traditional medicine of baja california sur (mexico) ii€¦ · joumal of ethnopharmacology, 20...
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Joumal of Ethnopharmacology, 20 (1987) 209- 222 Elsevier Scientific Publishers Ireland Ltd.
209
TRADITIONAL MEDICINE OF BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR (MEXICO) II
ROSALBA ENCARNACION DIMAYUGA, REBECA FORT MURILLO and MARITZA LUIS PANTOJA
Department0 de Biologia Mar&q Universidad Aut6noma de Baja California SW, Apdo. Postal No. 219-B, La Paz, 3. C.S. 23080 lMexico)
(Accepted April 27, 1987)
Summary
Continuing our studies of traditional medicine, as used in rural areas of Baja California Sur, now we wish to report on the medicinal uses of 49 more plants. Some of the more complex recipes of these medicinal plants, are discussed in the present paper. The information presented here was col- lected in the Municipio of Los Cabos and part of the Municipio of La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico.
Introduction
The study of traditional medicine of Baja California Sur, was initiated in 1984. The main objective of this project is to recapture the information concerning the use of natural resources with a medicinal purpose, reported in the state of Baja California Sur. This state has four mu~~ip~ties: The Municipality of Los Cabos, the Municipality of La Paz, the Municipality of Comondu and the Municipality of Mulege. We intend to collect this informa- tion in almost all the different localities and communities corresponding to each municipality. At this time, the information obtained by means of inter- views and questionnaires, indicates that the remnants of traditional medi- cine are almost exclusively practiced as home remedies. Some of the elder informants stated that their knowledge of traditional medicine was passed on to them by their forebearers who were Pericues Encarnacibn and Aandez, 1986).
The information was obtained by interviewing 92 informants. All of them were over 70 years old, except for 3 people who were about 40 years old. In an effort to obtain information concerning the local name, preparation, use,
0378-87~1/8?/~05.35 0 1987 Elsevier Scientific Publishers Ireland Ltd. Pubfished and Printed in Ireland
210
administration and effectiveness of medicinal plants, the informants were asked the following questions: Do you use medicinal plants or home reme- dies to cure your sicknesses? Which kinds of plants do you use? Do they effectively cure your sicknesses? How do you prepare them? How long do you take the remedy? How many times a day do you take it? What dosage do you use?
Most of the time the informants showed us the plants they used, allowed us to keep a sample of them and helped us with the collecting. Each speci- men was collected and labeled indicating number, date of collection, locality and medicinal use. Duplicate herbarium specimens were retained at the Marine Biological Department of the Universidad Autonoma of Baja California Sur (Mexico) for identification. Voucher specimens were deposited at the herbarium of the Biological Institute of the Universidad National Autonoma of Mexico.
Results and discussion
The information presented here was collected in different localities and communities of the Municipality of Los Cabos and part of the Municipality of La Paz as indicated in part I (Encarnacibn and Agundes, 1986). La Paz is the capital of the State of Baja California Sur and was excluded because of the recognizable influence from mainland Mexico. We have now registered 252 local names of traditional medicinal resources in this area. One hundred twenty medicinal plants have been collected. From these 120 species, 80 have been botanically identified and 49 are reported here.
Common medicinal use of the plants, as agreed by several independent informants from different geographical localities of the Municipality of Los Cabos and part of the Municipality of La Paz, are recorded in Table 1.
Information on the dosages administered was difficult to obtain because the quantity used was repeatedly described unspecifically as “a small amount” and so on. Owing to this uncertainty the amounts of plant matter used in a preparation is not included. The diagnosis presented under the heading “medicinal use” is based on the descriptions of symptoms as related by the informants and are therefore, in several cases, inexact.
In Table 1, the number of informants recommending the use of a certain plant against a specific ailment, divided by the total number of informants mentioning the use of the plant has been included. This data allows an assessment of the distribution of a certain remedy in the area. Although this cannot be taken as “proof” of medical activity or the lack of it, we feel that a widely distributed remedy may be more likely to show activity since so many people rely on it and since the effectiveness must have been tested in many cases. This does not mean that a cure recommended by only a few informants is without validity but may simply reflect the disappearance of this knowledge (Encamacion and Agrmdez, 1986).
