Title : Comparative profile of medicinal plants used in the practice of two traditional medicines
Abstract:
Aspirations towards better health and quality of life are a human right, which is at the foundation of the perpetual popularity of a community’s traditional medicine and interest towards foreign medical practices. This well-known process has contemporary and dynamic aspects, which emphasize questions such as safeguarding traditional knowledge, harmonizing its use alongside allopathic medical practice and potential risks for human health. Oversight of these processes requires a thorough understanding of traditional knowledge. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), especially Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), has exhibited a rapidly growing integration, utilization and influence in Europe and other regions throughout the world. Bulgarian folk medicine (BFM) and TCM are a collection of endpoints of accumulated empirical knowledge of medicinal plants, medicinal substance variety and methodologies of use. The goal of the current study is to determine the model of use of medicinal plants from TCM within the frames of Bulgarian folk medicine. The study was conducted over a period of 2 years (2022-2024). Historical sources, medicinal manuscripts and pharmacopoeias were examined. A total of 531 taxa used in BFM were cross-referenced with species described in CHM sources. A field study of Balkan open markets and stores dealing in the medicinal plant trade was conducted. A total of 81 samples were collected and analysed. A synchronic analysis was carried out on species common for both folk medicine systems and a follow-up diachronic analysis comparison was performed. An overview on taxonomic distribution, morphological parts used, therapeutic indications, posology and mode of preparation is provided. These datasets were further characterised by calculating Jaccard similarity indexes. We outlined three major groups of medicinal plants: (i) plants of Asian origin used in BFM (13), (ii) plants of Bulgarian origin also used in TCM (33) and (iii) novel plants from TCM (68). Synchronic analysis revealed a small taxonomic overlap between groups (i) and (ii) - 13.5% and a negligible taxonomic diachronic similarity between groups (i), (ii) and (iii) - 3.5%. Decreases in similarity of therapeutic indications (26.9% synchronic and 17.0% diachronic) and to a lesser extent morphological parts used (20.0% and 17.5% respectively), were also observed. This study is the first of its kind for the Balkans and provides data which will facilitate the analysis of principles, tendencies and dynamics of transfer of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants between geographically distant communities in a contemporary environment. Several tendencies were observed: a) a gradual drift towards the use of unfamiliar to Bulgarian folk medicine taxa; b) a simplification of morphological parts and traditional methods of preparation used and c) a departure from traditional therapeutic indications. New models are required to achieve rational and safe prophylactic and therapeutic medicinal plant use. This research was funded by a university 374 project in support of doctoral students – Scientific Research Fund of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”: 80-375 10-142 / 2024.
