“Uso de plantas medicinales en la labor de parto en la parroquia de Salasaca”

Abstract

Since ancient times plants have been used as a therapeutic resource for diseases and since then they have been deepening knowledge about its composition, effects and action in the body. In Ecuador there are midwives, dishwashers and shamans who make use of the plants based on their ancestral knowledge on how to heal the ailments. One of the situations where the population makes use of medicinal plants, is labor. The objective of this research was to characterize the medicinal plants used in labor, as well as the forms and quantities in which they are administered. It is a quantitative design study with a transversal descriptive character. The study population consisted of 45 women who have used medicinal plants in labor and by the three recognized midwives in the community under study and the information collected was tabulated in Microsoft Excel. The results reflect that the age group that excels in between 31 and 35 years, and 100% of the participants have used medicinal plants in labor. The most commonly used plants are chamomile, cherimoya seeds, fig leaves and cinnamon. A percentage of respondents also recognized that the use of medicinal plants in labor is accompanied by rituals for the wellbeing of the mother and child.