Medicinal Plants
"As indigenous peoples, our market and our pharmacy are in the forest.
And if the forest is destroyed, our culture and our way of life will be lost!"
Francklin Danducho Izquierdo - Regional Directorate for the Development of Indigenous Peoples in the Ucayali Region
"Let’s remember that during the COVID-19 pandemic, when healthcare facilities were overwhelmed, there wasn’t adequate care available for so many patients. What has been the response?
Well, we turned to traditional medicine. This situation makes us appreciate our medicinal plants even more!"
Rocio DelPilar Plaza Tuisma - Regional Directorate for the Development of Indigenous Peoples in the Ucayali Region
"There are six medicinal plants that are already covered by the Pucallpa Health Insurance Scheme for therapeutic use, with proven benefits for patients where conventional medicine has failed.
Let’s protect, care for and preserve our environment! Let’s protect the sources of this medicine so that future generations can continue to benefit from it."
Patricia from the Regional Health Directorate (DIRESA) at the ‘1st Conference on Traditional Medicine and Ancestral Knowledge’ – November 2023 in Santa Marta de Pucallpa, Peru.
Workshop: List of Medicinal Plants from the Peruvian Amazon
A group comprising indigenous representatives from various ethnic groups in the Peruvian Amazon compiled an inventory of medicinal plants, sharing their traditional knowledge on the use of these species for treating illnesses, treating wounds, spiritual healing practices and their use as natural dyes.
At the end of the day, they presented the results of this valuable and enriching exchange of knowledge; see the video below.
View the full presentation in Spanish here...
Taller: Listado de Plantas Medicinales -1er Encuentro Regional de Medicina Tradicional Pucallpa 2023
Marcas de Tiempo del Video en YouTube
0:00 Introdución
1:11 MATICO (Piper aduncum)
1:55 Experiencia personal con tratamiento de Matico
3:10 Tinte de Matico
3:55 PIÑON COLORADO (Jatropha gossypifolia L.)
6:01 GENGIBRE/Kion (Zingiber officinale)
6:51 MALVA (Malachra alceifolia Jacq.)
7:49 MUCURA ((Petiveria alliacea)
9:24 PAICO (Chenopodium ambrosioides)
10:49 SEMILLA DE PAPAYA (Carica papaya L.)
10:55 OJÉ (Ficus insipida Willd)
11:29 COMEJEN
13:12 Comejen como diurético
13:40 JERGON SACHA (Dracontium loretense Krause)
14:28 Problemática de la alteración de productos naturales no certificados
16:55 UVOS/UBOS (Spondias mombin L. )
19:05 YAHUAR PIRI PIRI (Eleutherine bulbosa)
20:58 Tinte natural con Yahuar Piri Piri
21:22 SANGRE DE GRADO (Croton lechleri Muell-Arg.)
22:37 Crema Cometica con Sangre de Grado
24:21 RENAQUILLA (Clusia rosea Jacq.)
25:27 COPAIBA (Copaifera officinalis)
26:54 Conclusiones
If you would like more information about medicinal plants from the Peruvian Amazon ...
Please see the following publications from the Peruvian Amazon Research Institute (IIAP)
Plantas Medicinales de la Amazonía Peruana - Estudio de su uso y cultivo, Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (IIAP)
Plantas Medicinales de Uso Popular en la Amazonía Peruana, Kember Mejia y Elsa Rengifo, 1995
'The Regional Conference on Traditional Medicine and Indigenous Ancestral Knowledge' was organised by:
Regional Health Directorate (DIRESA)
Peruvian Ministry of Culture
Ucayalí Regional Government
Regional Directorate for the Development of Indigenous Peoples of Ucayalí
Amazonian Indigenous Embassy with the Shipibo-Conibo Ambassador Roger Bardales