Belief, Knowledge, Forest, Health Relationships: The Application of Medicinal plant by Dong-Kamhua Community Forest in Tha Uthen District, Nakhon Phamom Province Thailand

Abstract

            The wisdom utilization of medicinal plants was proven among local communities that could be used by man to cure disease and heal injuries and become more widely integrated into the conventional medication. The knowledge of herbalism was mostly acquired from ancestors which mainly based on beliefs, culture, and wisdom of healing. From the past to present, Most Northeastern people in Thailand rely on traditional medicine as their primary form of health care. The present paper aimed to 1) to survey and collect the medicinal plants by community participation and 2) investigate the utilization of medicinal plants from Dong-Kamhua Community Forest in Tha Uthen District, Nakhon Phamom Province Thailand. This study using an oral framework with focus groups, in-depth interviews, field-walk/discussion sessions. The 24 key informants consisted of 16 traditional healers, community leaders, local people who utilized and benefit from the community forest, were selected via purposeful sampling. The field survey was carried out from September 2018 to August 2019. Group discussion was conducted in August 2019 and February 2020. The results showed 59 different species? of plants consisted of edible plants (%), medicinal plants %), and aromatic plants %). A total number of 59 plant species are reported in this present study in the treatment of blood nourishing, tonic, knee pain killer and relieve flatulence. There were 39 medicinal plants which 33 species that folk healers have known for medical properties and 6 varieties/species are unknown to them. Most significant plant species used were 6. Interestingly, the folk healers have faith in spiritual healers and communicate with the holy object to ask for permission and play their respect before harvesting the plants from the forests. Moreover, folk healers also demonstrated keen interest and knowledge regarding conservation, propagation of endangered medicinal plants and on sustainable utilization of forest resources.