Quantitative study on medicinal plants used for the treatment of respiratory diseases in chontales of Nacajuca, Tabasco, Mexico

The results of an evaluation of the traditional knowledge of the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of respiratory diseases among the inhabitants of five communities of Nacajuca, Tabasco, Mexico are presented. The study was conducted using ethnobotanical methods applied to 26 key informants. A total of 22 species used for respiratory diseases were recorded. Of the informants, 61.5% are traditional doctors, recognized by the people, the rest are people who only use them at home. Of these, the species that had the greatest relative importance due to their frequency of mention in the interviews were the Jícara (Crescentia cujete), the toad grass (Epaltes mexicana), the purple maguey (Tradescantia spathacea) and the elderberry (Sambucus mexicana). The part that they use the most are the leaves as tea. 77% grow them within their home gardens, others collect them in the field and only one buy them in the markets. Of the species reported for respiratory problems, most have other uses, being also ornamental, edible and timber. The greater participation of women is observed during the study, since they are the head of the family and have knowledge of the use of medicinal plants for lung diseases. This shows that traditional medicine continues to be of great importance for Chontal communities in solving respiratory problems.