against which a high number of medicinal plants (67 species) were prescribed. Seven medicinal plant species were used effectively for treating traumatic injury according to key informants. The results revealed Gaultheria leucocarpa was the most preferred medicinal plant, followed by Acanthopanax trifoliatus, and Sargentodoxa cuneata (Table 5).
Table 5.
List of medicinal plants | Informants | Total | Rank | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R 1 | R 2 | R 3 | R 4 | R 5 | R 6 | R 7 | R 8 | |||
Acanthopanax trifoliatus | 4 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 42 | 2 |
Bauhinia championii | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 27 | 5 |
Gaultheria leucocarpa | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 43 | 1 |
Justicia ventricosa | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 26 | 6 |
Polygonum chinense | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 17 | 7 |
Sargentodoxa cuneata | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 40 | 3 |
Sambucus williamsii | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 29 | 4 |
Key--R represented respondents; Scores in the table indicated ranks given to medicinal plants based on their scarcity. Highest number (7) is for the medicinal plants which informants thought most preferred in the area and the lowest number (1) for the least preferred medicinal plant.
Table 4 gave an overview of the main illness categories. The diseases that were prevalent in the study area had relatively higher FIC values. Medicinal plants to treat certain disease effectively and with reputation in Maonan communities also have higher FIC: traumatic injury and sprain (0.74), fever and malaria (0.73) and infantile diseases (0.75). Moreover, informants indicated the effectiveness of traditional medicines to get relief from certain diseases including traumatic injury, bone fracture, health problems associated with the liver disorder, snake bite, and spider poisoning.
The Maonans naturally relied on plants for multipurpose. Table 6 showed the most frequently inventoried medicinal plants had more functions used by the Maonans in local societies. In addition to medicinal value, most of medicinal plants were also valued for their economic, edible and ornamental values which were considered to serve an ecological role in the study sites. These plants included Acanthopanax trifoliatus, Litsea pungens, Platycodon grandiflorus, Rubus parvifolius, and Talinum paniculatum. Besides their medicinal purpose, these plants were sold in the local markets for the purposes of foods, spices and herbal teas, such as Allium fistulosum, Allium tuberosum, Cinnamomum cassia, Perilla frutescens, Oenanthe javanica, Gardenia jasminoides, Houttuynia cordata, and Juglans regia.
Table 6.
Species name | Medicinal value | Edible value | Economic value | Ornamental value |
---|---|---|---|---|
Acanthopanax trifoliatus | √ | √ | √ | √ |
Buddleja officinalis | √ | √ | √ | |
Houttuynia cordata | √ | √ | √ | |
Litsea pungens | √ | √ | √ | √ |
Murraya exotica | √ | √ | √ | |
Nephrolepis cordifolia | √ | √ | ||
Paederia scandens | √ | √ | ||
Platycodon grandiflorus | √ | √ | √ | √ |
Rauvolfia verticillata | √ | √ | √ | |
Rubus parvifolius | √ | √ | √ | √ |
Sargentodoxa cuneata | √ | √ | ||
Talinum paniculatum | √ | √ | √ | √ |
Tetrapanax papyrifer | √ | √ |
Mode of preparation, condition, dosage of application
Various plant species were collected and used immediately. Most of the medicinal formulations were administrated orally in ailment categories other than dermatological problems. In dermatological ailments, plants were administrated externally. Water and some additives were often used in the preparation of remedies, such as alcohol, oil, honey, salt, sugar, eggs, chicken, duck and meat. The additives were claimed to either increase nutrition or improve flavor. Most informants used measuring units such as cup, bowl, spoon, fingers and scale but still differed in the doses they administered. The various ways of measuring dosage were generally categorized under three major classes. One dosage was used for those medicinal plants which were expected to be highly toxic. For such medicines the measurement was undertaken by number or weight. The second was the dosage used for medicinal plants which have side effect. The dosage was measured by their hand and taken by container. The third case referred to the medicinal plants without any observable side effects. Medicines prepared were taken according to patients’ personal preference.
Most of the medicinal plant preparations involved the use of single plant species or a single plant part while those mixing different plants or plant parts were less encountered in the study area excluding those for treating bone fracture, rheumatism and other difficult diseases. Suffering from common diseases (common cold, indigestion, mosquito bite and so on), the Maonans usually picked up some medicinal plants for treatments by themselves. Otherwise, they should turn to the Maonan healers for help, and the local healers usually prepared remedies by mixing various plants or plant parts. Lack of consistency regarding amount of medicines was observed among informants. There was no concise standard in measurement or unit used among the informants.
