Table 1.
Medicinal plants used by the people of the Sete Cidades village.
| Botanical name Family (Voucher) | Vernacular Name | Parts Used | Methods of Administration | Popular Uses and Treatment | UV a | RFC b | M/F c |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allium cepa L. Amaryllidaceae (3620) | Cebola | Bulb peels | Inhalation and ingestion | Vapours from the infusion of the bulb peels mixed with A. sativum to treat colds and cough and the infusion to treat abdominal cramps. Decoction of the bulb peels mixed with leaves and bark of E. umbellata, R. ulmifolius, P. cattleianum, A. sativum and M. sylvestris to treat diarrhoea. | 0.14 | 0.07 | F |
| Allium sativum L. Amaryllidaceae (3621) | Alho | Bulb peels | Inhalation and ingestion | Vapours from the infusion of the bulb peels mixed with A. cepa to treat colds and cough and the infusion to treat abdominal cramps. Decoction of the bulb peels mixed with leaves and bark of E. umbellata, R. ulmifolius, P. cattleianum, A. cepa and M. sylvestris to treat diarrhoea. | 0.11 | 0.07 | F |
| Aloysia citriodora Palau Verbenaceae (3498) | Lúcia-lima | Leaves | Ingestion | Infusion to treat colds, nerves, tiredness, sputum and stomach pain. Decoction to treat nerves, hypertension, gallstones, menstrual pain and nasal congestion. | 0.50 | 0.14 | F |
| Chelidonium majus L. Papaveraceae (3492) | Celidónia | Stem | Dermal application | Latex or juice topically applied to treat scratches and wounds. | 0.04 | 0.04 | F |
| Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck Rutaceae (3490) | Limão | Peels | Ingestion | The juice of lemon, infusion and decoction of peels, simple or mixed with M. x piperita, coffee, ginger, honey and cinnamon, to treat colds, flu, arthritis and cirrhosis. | 0.25 | 0.11 | F |
| Clinopodium menthifolium subsp. ascendens (Jord.) Govaerts. Lamiaceae (3489) | Nêveda, neve, poejo miudinho, poejo | Whole plant and leaves | Ingestion, dermal application and inhalation | Decoction of the whole plant to treat bladder pain and urinary problems. The decoction of the leaves mixed with ginger (Zingiber officinale), honey and cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.) stick to treat colds, gallbladder pain and flu. Infusion of leaves to treat abdominal cramps and stomach pain. Infusion and decoction of leaves to treat nerves, stomach pain and abdominal cramps. The leaves juice topically applied to treat mosquito bites and used as insect repellent. Smoking a cigarette made with the leaves to treat toothache. | 0.71 | 0.43 | M/F |
| Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants Amaranthaceae (3508) | Usai-dela | Leaves and flower | Ingestion | Infusion and the juice of leaves and flowers to kill intestinal worms. | 0.04 | 0.04 | F |
| Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. Elaeagnaceae (3504) | Bagueira | Leaves | Ingestion | Decoction of leaves mixed with leaves and bark of M. sylvestris, R. ulmifolius, P. cattleianum, A. sativum and A. cepa to treat diarrhoea. | 0.04 | 0.04 | F |
| Equisetum telmateia Ehrh. Equisetaceae (3509) | Rabo-de-asno | Leaves and stem | Ingestion | Infusion of leaves and stems to treat bladder pain and urinary problems. | 0.04 | 0.04 | F |
| Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Myrtaceae (3510) | Eucalipto | Leaves and flower | Inhalation, ingestion and dermal application | Infusion, decoction (and their vapours) of leaves and flowers to treat flu. The poultice of leaves mixed with oil, topically applied to help in rheumatism. | 0.07 | 0.04 | F |
| Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Apiaceae (3491) | Funcho | Seed, root, leaves and flower | Gargle and ingestion | Gargling with infusion of the seeds to treat cough and hoarseness. Decoction of seeds or roots to treat menstrual pain and flowers soup to treat liver problems. Decoction of the leaves or seeds to treat abdominal cramps, colds and stomach pain. | 0.25 | 0.07 | F |
| Fragaria vesca L. Rosaceae (3488) | Morangueiro | Leaves | Ingestion | Infusion of leaves to treat bladder pain and urinary problems. | 0.04 | 0.04 | F |