A tabulation of the main medicinal use of the 49 plants treated in the
TA
BL
E
1
TR
AD
ITIO
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ta
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m
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lic
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d
sto
ma
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che
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ney
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e F
ever
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on
stip
ati
on
Wo
un
ds
113
Rh
eum
ati
sm
113
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raly
sis
l/3
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oeb
as
2164
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arm
31
64
Dia
rrh
oea
71
64
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ma
cha
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4916
4 D
iab
etes
61
64
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er
3164
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ala
ria
21
64
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iso
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og
s 41
7 S
corp
ion
sti
ng
s 11
7
3/17
3
11
7
10
11
7
11
17
l/
17
Dec
o&
ion
A
s te
a u
nti
l th
e p
erso
n f
eels
b
ette
r
18
/25
1
12
5
l/25
3
12
5
Dec
o&
ion
Dec
o&
ion
Dec
o&
ion
As
tea
un
til
reco
ver
y
Use
d f
or
ba
thin
g
foll
ow
ed b
y
ap
pli
cati
on
of
the
bo
iled
lea
ves
on
th
e a
rea
in
pa
in
As
tea
un
til
rev
ov
ery
a
s p
ou
ltic
e fo
r 7
da
ys
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wit
h m
eat
or
rub
bed
th
e g
um
o
n t
he
stin
gs
TA
BL
E
1 (c
ontin
ued)
Cal
. L
ocal
n
ame
IlO
.
Bot
anic
al n
ame
Pla
nt
Psi
-t
Med
icin
aI u
se
No.
of
Pre
para
tion
A
dmin
istr
atio
n
z in
form
ants
67
Tor
ote
Col
orad
o
CA
PP
AR
IDA
CE
AE
61
Ju
baib
ena
CA
ES
AL
PIN
IOID
EA
E
56
Jun
co
CA
PR
IFO
LIA
CE
AE
86
S
auce
, sa
me
CO
MP
OS
ITA
E
111
Ch
icu
ra
Bur
sera
m
iwop
hyll
a B
ranc
hes
A.
Gra
y G
um
A ta
mis
quea
B
ran
ches
em
argi
nata
M
iers
Par
kins
on
acul
eata
L
. B
ran
ches
Sam
bucu
s m
exic
ana
Pre
sl e
x D
C.
Bra
nch
es
and
flow
er
or r
oot
Am
bros
ia
ambr
osio
icle
s (C
av.)
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ne
Roo
t or
le
aves
Sto
mac
hac
he
and
con
stip
atio
n
Wou
nds
an
d br
uis
es
Pii
ple
Rh
eum
atis
m
214
Too
thac
he
114
Cou
gh
114
Cys
titi
s U
reth
riti
s K
idn
ey i
nfe
ctio
n
Col
d 7/
15
Fev
er
2115
C
ough
41
15
Bro
nch
itis
l/l
5 R
abie
s 21
15
Wou
nds
l/1
5
Abo
rtiv
e T
o fo
rtif
y th
e ute
rus
Rh
eum
atis
m
Sto
mac
hac
he
114
214
l/4
7/E
? l/8
3166
4416
6 8/
66
3166
Dec
octi
on
Roa
sted
an
d gr
oun
d
Dec
o&io
n
Dec
o&io
n
Dec
o&io
n
Dec
o&io
n o
f ro
ot
As
tea,
was
hin
g th
e w
oun
ds,
appl
ied
the
gum
on
th
e pi
mpl
e
App
lied
to
the
ach
ing
area
, use
d fo
r ba
thin
g
As
tea
un
tit
reco
very
, in
stea
d of
w
ater
for
9 d
ays
As
tea
un
tit
the
sym
ptom
s di
sapp
ear
As
tea
of i
nst
ead
of
wat
er f
or 9
day
s af
ter
chil
d bi
rth
68
Z
arz
ap
arr
illa
46
H
ierb
a d
e1 P
asm
o
47
66
Ro
mer
illo
Ma
nza
nil
la
de1
mo
nte
92
E
nv
idia
EU
PH
OR
BIA
CE
AE
38
, G
olo
nd
rin
a
82
.89
65
L
AB
IAT
AE
C
hic
ura
de
la
Sie
rra
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ipta
a
lba
(L.)
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ssk
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ap
lop
ap
pu
s so
non
’en
sis
(A.
