article

Ethnopharmacologic analysis of medicinal plants used by Laotian Hmong refugees in Minnesota

Journal of ethnopharmacology • 26 • Published In 1989 • Pages: 65-91

By: Spring, Marline A..

Abstract
Laotian Hmong refugees in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, cultivate many plants and employ them as a first line of defense agains illness and disease. Thirty-seven medicinal plants have been identified, phytochemical components catalogued through literature research, and potential pharmacological activities correlated with Hmong medicinal uses. Using western biomedical criteria of efficacy, 92% of the medicinal plants being cultivated were found to be potentially efficacious. The frequent use of these plants in diet (81%) suggests that they have served to mediate against illness and disease states in the cultural and natural environment in which the practices evolved. A listing of 37 plants with Hmong names, uses and potentially active constituents is provided (p. 65).
Subjects
Flora
Pharmaceuticals
Medical therapy
Ethnobotany
culture
North American Hmong
HRAF PubDate
2000
Region
North America
Sub Region
Regional, Ethnic and Diaspora Cultures
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle; 2000
Field Date
1985-1986, 1988
Coverage Date
1980s
Coverage Place
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
Notes
Marline A. Spring
Includes bibliographical references (p. 88-91)
LCCN
sv 88033077
LCSH
Hmong Americans