Ethnobotanists usually work with the elders of a community, which are considered to have a greater knowledge on plants and the environment. However, children can be important informants too [1]. Some researches have shown that children's knowledge of wild plant uses can be comparable to that of adult people [2][3][4]. The aim of this study was to estimate the knowledge on medicinal plants uses in a group of primary school students living in a small and geographically isolated community on the Western shore of Como Lake. We first met the local primary schools teachers to explain the project, in order to plan data collection. A letter was sent to the students' families, clarifying the research aims and privacy issues. We then led workshops in the classes to introduce our research and the topic of healing plants to the students. The pupils were requested to fill a questionnaire: we asked which wild local plants or natural products they or their families know and use, how do they use them and for which purpose. One hundred forty pupils were interviewed. Seventy-four percent of them showed to know almost one phytomedicinal use. Twenty-six medicinal species, concerning the treatment of 10 different disease categories, were cited. The highest number of species was used for digestive problems (16 species) and for colds, respiratory tract diseases (12). The most cited plant was Matricaria chamomilla L. (58 informants, 81 citations) followed by Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (43, 54) and Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. (18, 22). First results of our study show that this methodological approach offers the opportunity to get valuable qualitative and quantitative data on common healing herbs used within a community, and also helps building socio-cultural bridges between students and their families. In this way, we think it's possible to restore the knowledge flow between generations and to foster the persistence of traditional plant uses memories.

Traditional healing plant uses from kids to the elders and back: an attempt to re-establishing intergenerational learning / Bruschi, P; Sugni, M; Moretti, A; Signorini, Ma; Fico, G. - In: PLANTA MEDICA. - ISSN 1439-0221. - STAMPA. - (2016), pp. 81-81.

Traditional healing plant uses from kids to the elders and back: an attempt to re-establishing intergenerational learning

BRUSCHI, PIERO;SIGNORINI, MARIA ADELE;
2016

Abstract

Ethnobotanists usually work with the elders of a community, which are considered to have a greater knowledge on plants and the environment. However, children can be important informants too [1]. Some researches have shown that children's knowledge of wild plant uses can be comparable to that of adult people [2][3][4]. The aim of this study was to estimate the knowledge on medicinal plants uses in a group of primary school students living in a small and geographically isolated community on the Western shore of Como Lake. We first met the local primary schools teachers to explain the project, in order to plan data collection. A letter was sent to the students' families, clarifying the research aims and privacy issues. We then led workshops in the classes to introduce our research and the topic of healing plants to the students. The pupils were requested to fill a questionnaire: we asked which wild local plants or natural products they or their families know and use, how do they use them and for which purpose. One hundred forty pupils were interviewed. Seventy-four percent of them showed to know almost one phytomedicinal use. Twenty-six medicinal species, concerning the treatment of 10 different disease categories, were cited. The highest number of species was used for digestive problems (16 species) and for colds, respiratory tract diseases (12). The most cited plant was Matricaria chamomilla L. (58 informants, 81 citations) followed by Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (43, 54) and Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. (18, 22). First results of our study show that this methodological approach offers the opportunity to get valuable qualitative and quantitative data on common healing herbs used within a community, and also helps building socio-cultural bridges between students and their families. In this way, we think it's possible to restore the knowledge flow between generations and to foster the persistence of traditional plant uses memories.
2016
Bruschi, P; Sugni, M; Moretti, A; Signorini, Ma; Fico, G
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1070345
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