Gra
y)
S.F
. B
lak
e
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enoc
ka
mon
ogyr
a
To
n-.
&
Gra
y
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ityk
m
icm
gk
ssa
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enth
.
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chus
W
ho
le
ole
race
us
L.
pla
nt
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ph
orb
ia
nu
tan
s L
ea
ve
s L
ag
. o
r E
up
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bia
a
ff.
bra
nch
es
pol
yca
rpa
B
enth
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r w
ho
le
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ph
orb
ia
spp
. p
lan
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ech
inia
h
ast
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(A.
Gra
y1
Ep
lin
g
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nch
es
Bra
nch
es
Bra
nch
es
Ro
ot
Ute
rin
e in
fect
ion
s l/
l D
eco
ctio
n
Hea
da
che
81
66
C
old
1
16
6
Va
rico
se v
ein
l/
66
Kid
ney
pa
in
l/l
Sk
in u
lcer
l/
29
To
oth
ach
e 8
12
9
Co
ug
h
11
29
T
eta
nu
s 3
12
9
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d s
mel
lin
g f
eet
21
29
W
ou
nd
s 2
12
9
Para
lysi
s
Tet
an
us
Ven
erea
l d
ise
ase
s
Kid
ney
Pim
ple
B
ites
of
po
iso
no
us
sna
ke
an
d s
corp
ion
S
kin
ulc
ers
Co
nju
nti
vit
is
Wo
un
ds
Ure
thri
tis,
cy
stit
is
Kid
ney
ach
e S
tom
ach
ach
e C
old
11
3
l/3
l/l
Dec
o&
ion
l/l
Dec
oct
ion
l/37
51
37
8
13
7
51
37
5
13
7
l/37
A
s te
a u
nti
l 3
13
7
reco
ver
y
Ro
ast
ed l
eav
es
Ap
pli
ed t
o t
he
are
a
inp
ain
Dec
oct
ion
In
stea
d o
f w
ate
r u
nti
l re
cov
ery
Dec
oct
ion
W
ash
ing
th
e sk
in
ulc
er,
to g
arg
le,
as
tea
Dec
oct
ion
B
ath
ing
, a
s te
a
Inst
ead
of
wa
ter
du
rin
g 9
da
ys
As
tea
Dec
o&
ion
W
ash
ing
th
e in
fect
ed a
rea
Aft
er
the
2nd
d
ay
of
fin
ish
ing
th
e m
enst
rua
tio
n,
du
rin
g 5
da
ys
the
tea
is
tak
en
E
TA
BL
E
1 fc
o~ti
~u
e~l
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. L
ocal
n
ame
IlO
.
Bot
anic
al n
ame
PIa
m,
Par
t
Med
icin
al u
se
No.
of
Pre
para
tion
A
dmin
istr
atio
n
2
info
rman
ts
50
Pol
e0
100
Alb
ahac
a bl
auca
,
101
Alb
ahac
a m
orad
a
LE
GU
MIN
OS
AE
55
G
uin
ole
59
Tez
o
94
Tab
ardi
llo
127
29
Hoj
a se
n
Men
tha
sp.
diff
eren
t fr
om
Men
tha
spic
ata
L.
Oci
mum
ba
silic
um
L.
Aca
cia
coch
lia-
cant
ha
Hu
mb
&
Bon
pl.
Aca
cia
sp.
Cal
iiand
ra
cali
fom
ica
Ben
th.
Cal
liand
ra
peni
nsu~
~‘s
R
ose
Cas
sia
conf
inis
G
reen
e
Bra
nch
es
Lea
ves
or
seed
s
Bra
nch
es
Bar
k
Roo
t,
flow
er,
toge
ther
or
se
para
te
Lea
ves
Col
d 21
20
Sin
usi
tis
6120
S
tom
ach
ach
e 61
20
Hea
dach
e 21
20
Dia
rrh
oea
l/20
Cou
gh
5i20
B
ron
chit
is
1120
E
arac
he
8119
S
tom
ach
e T
/19
stop
vom
it
2119
In
som
nia
11
19
New
born
col
ic
l/19
W
ash
ing
the
eyes
21
19
Kid
ney
ach
e cy
stiti
s an
d u
reth
riti
s E
arac
he
Sin
usi
tis
Kid
ney
ach
e C
ysti
tis
Ure
thri
tis
calc
ulu
s in
li
ver
Leg
cra
mp
Too
thac
he
Pu
rgat
ive
Sto
mac
h t
rou
bles
213
113
214
114
1413
2 18
132
l/32
l/32
11
32
418
318
Fri
ed in
oil
or
hen
’s f
at
wit
h t
ezo:
A
caci
a sp
.
