What is Ethnobotany?
Dr. Daiva Šeškauskaitė
Ethnobotany
Ethnobotany is the study of the
relationship between (uses of) plants
and people / cultures: From ethno study of people and botany - study of
plants. Ethnobotany is considered a
branch of ethnobiology.
Ethnobotany
• Ethnobotany is the study of how people
of a particular culture and region make of
use of indigenous plants.
• Ethnobotanists explore how plants are
used for such things as food, shelter,
medicine, clothing, hunting, divination,
cosmetics, dyeing, textiles, construction,
tools, currency, literature, rituals, social
life, religious ceremonies.
Ethnobotany Society
Ethnobiology is the study of the
relationships between humans and
their biological worlds. The purpose of
Society is to gather and disseminate
knowledge of ethnobiology, and to
foster an ongoing appreciation for the
richness of ethnobiology worldwide.
Ethnobotany
The focus of
ethnobotany is on
how plants have
been or are used,
managed and
perceived in
human societies.
Ethnobotany and botany
The educational objective of the
Ethnobotany Track is to provide a
unique learning environment in
which biological and social science
theorie’s are integrated to train trans
disciplinarity.
As an ethnobotanist you will be able to
•
•
•
Work in areas related to the conservation of
biological and cultural diversity:
Cultural resource management (major land
holders managing biological resources for
cultural and community purposes,
Consultancy for cultural and environmental
impact,
Work in Parks Service, Tourism, Museums,
Fish & Wildlife, Department of Land &
Natural Resources, Non-government
Conservation Organizations, etc
As an ethnobotanist you will be able to
Work in natural health care businesses and
practices:
• Development of new botanical products
for industry and community ventures.
• Laboratory and field research for
pharmaceutical and herbal product
companies.
• Non-industrial consultancy for
biotechnology work related to traditional
medicinal practices
As an ethnobotanist you will be able to
Enter advanced medical training programs:
• Schools of Allopathic Medicine,
Pharmacy, and Nursing.
• Schools of Naturopathic Medicine,
Acupuncture, and Herbalism
Ethnobotany and botany
Ethnobotany has its roots in botany, the
study of plants. Botany, in turn,
originated in part from an interest in
finding plants to help fight illness. In
fact, medicine and botany have always
had close ties. Many of today's drugs
have been derived from plant sources.
Hyoscyamus niger
Wikipedia: http://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drignė
Naturaly plant sources
Pharmacognosy is the study of
medicinal and toxic products from
natural plant sources. At one time,
pharmacologists researching drugs
were required to understand the natural
plant world, and physicians were
schooled in plant-derived remedies.
Naturaly plant sources
However, as modern medicine and
drug research advanced, chemicallysynthesized drugs replaced plants as
the source of most medicinal agents in
industrialized countries. Although
research in plant sources continued and
plants were still used as the basis for
some drug development, the dominant
interest shifted to the laboratory.
Naturaly plant sources
The 1990's has seen a growing shift in
interest once more; plants are reemerging as a significant source of
new pharmaceuticals. Industries are
now interested in exploring parts of the
world where plant medicine remains
the predominant form of dealing with
illness.
Naturaly plant sources
To discover the practical potential of
native plants, an ethnobotanist must
have knowledge not only in the study
of plants themselves, but must also
understand and be sensitive to the
dynamics of how cultures work.
Ethnobotany is multidisciplinary
Ethnobotanists help us to understand
the frightening results which loss of
the rain forests would bring not only in
terms of consequent loss of knowledge
about tropical plants, but the
consequent damage brought on by the
loss of native cultures in their entirety,
as well as the damage to the earth's
ecological health.
Ethnobotany is multidisciplinary
This multidisciplinary approach
gives ethnobotanists more insight into
the management of tropical forest
reserves in a period of tremendous
environmental stress.
Ethnobotany and other science
• Ethnobotany is connected in such
areas as: archeology, chemistry,
ecology, anthropology, linguistics,
history, pharmacology, sociology,
religion and mythology.
• Ethnobotanists work respectfully
with shamans within the native culture,
examining that culture's concepts of
disease.
Ethnobotanist
Work with the
use of ancient
plants as
medicinal agents
as well as with
religious or
sacred activities.
Ethnobotanist
• receive some cross training in
anthropology, botany, public health, or
relevant social sciences.
• must possess a genuine receptivity to the
distinctly unique views of the healing
systems practiced by indigenous peoples,
as well as the ability to work as a team with
ethnobotanists and others.
How does an ethnobotanist work?
• together with
shamans or
traditional healers to
identify the specific
diseases common to
both Western
cultures and
indigenous peoples.
