Faculty Sponsor(s)
Thomas Love
Location
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
Subject Area
Anthropology
Description
This project examines the growing importance of medicinal plants in the Peruvian health care system. Peru is a world leader in the use of traditional medicine, which is a viable alternative to pharmaceuticals and also a more cost-effective treatment option. The research involved meetings with Peruvian health professionals and government officials to evaluate the possibilities of expanding the medicinal plant program that is just scratching the surface of its potential. Our recommendations for enhancing this program are: 1. Research: Formalize a collaborative research and publishing relationship with UNT (Universidad Nacional de Trujillo). 2. Education and Outreach: Cooperate with the Ministry of Culture’s Chan Chan site museum in developing a docent program for their demonstration garden. 3. Supply Chain: Develop a sustainable bio-agronomy medicinal plant garden run by the Comunidad Campesina Juan Velasco Alvarado to supply the Natural Pharmacy at EsSalud-CAMEC in Trujillo. 4. Curandero Interface: Build on a long-standing Trujillo tradition of collaboration between practitioners of modern medicine and traditional medicine in phyto-therapy, ethnobotany, pharmacy, psychology, and community outreach.
Recommended Citation
Gauksheim, Sam, "Traditional Medicine and Health Care in Peru" (2014). Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement. Event. Submission 60.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/symposium/2014/all/60
Traditional Medicine and Health Care in Peru
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
This project examines the growing importance of medicinal plants in the Peruvian health care system. Peru is a world leader in the use of traditional medicine, which is a viable alternative to pharmaceuticals and also a more cost-effective treatment option. The research involved meetings with Peruvian health professionals and government officials to evaluate the possibilities of expanding the medicinal plant program that is just scratching the surface of its potential. Our recommendations for enhancing this program are: 1. Research: Formalize a collaborative research and publishing relationship with UNT (Universidad Nacional de Trujillo). 2. Education and Outreach: Cooperate with the Ministry of Culture’s Chan Chan site museum in developing a docent program for their demonstration garden. 3. Supply Chain: Develop a sustainable bio-agronomy medicinal plant garden run by the Comunidad Campesina Juan Velasco Alvarado to supply the Natural Pharmacy at EsSalud-CAMEC in Trujillo. 4. Curandero Interface: Build on a long-standing Trujillo tradition of collaboration between practitioners of modern medicine and traditional medicine in phyto-therapy, ethnobotany, pharmacy, psychology, and community outreach.