Dec
o&io
n
2-3
drop
s ap
plie
d in
th
e n
ostr
ils
As
tea
Sap
of
leav
es
Dec
o&io
n
Put
in th
e ea
r an
d ru
bbin
g th
e ea
r,
as t
ea
Dec
o&io
n
Fri
ed in
oil
Mac
erat
ion
in
w
ater
or
deco
&io
n
As
tea
App
lied
in
th
e ea
r A
s te
a or
in
stea
d of
wat
er u
nti
l re
cove
ry
Dec
o&io
n
As
tea
befo
re b
reak
fast
an
d be
fore
goi
ng
to s
leep
107
chili
eote
or
Col
cho
Ery
thri
na
flu
bell
ifor
rnis
K
earn
ey
~th
ece~
~bi
um
conf
ine
Sta
ndI
ey
Bra
nch
es
Fru
it o
r ba
rk
Kid
ney
ach
e V
agin
itis
P
oiso
nou
s an
imal
st
ings
(sn
ake,
bee
, sc
orpi
on)
Bru
ises
W
oun
ds
l/2
Roa
sted
A
ppli
ed t
o th
e ar
ea in
pai
n
104
Pal
o fi
erro
15
7 E
joti
n
10/1
3
1113
21
13
Dec
o&io
n w
ith
A
s te
a or
in
stea
d of
E
upho
rbia
sp
p.
wat
er, w
ash
ing
the
or W
isliz
enia
W
OU
sxk
mfr
acta
va
r.
palm
eri
(A.
Gra
y) I
.M.
Joh
nst
on
Fri
ed in
oil
T
wo
drop
s ap
plie
d h
en’s
fat
wit
h
in t
he
nos
tril
s po
le0
(Men
tha
sp.)
an
d M
utri
cari
a ca
mom
ilia
L
. D
eco&
ion
T
o ga
rgle
, as
tea
D
eco&
ion
A
s te
a u
nti
l th
e sy
mpt
oms
disa
p-
pear
99
Gua
muc
hil
Sto
mac
hac
he
Col
d an
d si
nu
siti
s T
ooth
ach
e
l/15
215
215
Pi t
hece
llo b
ium
d&
e (R
oxb.
) B
enth
.
Sh
oot
bark
19
Hie
rba
deI
pujo
St
ylos
anth
es
visc
osa
Swar
tz
Bra
nch
es
Dia
rrh
oea
and
~to
mac
hac
he
ll/ll
LO
GA
NIA
CE
AE
98
L
engu
a de
Bu
ey
Bl&
&&
ia
cm to
noid
es
A.
Gra
y R
oot
App
endi
x l/l
D
eco&
ion
In
stea
d of
wat
er
MA
LP
IGH
IAC
EA
~
108
Mat
anel
, 15
1 G
elIi
net
a M
asca
gnia
m
acm
pter
a C
3ess
6 &
Moe
.)
Nie
den
zu
Rou
t or
br
anch
es
Wou
nds
21
9 R
heu
mat
ism
71
9 A
bort
ive
119
Bru
ises
l/9
T
onsi
IIit
is
l/9
Dec
o&io
n
As
tea,
use
d fo
r ba
thin
g u
nti
l re
cove
ry,
to
garg
le
83
OL
AC
EA
E
Fre
sno
Fra
xinu
s uh
dei
(Wen
x.) L
ing.
B
ark
R
abie
s l/2
D
eco&
ion
In
stea
d of
wat
er
for
40 d
ays
:
TA
BL
E
1 (c
onti
nued
j
Col
. L
wai
na
me
no.
