article

Ethnobotany of the Miskitu of eastern Nicaragua

Journal of ethnobiology17 (2) • Published In 1997 • Pages: 171-214

By: Coe, Felix G., Anderson, Gregory J..

Abstract
The Miskitu are one of the three indigenous groups of eastern Nicaragua. Their uses of 353 species of plants in 262 genera and 89 families were documented in two years of fieldwork. Included are 310 species of medicinal, 95 species of food plants, and 127 species used for construction and crafts, dyes and tannins, firewood, and forage. Only 14 of 50 domesticated food species are native to the New World tropics, and only three to Mesoamerica. A majority of plant species used for purposes other than food or medicine are wild species native to eastern Nicaragua. Miskitu medicinal plants are used to treat more than 50 human ailments. Most (80%) of the medicinal plants are native to eastern Nicaragua, and two thirds have some bioactive principle. Many medicinal plants are herbs (40%) or trees (30%), and leaves are the most frequently used plant part. Herbal remedies are undergoing rapid acculturation caused by immigration of outsiders. This study is important not only for documenting uses of plants for science in general, but also because it provides a written record in particular of the oral tradition of medicinal uses of plants of and for the Miskitu (p. 171).
Subjects
Flora
Pharmaceuticals
Diet
Ethnobotany
Medical therapy
Dwellings
culture
Miskito
HRAF PubDate
2010
Region
Middle America and the Caribbean
Sub Region
Central America
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Biologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle; 2009
Field Date
1992-1993
Coverage Date
1633-1993
Coverage Place
Eastern Nicaragua
Notes
Felix G. Coe ; Gregory J. Anderson
Includes bibliographical references (p. 196-198)
LCCN
81643251
LCSH
Miskito Indians