How does an ethnobotanist work?
Often the traditional knowledge about the
plants can be obtained only by specialists
within an indigenous community-for
example the shamans, beekeepers, and
master
fisherman.
Ethnobotanists
sometimes
obtain
information that may even be kept from the
rest of the native community. This brings
up some ethical issues on ownership to the
plant information.
Ethnobotany into the Future
Field ethnobotanist’s have not yet received
the same level of support and respect,
primarily because interest in this field has
only just re-emerged.
New scientific journals and societies have
begun to disseminate the studies of the
ethnobotanist’s to peers, other scientists,
and policy makers worldwide.
Ethnobotany into the Future
Due to increased public interest and policy
making in conservation, companies are
looking to plants for new approaches to
food, medicines, and energy sources.
University departments are opening
positions
for
interdisciplinary-trained
ethnobotanist’s. The future looks promising
for these dedicated scientists in a
fascinating and vital field of research.
Lithuanian Folk medicine
Folk medicine is a part of Lithuanian
traditional culture. It contains
information not only about illnesses,
but also methods of healing, how to
avoid illness, protect health, heal
wounds and patient care.
Lithuanian Folk medicine
Much attention is
paid to pregnant
women, birthing
aids and newborn
care.
Lithuanian Folk medicine
Folk medicine
contains much
information about
normal body
changes –
maturity, old age,
pregnancy, body
anatomy,
physiology.
Lithuanian Folk medicine
Lithuanian
ancestors tried to
explain what is
illness, its causes.
They knew how to
avoid illnesses and
how to foretell the
possibility of
illnesses.
Lithuanian Folk medicine
Folk medicine discover illnesses as
malfunctioning of internal organs,
infections, inherited diseases and
even diseases due to influences of
people and events.
Some illnesses were caused by water,
earth, worms found in the body, from
fleas, snakes, frogs or birds who had
gotten into the body.
Lithuanian Folk medicine
It was believed that a person became ill
after killing a snake.
A snake can enter the body through the
mouth while the person is asleep and
make him ill. Fleas found on the body
will make the person waste away A
snake can enter
There is also a
belief from
ancient times
that a person has
a headache
because his
combed out and
cut hair is
thrown out and
is collected by
birds that build
nests with that
hair.
Lithuanian Folk medicine
Cosmic and atmospheric
occurrences were held as
sources of illnesses. It was
believed that man can
become ill from moonlight
and that solar and lunar
eclipses are injurious to
health due to fallout of
dangerous mists.
Lithuanian Folk medicine
Man sleeping under the light of the
moon would sleepwalk, climb over
fences and even roofs. It was
forbidden to awaken a sleepwalker,
call to him, for when awakened he
could fall and be killed. To keep
moonlight out of children’s rooms, a
doll was placed in the window.
Lithuanian Folk medicine
The belief that wind brings illness
remains throughout the country. A
vortex can be responsible for very
serious and varied illnesses, to
people and animals as well. This
wind causes dizziness and paralysis.
Lithuanian Folk medicine
Skin problems come from other causes.
It was thought that carbuncles were
caused by dog scratches and herpes
occurred when crossing fields where
horses rolled. Pimples appear from
spring water florescence, thus one
avoided washing in it.
Lithuanian Folk medicine
Ancient beliefs show that God was
responsible for sending illnesses to
earth. This was done so that people
would not fear Death. Man is first
visited by illness, and then he is taken
by Death. Illness was given the image
of a supernatural woman.
Lithuanian Folk medicine
Before the plague of
Black Death, beings
walking about
resembled women,
bareheaded with
narrow eyes, dressed
all in white.
They were seen near peoples’ doors, breaking
windows appeared in dreams calling people
by their names. Those who answered their
calls, died instantly.
Lithuanian Folk medicine
Evil spirits turned into dogs, bats, were
causes of illness in people, frightening and
stealing from them. They ambushed by
hiding in trees, soil and water. Evil souls,
who took up residence in man’s body, were
the cause of pneumonia, tuberculosis, heart
problems, Black Death and cholera. By
kissing people at night, they would make
them ill.
IIlnesses
The sources of most illnesses were
varied, sorcery practices, giving and
leaving bewitched foods, tying
grain with bewitched knots.
Folk doctors grouped illnesses
according to age and sex of the
sick, also to nature of the disease.
The Witch
Different pains start when witches send
shots into the body. Witches disturbed
children’s sleep, also made them ill,
frightening them and casting evil eyes. Evil
eyes were also injurious to adult health. It
was deleterious to step over a person,
especially a child, for then he would not
grow and would not be well.