Bot
anic
al
nam
e P
lan
t
Par
t
Med
icin
al u
se
!2
No.
of
Pre
par
atio
n A
dm
inis
trat
ion
info
rman
ts
102
33
39
45
37
PA
SSIF
LO
RA
CE
AE
G
rana
da
chin
a
PH
YT
OL
AC
CA
CE
AE
V
omit
ivo
PO
LE
MO
NIA
CE
AE
G
uac
bich
ila
or
~ic
~c~
a
PO
LY
GO
NA
CE
A~
Sa
n M
igu
elit
o
PO
RT
UL
AC
EA
E
Pio
nil
la
Pas
sifl
ora
edul
is
Roo
t or
Si
lXlS
fl
ower
Steg
nosp
erm
a ~
lim
~fo
~iu
m
Ben
th.
Loe
seli
a ci
liat
a L
.
Ant
igon
um
Bra
nche
s Ee
ptop
us
or
Hoo
k. &
Am
. ro
ots
Tal
inum
pa
nicu
~tam
(J
acq.
) G
aert
n.
Fru
its
Who
le
pla
nt
Or
bran
ches
Roo
ts,
leav
es
Ner
vou
s
To
pro
voke
vom
it
in p
erso
ns w
ith
ra
bies
Arm
ach
e l/
56
Infl
uen
za
1156
C
old
20
156
Feve
r 35
156
Mea
sles
l/
56
Mal
aria
11
56
Stom
ach
trou
bles
3/
56
Cou
gh
I/14
T
ons~
tis
1211
4
Stom
acha
che
14/
21
Feve
r 51
21
Dia
rrh
oea
2121
G
astr
ic
ulc
er
1121
C
old
2/
21
212
Dec
octi
on
As
tea
befo
re
goin
g to
sle
ep
313
Gro
und
to
dra
in t
he
juic
e
Dec
octi
on
Dec
o&io
n
To
garg
le
Dri
nkin
g th
e ju
ice
As
tea
un
til
reco
very
Tak
en a
s te
a u
nti
l re
cove
ry
74
RU
TA
CE
AE
L
ima
chic
hon
a C
itrus
ai
i. F
low
er
au
mn
tifo
lia
or
ban
k
(Ch
rist
m.)
Sw
ingl
e
73
Nar
anja
C
itrus
pa
radi
si
Mac
f.
Lea
ves
or f
low
er
60
SA
UR
UR
AC
EA
E
Hie
rba
de1
man
so
Ane
mop
sis
Lea
ves
cali
fom
ica
(Nu
tt.)
H
ook
. &
Am
.
SO
LA
NA
CE
AE
42
T
oloa
che
Dat
ura
disc
olor
Bem
h.
Lea
ves
or
bran
ches
48
Mal
abar
S
okzn
um
eria
nthu
m
Bra
nch
es
D.
Don
71
Hie
rba
mor
a So
lanu
m
nigr
um
L.
Bra
nch
es
fru
it
toge
ther
or
se
para
te
76
ST
ER
CU
LA
CE
AE
M
alva
rosa
M
eloc
hia
tom
ento
sa
L.
Roo
t,
bran
ches
stop
vom
it
Blo
od p
ress
ure
C
ircu
lati
on
Hea
rt t
oubl
es
Ner
vou
s H
eart
tro
ubl
es
Kid
ney
ach
e S
tom
ach
ach
e or
st
omac
h i
nfl
am-
mat
ion
W
oun
ds o
r br
uis
es
Lep
rosy
A
nem
ia
Col
d B
lood
cir
cula
tion
Pim
ples
81
15
Wou
nds
11
15
Hem
orrh
oids
11
15
Ear
ach
e 11
15
Infl
amm
atio
n
2115
R
heu
mat
ism
11
15
Col
d 21
7 D
iarr
hoe
a 21
7 S
tom
ach
tro
ubl
es
317
Blo
od p
ress
ure
l/7
P
impl
e l/5
E
rysi
pela
s 31
5 D
ysen
tery
l/5
Col
d 31
20
Cou
gh
5120
l/3
Dec
o&io
n
l/3
l/3
216
316
314
Dec
o&io
n
Dec
o&io
n
2134
6134
l/34
7134
21
34
Lea
ves
roas
ted
or f
ried
in
oil
D
eco&
ion
Dec
o&io
n
As
tea
Doi
ng
a po
ult
ice
wit
h
mil
k o
r ca
rtam
us
oil
Roa
sted
lea
ves
Dec
o&io
n
As
tea
or
inst
ead
of
wat
er u
nti
l re
cove
ry
As
tea
As
tea
un
til
the
sym
ptom
s di
sap-
pe
ar.
bath
ing
the
wou
nd
or a
s po
ult
ice
Lea
ves
are
appl
ied
to t
he
ach
ing
area
, de
co&
ion
is
use
d fo
r ba
thin
g ag
ain
st
infl
amm
atio
n
App
lied
on
th
e in
fect
ed a
rea
As
tea
3-4
tim
es
z a
day
un
til
reco
very
,
TA
BL
E 1
(con
tinu
ed)
Co
l.