Threats to medicinal plants and conservation practices
Various factors that were considered as main threats for medicinal plants were recorded by discussion with the informants in the study area. The principal threats of medicinal plants were reported to include drought, deforestation, medicinal purpose, and firewood collection in this area. Informants ranked that the major factors were deforestation for the purpose of agricultural expansion (75%), drought (10%), collection of medicinal plant material (10%) and fire wood (5%). The Maonan people knew the benefits of conserving medicinal plants. However, the effort of conserving medicinal plants was very limited, because most medicinal plants were collected from wild. Even the local healers who frequently made use of medicinal plants for livelihood did not conserve medicinal plants very well, and they preferred to collect them from wild when using for patients.
Discussion
Medicinal plants and associated traditional knowledge
On the basis of field investigation and literature studies, 368 species of medicinal plants belonged to 295 genera and 115 families were cataloged. Chinese name, scientific name, local name, family name, used parts and the treatment of diseases were listed. Asteraceae (with 24 species) occupied the highest proportion (6.52%), followed by Fabaceae, Rosaceae and Euphorbiaceae. Moerman also found that species of plants in the sunflower family (Asteraceae) tended to be represented in ethnobotanical usage in excess of what would be expected by their occurrence in local environments [27-29]. In contrast, Moerman identified the greater number of families across North America in general. The most widely used plant remedies by the Maonans were obtained from herbaceous species which constituted the highest category of 203 species (55.16%). Similar findings were reported by other studies throughout the world, and the authors reported that people derived their medicine from herbs partly because of the fact that forests had been degraded, and it took less time and effort to harvest plant material from medicinal herbs [6,30-32].
The special geographical environment results in the rich biodiversity of medicinal plants in the study area. The Maonans have learnt to use local medicinal plants for treatment and prevention in the course of struggling with the ailments. The number of reported medicinal plants and their uses by the Maonans indicate the depth of indigenous knowledge on the medicinal plants and their applications. The Maonans have collected their indigenous knowledge and experience of medicinal plants. Without written language, the knowledge of medicinal plants is still taught orally in the Maonan communities. There is not data record or any illustrated identification which guides for the medicinal plants of Maonan people and their uses.
The Maonans have the traditional customs of disease prevention and emphasize on the function of medicinal food in ordinary life. They usually add medicinal plants into food for the purpose of enhancing the body’s immunity and disease resistance, such as Talinum paniculatum, Gymnotheca chinensis, Osbeckia opipara and so on. The Maonans have the custom of collecting the medicinal plants for cooking and bathing in dragon-boat festival, such as Acorus calamus, Curcuma longa, Paederia scandens and Leonurus artemisia. They believe that it would be beneficial for their health. This is because many plants matured in the season of dragon-boat festival [33].
Preparation, dosage and route of administration of medicinal plants
The most widely harvested part was the whole plant, followed by the roots, leaves, stems and others. The Maonan people used a lot of roots, stems, rhizomes and bark for medicinal purpose. They believed these parts were the most effective. However, such collection of the medicinal plants might kill or damage plants when harvesting. Utilization of leaves might not cause detrimental effect on the plants compared with plant species that root was utilized. Most of medicinal plants were claimed to be prepared from a single species or plant part in the present study, and the different parts of medicinal plant were used to treat disparate diseases. Although Maonan people preferred to treat illnesses with single species, it was observed that the healers mostly used multiple species or plant parts in order to increase the function and efficacy of the drug as they reported during the interviews. Representatively, the Maonan healers mostly used more than one plant species to prepare remedy for treating bone fracture and traumatic injury.
Grinding was the most widely used method of preparation for remedy in the study area. Pounding and powdering fresh plant materials were the other methods of preparation in the study area. Due to the efficiency and richness of the fresh medicinal plants in the study area, preference of application of fresh plant parts was observed. Moreover, internal and skin diseases were more prevalent in the study area. The fresh material use might be an attempt not to lose volatile oils, the concentration of which could decrease on drying. Moa et al. reported that the disadvantage was that utilization of fresh plant parts may threaten the plants through frequent collection including in dry seasons since local people made minimal efforts in storing dried plant material for later use [6].