| Hedera helix L. Araliaceae (3503) | Hera | Leaves | Ingestion | Infusion of leaves to treat bladder pain and urinary problems. | 0.04 | 0.04 | F |
| Malva sylvestris L. Malvaceae (3501) | Malva | Leaves and whole plant | Dermal application, gargle and ingestion | Poultice of the leaves or the whole plant topically applied in wounds. Infusion and maceration of the leaves or whole plant topically applied to treat acne. Gargling with infusion of the leaves or whole plant to treat oral inflammation. Decoction of leaves mixed with leaves and bark of E. umbellata, R. ulmifolius, P. cattleianum, A. sativum and A. cepa to treat diarrhoea. | 0.18 | 0.11 | M/F |
| Melissa officinalis L. Lamiaceae (3505) | Cidreira | Leaves | Dermal application and ingestion | Decoction of leaves can be ingested or topically applied in a shower to treat nerves, insomnia and heart problems. | 0.11 | 0.04 | F |
| Mentha spicata L. Lamiaceae (3646) | Hortelã | Leaves | Ingestion | Decoction of leaves to treat indigestion and kill intestinal worms. | 0.07 | 0.04 | F |
| Mentha x piperita L.Lamiaceae (3506) | Hortelã-pimenta | Leaves | Inhalation, ingestion and gargle | Ingestion or gargle with the infusion or decoction of leaves to treat flu, stomach pain, pains of different aetiology, indigestion, and to kill intestinal worms. Vapours from the infusion to treat nasal congestion. | 0.29 | 0.11 | M/F |
| Morella faya (Aiton) Wilbur Myricaceae (3493) | Faia, Faia-da-terra; Faia-das-ilhas | Seed and leaves | Dermal application and ingestion | Poultice of burnt seeds mixed, or not, with olive oil and applied in wounds. Decoction of the leaves applied in the scalp to fortify the hair; and ingested to treat abdominal cramps and leg pain. | 0.14 | 0.07 | F |
| Origanum majorana L. Lamiaceae (3487) | Ourego | Leaves | Ingestion | Decoction of leaves to treat menstrual pain. | 0.04 | 0.04 | F |
| Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss Apiaceae (3499) | Salsa | Leaves | Ingestion | Decoction of leaves to treat stomach and gallbladder pains and to improve memory. | 0.11 | 0.04 | F |
| Psidium cattleianum Afzel. ex Sabine Myrtaceae (3507) | Gouveira-vermelha | Leaves | Ingestion | Decoction of leaves to treat stomach pain, and mixed with M. sylvestris, R. ulmifolius, E. umbellata, A. sativum and A. cepa to treat diarrhoea. | 0.07 | 0.07 | F |
| Rosmarinus officinalis L. Lamiaceae (3502) | Alecrim | Leaves and flower | Dermal application and ingestion | Shower with maceration of leaves and flowers to treat blood circulation problems. Decoction of leaves and/or flowers to treat stomach pain, abdominal cramps and headaches. | 0.25 | 0.11 | F |
| Rubus ulmifolius Schott Rosaceae(3496) | Silva | Shoot and bud | Ingestion | Infusion of shoot and bud to treat stomach pain. Decoction of shoot and bud mixed with M. sylvestris, E. umbellata, P. cattleianum, A. sativum and A. cepa to treat diarrhoea. | 0.07 | 0.04 | F |
| Ruta chalepensis L.Rutaceae(3497) | Arruda | Leaves | Ingestion | Infusion of leaves to treat pains of kidney, bladder, stomach and spine. | 0.14 | 0.04 | F |
| Salvia officinalis L. Lamiaceae (3500) | Salva | Leaves and flower | Ingestion | Decoction of leaves and flowers to treat oral inflammation and bronchitis. The infusion to treat stomach pain, nerves and cough. | 0.18 | 0.07 | F |
| Sambucus nigra L. Adoxaceae (3495) | Sabugueiro | Flower | Ingestion | Decoction of flowers to treat diarrhoea and fever. | 0.07 | 0.04 | F |
| Taraxacum campylodes G.E.Haglund Compositae (3593) | Dente-de-leão | Leaves | Ingestion | Salad and infusion of leaves to treat stomach pain, indigestion and used as laxative. | 0.11 | 0.04 | F |
| Thymus vulgaris L. Lamiaceae (3494) | Tomilho | Leaves | Ingestion | Infusion of leaves to treat stomach pain. | 0.04 | 0.04 | F |
| Tilia × europaea L. Malvaceae (3511) | Tília | Leaves and flower | Ingestion | Decoction of leaves and flowers to treat nerves. | 0.04 | 0.04 | F |
a UV = Use value; b RFC = Relative frequency of citation; c M/F = reported by Male (M) or Female (F).