I..aa
I na
me
IlO
.
Bot
anic
al n
ame
Pla
nt
Par
t
Med
icin
al u
se
No.
of
Pre
para
tion
A
dmin
istr
atio
n
info
rman
ts
103
Hie
rba
de1
Wal
thet
iu
Can
cer
amer
ican
a L
.
TU
RN
ER
AC
EA
E
43
Dam
iaIX
r
78
69
toge
ther
or
se
para
te
Bra
nch
es
leav
es
root
Tum
era
diff
usa
Bra
nch
es
Wii
d.
leav
es
UR
TIC
AC
EA
E
Ch
ism
e or
P
alo
Ver
de
P&
s ~
ic~
p~~
~
Bra
nch
es
Lie
bm.
VE
RB
EN
AC
EA
E
Con
fitu
ria
Lm
nta
nn
cam
ara
b.
Bra
nch
es
Cou
gh
l/3
fL.
velu
tina
) C
old
l/3
Mar
t. &
Gal
. S
tom
ach
ach
e 11
3
Ton
sih
itis
D
iarr
hoe
a F
oot
ulc
er
C~
tipa
tion
l/20
51
20
4120
l/2
0 11
20
Poo
r ci
rcu
lati
on
l/20
Wou
nds
10
/20
Dec
o&io
n
Can
cer
5/20
S
hin
ulc
ers
2120
R
heu
mat
ism
11
20
Sto
mac
hac
he
l/20
Col
d F
orti
fy u
teru
s C
ough
T
o co
nce
ive
chih
hen
A
phro
disi
ac
Sco
rpio
n s
tin
gs
Hea
rtac
he
To
garg
le,
was
hin
g th
e in
fect
ed a
rea
As
tea
or i
nst
ead
of w
ater
, was
hin
g th
e w
oun
ds
2124
51
24
Dec
o&io
n
8124
1124
21
24
l/24
l/l
Dec
o&io
n w
ith
n
utm
eg
Dec
o&io
n
As
tea
un
til
desi
red
effe
cts
As
tea
As
tea
un
til
reco
very
44
Ore
gano
22
Ore
gaoo
n
ZY
GO
PH
YL
LA
CE
AE
11
2 G
ober
nad
ora
Lip
pia
palm
er?
Bra
nch
es
New
born
col
ics
3117
S
. W
ats.
var
. le
aves
C
ough
12
117
Dec
octi
on
As
tea
palm
en’
toge
ther
C
old
2117
or
B
ron
chit
is
1117
se
para
te
Cou
gh
l/3
Dec
o&io
n
As
tea
Lip
pia
form
osa
Flo
wer
s C
old
113
Bra
nde
gee
Bro
nch
itis
11
3
Lot
-rea
trid
enta
ta
Roo
t or
R
heu
mat
ism
22
149
Se&
&
Moe
. br
anch
es
Cys
titi
s, u
reth
riti
s 41
49
ex D
C.
or b
ark
T
o co
nce
ive
3149
ch
ildr
en
Abo
rtiv
e 51
49
Dec
o&io
n
As
tea
or i
nst
ead
of
Sto
mac
hac
he
and
ulc
er
Foo
t in
fect
ion
H
emor
rhoi
ds
Kid
ney
ach
e D
iabe
tes
Blo
od p
ress
ure
A
nem
ia
Col
d an
d co
ugh
H
eada
che
3149
41
49
1149
31
49
l/49
1149
21
49
l/49
l/49
Mac
erat
ion
in
alc
ohol
w
ater
un
til
reco
very
, ru
bbin
g th
e ac
hin
g ar
ea, u
sed
for
bath
ing
220
present study is given in Table 1. In several cases a combination of differ- ent plants is used to treat symptoms identical to or different from the pri- mary use. Some examples of the more complex recipes and their use are presented in the following section.
