TRAMIL ethnopharmalogical survey in Les Saintes (Guadeloupe, French West Indies): A comparative study

Aim of the study: The aim of this study was a comparison of popular household remedies in primary health care in the communities of Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas, the inhabited islands of 'Les Saintes' archipelago (Guadeloupe, French West Indies). Methods: Twelve ailments, with higher prevalence, were chosen in each island and a total of 216 families were interviewed using TRAMIL participative ethnopharmacological interviews. Results: According to TRAMIL methodology (frequency over 20%), twenty-two plants uses were recorded for Terre-de-Haut and eighteen for Terre-de-Bas. The islands share only ten significant plants uses and four of them have notable different frequencies. The informant consensus factor in the use of many specific remedies was fairly high, that gave an additional validity to these popular medicines. Conclusion: The data presented in this study show that popular knowledge on medicinal plants uses is still alive in the studied area. The difference between the two nearby islands is very narrow but on the other hand, there exist some differences possibly due to a probable declining of plant resources and a more important flux of migration and its provision of other practices of healthcare in Terre-de-Haut. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.