Indigenous Medicinal Plants Used by the Agtas of Northern Sierra Madre Mountain: A Basis for Sustainable Development and Educational Intervention
Bryant S. Cardona
Teacher III, Isabela National High School, Department of Education, City of Ilagan, Philippines
ABSTRACT:
The Agtas are an indigenous group residing in the Northern Sierra Madre Mountain. They have a rich tradition of utilizing various medicinal plants sourced from their natural environment to promote health and treat illnesses. This ethnographic study highlights their unique indigenous knowledge regarding plant use, which has been passed down through generations and is characterized by effective and sustainable healing practices. It details the specific parts of the plants employed, the preparation techniques, and the methods of administration. The researcher, acting as a participant-observer, gathered data through interviews, documentary analysis, observations, and immersion within the community, with the elders serving as primary sources of their indigenous knowledge regarding plants. The findings indicate that the Agtas have consistently engaged in the practice of herbal medicine, relying on their unique traditional knowledge to promote health across generations, and their healing methods have proven to be both effective and sustainable. The Agtas source their herbal remedies from nature, which provides a variety of plants, including herbs, weeds, grasses, shrubs, and trees, some of which have been scientifically recognized for their medicinal properties. They utilize all parts of these plants—roots, stems, bark, leaves, flowers, and sap—in various forms such as poultices, topical applications, inhalants, chewable remedies, washing solutions, and decoctions. Notably, the Agtas do not implement conservation practices, as they find these plants readily available in their environment whenever needed for medicinal purposes.
Published in: International Journal of Research in Interdisciplinary Studies (Volume 2, Issue 10, October 2024)
Page(s): 47-55
Date of Publication: 23/10/2024
Publisher: IJRIS
Cite as:
Bryant S. Cardona, “Indigenous Medicinal Plants Used by the Agtas of Northern Sierra Madre Mountain: A Basis for Sustainable Development and Educational Intervention,” in International Journal of Research in Interdisciplinary Studies, vol. 2, no. 10, pp. 47-55, October 2024.