Vomitivo (Stegnosperma halimifolium Benth.) The fruit of this plant is used in the treatment of rabies. An early diagno-
sis of rabies is, of course, a very difficult task. Usually in Baja California Sur, rabies is suspected when a person is bitten by a skunk. The skunk is a very shy animal, rarely encountered near settlements; however, now and then it may appear in the villages and behave aggressively. If a person, bit- ten by a skunk, develops enhanced sensitivity to light and. fire, feels bodily unrest and anxiety, and takes to spitting, rabies is considered established. At least two different treatments are known. (a) As narrated by a female approximately 75 years old, the bite is washed with alca (spirit of ammonia) and after some minutes rubbed with lemon and salt. The process is repeated daily for 8 days. Starting 3-4 days after the bite, the juice of 25 uomitiuo fruits is administered to children or of 50 fruits to adults before breakfast to induce vomiting, this treatment is repeated twice every second day. The victim is placed on a diet avoiding fat, meat and alcohol and should keep out of the sun for 40 days during which time the only fluid allowed to drink is an extract prepared by soaking fresno (Fraxinus uhdei (Wenz.) Ling.), confituria (Lantana camara Mart. & Gal.) and sugar cane pulp in water placed in a bowl which has been made by carving a piece of sauce (Sambucus mexicano Presl ex DC.). (b) The other treatment is described by a 90-year-old man, who claims to have cured 35 cases. The bite is severed and sucked, followed by thorough washing with a decoction of branches of guatamote (Baccharis salicifolia Ruiz & Pav.) and then placing the leaves used for the decoction over the bite. The washings and applications are continued for 9 days. Juice of sauce (S. mexicana) is taken before breakfast, three times every second day after drinking a glass of milk to induce vomiting. The affected person is placed on a diet devoid of beans, fat, meat, Chile, pepper and alcohol for 40 days. During the 40 days the only fluid allowed is a decoction made from the root of car&o (Arundo donax L.), leaves and bark of fresno (F. uhdei) and branches of confituria (L. camara). After 40 days the victim is considered cured if all the symptoms have vanished.
Pionilla (Talinum panic&turn (Jacq.) Gaertn.) Used against empacho (stomach troubles); a spoonful of olive oil is fol-
lowed by a tea prepared from the root of pionilla and hierba buena (Mentha spicata L.). A tea of pionilla and whole plant of guachichila (Loeselia ciliata
L.) is used against fever and stomachache.
Golondrina (Euphorbia nutans Lag., Euphorbia spp.) Is one of the most popular medicinal plants. Decoctions of the whole
plant mixed with branches of guatamote (B. salicifolia), hierba de1 manso (Anemopsis califomica (Nutt.) Hook. & Am.), romero (Rosmarinus officinalis
221
L.) and bark of copal (Bursera hindsiana (Benth.) Engler) are used for bathing in the morning against erisipela (any kind of skin eruption). A tea prepared from golondrina and silk of an ear of green corn (Zea mays L.) is used against cystitis and urethritis.
Guachichila or Guichichila (Loeselia ciliata L.) The whole plant is used alone or in combination with other plants such as
eucalipto (Eucalyptus spp.) and bark of quina (Colubrina glomerata (Benth.) Hemsl.) against fever. In other cases a tea prepared from guachichila, root of cholla (Opuntia cholla Weber), cordoncillo (Elytraria imbricata (Vahl) Pers.), sauce (Sambucus mexicana), and borraja (Borrago officinalis L.) is taken until the fever disappears. A decoction of guachichila, bark of quina, root of chuchupate (An-acacia brandegeei Coulter & Rose), eucalipto (Eucalyptus spp.), gordolobo (Anaphalis margaritacea L.), root of cholla, and borraja is taken as tea instead of water against common colds until cessation of symptoms. A tea, prepared from guachichila, three green lemons (Citrus sp.), and o!amiana (Tumera diffusa Willd.), is taken against fever three times a day during three of four days. Juice from ground leaves and branches of guachichila is used as emetic and is reported as a cure for rabies.
