Title: Medical Ethnobotany in the OzarkOuachita Highlands
1Medical Ethnobotany in the Ozark-Ouachita
Highlands
- Justin M. Nolan
- Department of Anthropology
- University of Arkansas
2Goals of the Study
- Document medicinal plant knowledge in the Ozark
and Ouachita Mountains - Examine the influence of ecological and cultural
variables on ethnobotanical knowledge - Investigate the taxonomy of medicinal flora
- Gain insight into traditional health beliefs in
Ozark-Ouachita Mountain culture
3Map of the Study Region
Pinpoints indicate location of respondents
4Physiography of the Ozarks
- The Ozarks Elevations range from 250-2400 feet
above sea level - Mixed oak-hickory forests are predominant in the
uplands, with sweet gum and river birch common in
the bottomlands - Limestone soils help sustain a rich and diverse
regional flora
5Overview of the Region The Ozarks
Limestone outcrop, Madison County
6Physiography of the Ouachitas
- Elevations ranging from 400-2800 feet
- Characterized by long, parallel ridges running
from east to west - Acidic soils sustain fewer varieties of
herbaceous species - Vast forests of shortleaf and loblolly pine
predominate throughout
7Overview of the Region The Ouachitas
Mountain Landscape near Mt.Ida, Montgomery County
8Cultural Characteristics of the Ozarks and
Ouachitas
- Colored by rural lifestyles, retention of
traditional customs, and resistance to change and
technology - Natives are largely Euroamerican (e.g.,
Scotch-Irish), Cherokee, or mixed
Euroamerican-Native American ancestry - Strong emphasis on self-sufficiency,
independence, and resourcefulness.
9Plant-Based Medicine in the Ozarks and Ouachitas
- The region boasts a rich tradition of medicinal
plant use, essential to cultural identity - Medicinal plants exist in various habitats
forests, pastures, roadsides, stream banks, and
semi-cultivated herb gardens - Botanicals are generally dried, crushed, steeped
in water, and ingested as decoctions to treat
respiratory, circulatory, and digestive disorders.
10Research Methods
- Snowball sample of community experts
- Ouachitas (Euroamerican, n 12)
- Eastern Ozarks (Euroamerican, n 14)
- Western Ozarks (Cherokee, n 13)
- Successive freelist technique
- Participant observation
- Voucher specimens
- Collection of forest composition data
- Collection of sociodemographic data
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16Medicinal Flora of the Region
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
17Medicinal Flora of the Region
Asteraceae The Sunflower Family
Tickseed (Coreopsis spp.)
Coneflower (Echinacea spp.)
18Medicinal Flora of the Region
Rosaceae The Rose Family
Blackberry (Rubus spp.)
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
19Medicinal Flora of the Region
Lamiaceae The Mint Family
Heal All (Prunella vulgaris)
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
20Medicinal Flora of the Region(The Roots of
Wellness)
Ginseng (Panax qinquefolius)
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
21Preparing Kanuchi from Hickory Nuts (Carya texana)
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23Comparison of Plants Listed by Region
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29Summary of Results
- Knowledge of medicinal flora is influenced by
ecological factors (e.g., region-specific flora)
and sociodemographic factors (e.g., age,
ethnicity, geographic isolation). - Traditional medicine is efficacious and dynamic,
but persistent among many generations of hill
dwellers.
30Summary of Results
- The majority of medicinal plants reported in the
Ozarks and Ouachitas are common, perceptually
distinct, and widely distributed within each
region. - The most culturally relevant species contain
bioactive compounds - Medically salient flora are concentrated within a
limited set of plant families.
31Summary of Results
- Ethnomedical knowledge and praxis remains intact
in remote communities with an aging population,
and limited access to conventional health
facilities - Ozark-Ouachita medical beliefs coexist alongside
modern medicine, and do not necessarily conflict
with it.