Scientific evidence of the medicinal properties of plants for use in intercultural medicine in Chile

Abstract

The objective of this study was to confirm the existing scientific evidence of the therapeutical properties of Chilean plants to be used as medicine by Machis of the Araucanía and Los Ríos Chilean regions. The study was performed in two periods at four mapuche communities of these regions, between July 2015 to March 2016 and the second stage from August to December 2017. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the Machis, where the information delivered on the medicinal applications it was agreed among all participants. The identified plants were compared in their properties with the experimental evidence reported, verifying the indicated properties. The results offer an additional criteria for selecting plants to be used in the corresponding diseases of Chilean population. The results of this study support for some species of plants used their medicinal properties on oncological diseases. These facts require the necessary clinical support in order to prove as therapeutic treatment.