The Maonans usually use the processing methods such as decoction, medicinal liquor, external application and medicated bath. The way of using herbs was benefit for the popularity in a simple and easy method. They used different additives like alcohol, oil, honey, salt, sugar, eggs, chicken, duck and meat in order to increase the flavor, taste and general acceptability of certain orally administered remedies. Because of poverty, eating animal meat and eggs could increase proteins and might be helpful for body recovery when the Maonans were ill. The Maonan healers considered that alcohol could promote the blood circulation and accelerate the absorption of exudates. In addition, the Maonan healers used different procedures to administer the medicinal plants and alcohol combinations. The medicinal plants were soaked in alcohol for nearly one month and then the patients could drink or applied externally on the affected parts. For example, Acanthopanax gracilistylus, Achyranthes bidentata, Ardisia gigantifolia, Ardisia japonica, Arisaema heterophyllum, Davallia mariesii, Dipsacus asperoides, Drynaria propinqua, Homalomena occulta, Sambucus williamsii, Bauhinia championii, Murraya exotica, and Paris polyphylla were usually soaked in alcohol for treating traumatic injury and bone fracture.
Effectiveness and popularity of medicinal plants
Due to the influence of geography, climate and food culture in Maonan areas, the Maonan healers understood the varieties of diseases, such as traumatic injury, snake bite, hepatitis, respiratory disease, digestive system disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and skin problems. The local people expressed they preferred to use traditional medicines rather than western drugs to get relief from some diseases including bone fracture, health problems associated with the liver, snake bite and those caused by hepatitis. The Maonan healers treated ailments based on the patients’ physical conditions, lack of consistency regarding amount of medicines to be used was observed among informants during the interviews. The healers usually did not know which ingredients were important for the therapeutic effect in the multiple prescriptions. The lack of precise dosage was one shortage of traditional medicinal plant uses.
Most of Maonan people knew how to use several medicinal plants for treating ailments and health protection. Traditional medicine knowledge was not only in the hands of the Maonan healers and herbalists in the study area. Moreover, Maonan people grew medicinal plants in their home gardens. Plant species maintained by Maonan healers was found to be significantly distinct from plant species managed by farmers. The Maonan healers knew more than 30 medicinal plant species, while most of the non-healers reported less than 15 species. Ethnomedicinal usage of plants managed by healers was remarkably distinct from usage categories managed by farmers. The Maonan healers were reported to use a combination of multiple medicinal plants to treat an illness, but the farmers always used single plant species or a single plant part.
Medicinal plant cultivation and trade
The Maonan people in the study area knew the benefits of conserving medicinal plants. However, the effort of conserving medicinal plants was very limited. For example, only 20.75% of medicinal plants were collected from home gardens, and most of the plants from home gardens were used for foods, spices and substitutes for tea. The majority of medicinal plants were harvested from wild habitats. Even Maonan healers who made use of medicinal plants for a livelihood did not conserve the important medicinal plants in their home gardens, and they preferred to collect them from wild or hidden places when patients visited them. It was explained by informants that local healers did not let the other villagers know the identity of the medicinal plants they were using. Informants further explained that if healers planted the species in their home gardens, they worried that somebody else might recognize them when they were preparing the medicine from the plants. Thus the healers’ income would be decreased.
Because of complex terrain and language barrier, the Maonans have been in the traditional self-sufficient agricultural economy in the karst areas. There is a seasonal medicinal market which opens 3 times each month. The sites of purchase and sale of local medicinal plants are located in the town. The medicinal plants grown by farmers were used for household healthcare and little was sold in herbal markets, while medicinal plants were cultivated by healers rarely for trading, either. Not many medicinal plants were solely cultivated for their medicinal purpose, except that the plants were multipurpose (Table 6). Lack of water and land, most Maonan people would prefer to cultivate foods or cash crops rather than medicinal plants. The other reason was that most medicinal plants were not sold at reasonable prices and therefore not profitable, providing very little incentives for their cultivation. The local medicinal markets were small-scaled and were not paid enough attention. The markets provided convenience for the exchange of local medicinal plants, but not providing a good place for indigenous knowledge. This trend might not be beneficial for maintaining traditional practices and giving traditional knowledge the respect it deserves.
Threats to medicinal plants and conservation practices in the study area
According to informants, nowadays it would take a lot of time and travel long distances to search for some medicinal plants, especially trees and some shrubs. The principal threats of medicinal plants were reported in the study area, including deforestation for agricultural purposes, urbanization, drought, over-harvesting of known medicinal species and firewood collection. Also, informants ranked deforestation for agricultural purposes as the most serious threat to medicinal plants followed by drought, collection of other different factors and firewood. The conservation of medicinal plants was less realized in the study area.