Hierba de1 Pasmo (Haplopappus sonoriensis (Gray) Blake) The plant is used against pasmo or tetanus, described by the symptoms
that “the whole body is shaking with fever and cold’. A tea prepared from a small branch of hierba, de1 pasmo and cilantro (Coriandrum sativum L.) is taken until the symptoms disappear.
Hierba de1 Indio (Aristolochia brevipes Benth.) Is also used against pasmo. According to this recipe a tea is prepared
from the root of hierba de1 indio, cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) and hierba de1 pasmo (Haplopappus sonoriensis). The treatment is supplemented with a spoon of oil; besides, sulfur is placed under the finger nails while the tea is taken until disappearance of the symptoms. A tea prepared from hierba de1 indio (A. brevipes), hierba buena (Mentha spicata), and albahaca (Ocimum basilicum), the surrounding fibers of coconut husk, and nicle (Jacobinia spicigera (Schlecht.) Bailey) is taken against stomachache. A tea prepared from hierba de1 indio, hierba buena, shoots of mesquite (Prosopis sp.), and occasionally the root of pionillo (Talinum paniculatum) is taken also against stomachache.
Hierba de1 pujo (Stylosanthes viscosa Swartz) A tea prepared from this plant alone or in combination with nicle (Jocobi-
nia spicigera), hinojo (Foeniculum sp.), the fibers of coconut husk, cacachila (Karwinskia humboldtiana (Roem. & Schult.) Zucc.) and root of cholla (Opuntia cholla), is used against diarrhoea combined with fever and stomachache.
Chicura (Ambrosia ambrosioides (Cav.) Payne) After childbirth a tea prepared with the root of chicura, manzanilla (Ma-
222
t&aria camomilla L.), three flowers of rosa de castilla (Rosa spp.) and sugar cane pulp is taken in place of water during 9 days. Some people prepare the tea with the root of chicura and the branches of istafiate (Ambrosia psilo- stachya DC.) or with the root of chicura and the whole plant of cordon&lo (Elytraria imbricata), and take the tea after childbirth instead of water during 40 days.
Albahaca (Ocimum basilicum L.) The alcoholic extract of albahaca obtained by maceration in combination
with rude (Ruta graveolens L.) is used against earache. A decoction of alba- haca, manzanilla (Mat&aria camomilla) branches of ruchz and canela
(Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees) is taken as tea against strong colics until recovery.
Tabardillo (Calliandra califomica Benth. or Calliandra peninsularis Rose)
A tea prepared with flower and root of tabardillo in combination with the bark of palo brazil (Haematoxylon brasiletto Karst.) is taken for heart trou- bles. After childbirth a tea of tabardiho is taken during 40 days as a contra- ceptive.
Malvarosa (Melochia Tomentosa L.) The branches of this plant with canela (Cinnamomum reylanicum) and
cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) are boiled and taken as tea against cough. The branches of malvarosa in combination with the fibers of coconut husk, mariola (Solanum hindsianum Benth.) and golondrina (Euphorbia spp.) is taken as tea for diarrhoea. A tea prepared with root of malvarosa in combi- nation with a piece of crushed avocado seed (Persea spp.), the fibers of coco- nut husk, three shoots of nicle (Jacobinia spicigera) and a branch of verguenza (this plant has not been collected yet) is taken for constipation until recovery.
Acknowledgments
The authors are pleased to acknowledge the group of the Botanical Department of the Biological Institute of the Universidad National Autc- noma de Mexico (UNAM) for the identification of the specimens (T.P. Ramamoorthy, M. Sousa S., J.L. Villasefior R., F. Ramos M., R. Bye, R. Torres). We also thank Ing. Homer0 Fraga, Ing. Jorge Agundez and Maricela Espinoza for their assistance during collection. We also want to thank Jose Luis Leon de la Luz from the Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas of Baja California Sur, who helped with the taxonomical identification of some samples. Dr. Carsten Christophersen and Dr. Gunnar Samuelsson made valuable suggestions during the preparation of this manuscript. Thanks are also due to Programa National de Estudios Superiores of the Secretaria de Education Publica (PRONAES-SEP) for financial support.
References
Encarnacih, D.R. and Agbndez, E.J. (1986) Traditional Medicine of Baja California Sur (Mexico)
I. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 17, 183- 193.