Medicinal Plant Resources of the Lahu: A Case Study from Yunnan Province, China

摘要

The study of medicinal plants is one method of examining the interactions and relationships between biological and cultural components of the environment (Bye, 1986). Many researchers have focused on effects of cultural and ecological factors on plant, notably medicinal plant selection by ethnic groups (Bennett, 1992; Bernstein et al., 1997; Joshi et al., 1990; Khasbagan et al., 2000; Nolan, 1998; Wiley, 1997). The Lahu people, originally from the He-Huang area of northwest China (Xiao, 1997), now live primarily in Yunnan Province, China, Myanmar, Laos, north Vietnam, and north Thailand. The Lahu of Yunnan Province, one of the last groups to live in primary forests, began their transition from hunting and gathering to more sedentary village life in 1957. Traditional medicines still play an central role in Lahu life and Lahu healers demonstrate considerable knowledge of the medicinal properties of plants in the primary and secondary forests of the region (Huai, 2000; Huai et al., 2000a,b).