Medicinal plants knowledge secrecy, mode of transfer, gender issue and threats between different social groups within the Maonan area
This study highlighted the rich biodiversity of medicinal plants and ethnomedicinal practice in Maonan area to maintain wellbeing and support livelihoods. This study revealed that, most of the knowledge on herbal remedies was handled down to the younger members of the community by elders orally, who were over 40 years old and less-educated. The Maonan herbalists and healers were male, and only men had the opportunities to study knowledge of traditional medicinal plants in the family. The conservative concept of Maonan healers made a systematic indigenous knowledge of Maonan traditional medicine, which had always been in the hands of a few people. The age structure and knowledge transmission system had the negative influence on the inheritance and development of indigenous knowledge. It dramatically exposed the vulnerability of traditional medicinal knowledge if its transmission was limited by acculturation or inter-ethnic exchange from generation to generation [15,34,35].
Nowadays, the fact is that inheritance of indigenous knowledge is difficulty from the elders to the young generation. Most young people do not believe that studying indigenous knowledge is beneficial for their life because it is less profited compared to working in the urban area. Furthermore, some young people think traditional medicine is anti-science. While male Maonan people work outside, women take responsibility to take care of their families and educate children. If women know how to use medicinal plants, it will be beneficial for training children. According to our interviews, the Maonan women are eager to learn the traditional herbal medicinal knowledge. They may become potential and effective inheritors in the Maonan area, if customary inheriting system allows them.
Conclusions
The paper is an ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants used by Maonan people. We documented 368 species (belonging to 295 genera and 115 families) of medicinal plants used by the Maonans in Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County, northern Guangxi, southwest China. These plants were used to treat 95 human diseases, such as traumatic injury, bone fracture, health problems associated with the liver disorder, snake bite, and spider poisoning etc. Traditional knowledge about the use, preparation, and application of these medicinal plants is usually passed verbally from generation to generation. The valuable information about medicinal plants could be preserved while recording in the written form. Moreover, the documentation of medicinal plants can serve as a basis for future investigation of new medicinal resources.
Among the medicinal plant species, the whole plants of herbaceous species are harvested from field and constituted the highest proportion of medicinal plants to be utilized. More roots and barks are used than other plant parts, which imply that traditional medical culture in the Maonan area does threaten some species. Although high numbers of medicinal plant species have been reported to be used for human health problems, many wild species are being threatened by various anthropogenic factors while conservation efforts are less practiced in the study area. Deforestation for agricultural purposes is the major threat factor. To save and protect medicinal plants, the external help is necessary, by providing the Maonan people with both seedlings or seeds and cultivation techniques of medicinal plants.
The Maonan men are the only inheritors to transmit traditional medicinal knowledge to the next generations. Unfortunately, the knowledge on herbal remedies is held by elders, who are less educated and above 40 years old. Most young men prefer to look for jobs in urban areas instead of studying the Maonan’s medicinal knowledge. It is urgent to find solution of conserving and transmitting the traditional medicinal knowledge in the study area.
Thus, government agencies should encourage the Maonan people to maintain the biodiversity and the ethnomedicinal knowledge by providing the local people with planting materials of the most threatened and preferred medicinal and multipurpose species so that they can grow these plants in their home gardens or farmlands. Public awareness is needed to encourage the local Maonan people to sustainably utilize and manage the medicinal plant resources. Ex situ and in situ conservation measures should be taken to protect the medicinal plants in the study areas from further loss.
Consent
Permissions were provided by all participants in this study, including the local Maonan people. Consent was obtained from the local communities prior to the field investigations. The authors have all copyrights.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the administrative agencies of Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County for their help while carrying out this study. We fully acknowledged the local informants and healers for participating the surveys and sharing their knowledge on the use of medicinal plants with us. Without their contribution, this study would have been impossible. We would like to thank Qingqing Bi from the Department of Minority Languages and Literatures at Minzu University of China for correcting and typing the Maonan names of medicinal plants. This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31161140345, 31070288), Minzu University of China (10301-01404031-84, YLDX01013), Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2012FY110300), Ministry of Education of China and State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs of China (B08044).
Footnotes
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors’ contributions
LYH designed the study, analyzed the data, and drafted the manuscript. SWM contributed to the preparation of the manuscript. CLL designed the study, revised and finalized the manuscript. All authors participated in the field surveys. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Contributor Information
Liya Hong, Email: hongliyalm@hotmail.com.
Zhiyong Guo, Email: zhiyongguo@sina.com.
Kunhui Huang, Email: kunhuih@163.com.
Shanjun Wei, Email: wei.s.j@163.com.
Bo Liu, Email: liubo.leo@gmail.com.
Shaowu Meng, Email: shaowu_meng@med.unc.edu.
Chunlin Long, Email: long@mail.kib.ac.cn.
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