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Table 3 Plant uses in Northern Peru

From: Traditional medicinal plant use in Northern Peru: tracking two thousand years of healing culture

Use

Number of uses

Number of species used

  

%

 

%

Magical/Ritual healing

682

27.3

207

40.4

Respiratory

233

9.3

95

18.5

Psychosomatic/Nerves

176

7.0

98

19.1

Kidneys/Urinary

111

4.4

85

16.6

Rheumatic – Arthritis, Muscle pain

103

4.1

45

8.8

Female – Infections of uterus, vagina etc.

100

4.0

66

12.9

Intestinal – Liver

77

3.1

61

11.9

Skin

75

3.0

40

7.8

Stomach

70

2.8

51

9.9

Blood

68

2.7

44

8.6

Heart

68

2.7

42

10.1

Inflammation

63

2.5

59

11.5

Intestinal – Colic, gases, constipation

52

2.1

29

5.7

Wounds

47

1.9

43

8.4

Female – birth and reproduction issues

39

1.6

25

4.9

Diabetes

32

1.2

33

6.4

Inflammation (internal and intestines)

31

1.2

33

6.4

Bones (fractures, sprains)

26

1.0

13

2.5

Male – Prostate, Impotence

24

0.96

23

4.5

Fever

23

0.92

17

3.3

Cancer

22

0.88

22

4.3

Intestinal – Laxative and purgative

21

0.84

19

3.7

Haemorrages

20

0.80

12

2.3

Hair

20

0.80

17

3.3

Intestinal – Diarrhea

18

0.72

17

3.3

Intestinal – Gallbladder

18

0.72

18

3.5

Sex – Aphrodisiac, potency

18

0.72

12

2.3

Weight loss

16

0.64

15

2.9

Bacterial infections

15

0.60

7

1.4

Cholesterol

14

0.56

14

2.7

Viral infection

14

0.56

11

2.1

Food

12

0.48

12

2.3

Inflammation of tonsils

11

0.44

7

1.4

Parasites

11

0.44

11

2.1

Hallucinogen/Enhancement of visions

10

0.40

7

1.4

Animal bites

9

0.36

5

1.0

Cysts

9

0.36

9

1.8

Eye sight

9

0.36

6

1.2

Allergies

8

0.32

8

1.6

Blood – High blood pressure

8

0.32

7

1.4

Female – birth control

8

0.32

8

1.6

Headache

8

0.32

6

1.4

Cleansing internal and external

7

0.28

4

0.8

Fungus

7

0.28

5

1.0

Pain

7

0.28

5

1.0

Sharp pain in the body

7

0.28

5

1.0

Teeth – Inflammation of molars

7

0.28

5

1.0

Memory/Brain

6

0.24

6

1.2

Contussion

5

0.20

3

0.6

Hangover

5

0.20

3

0.6

Bad breath

4

0.16

4

0.8

Detoxification (alcohol and drugs)

4

0.16

4

0.8

Haemorrhoids

4

0.16

4

0.8

Paralysis

4

0.16

1

0.2

Blood – Anemia

3

0.12

3

0.6

Blood – Low blood pressure

3

0.12

3

0.6

Ears and hearing problems

3

0.12

3

0.6

Internal bleeding

3

0.12

3

0.6

Varicose veins

3

0.12

3

0.6

Alertness

2

0.08

2

0.4

Nosebleed

2

0.08

2

0.4

Weight – gain

2

0.08

1

0.2

Abscesses

1

0.04

1

0.2

Anesthetic

1

0.04

1

0.2

Antiseptic

1

0.04

1

0.2

Anus and vaginal cysys and pimples

1

0.04

1

0.2

Cramps

1

0.04

1

0.2

Mouth bitterness

1

0.04

1

0.2

Sarna

1

0.04

1

0.2

Waking a person who has fainted

1

0.04

1

0.2

TOTAL

2499

99.46

 Â