Wisdom and Knowledge of Folk Healers for Medicinal Plants Utilization: A Study of Folk Healers in Tumbon Chompoo Subdistrict, Noenmaprang District, Pitsanulok Province
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Abstract
The research article consisted of the following objectives: 1) to explore a body of knowledge from the utilization of herbs and recipes for herbal medicines by folk healers; 2) to examine the rational utilization of herbs and medicinal plants by folk healers; and 3) to analyze the values of utilizing medicinal plants and the item objective congruence (IOC) of medicinal plant utilization. The data for the study were collected through in-depth interviews with 10 folk healers in Chomphu Subdistrict, Ban Noen Maprang District, Phitsanulok Province, using a qualitative research method. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics which were frequency and percentage.
From the study, the following results are found: 1) Folk healers have 33 recipes for herbal medicines with 146 types of herbs. The cardiovascular system has been treated the most with herbal medicines, with 8 interesting herbal medicine recipes; 2) Folk healers have a body of knowledge regarding the rational utilization of herbs and medicinal plants at a low level of 60%, while rational behavior of using herbs is at a low level of 50%; and 3) Herbs that are mostly used by folk healers are smilax china (khao-yen-nuea) and smilax glabra (khao-yen-tai). The utilization of herbs has a value of 1.0, and the use of medicinal plants has an item objective congruence of 0.58. The findings from the research could be used to develop the potential of folk healers regarding the rational utilization of herbs in the future. Chompoo subdistrict still has a variety of medicinal plants; as a result, the locals still use herbal cures for illnesses.
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