Ethnobotanical Use of Plants for Relieving Stress Among Hill Tribes in Northern Thailand: A Pilot Study
Abstract
Objective: To describe the ethnobotanical plants used to alleviate stress among the hill tribe communities in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand.
Material and Methods: Data were collected from 3 hill tribe villages; 246 participants were enrolled based on the inclusion criteria: 1) aged 21 years or older, 2) having parents of Karen ethnicity, and 3) understanding the purpose of the study. The exclusion criterion was a request to withdraw from the research. Plant utilization was recorded and cross-referenced with voucher specimens. Taxonomic identification involved photographing and collecting all plant samples.
Results: The results show that 59.30% of participants were female, and the mean age was 49.47 years (S.D.=0.54). Half of them had no formal education (50.80%). The most commonly used plant part for stress relief was the leaf (35.80%). Participants reported using 20 plants (17 species) for stress relief. Herbaceous plants were the most common type reported, particularly Centella asiatica (used by 37.40% of all participants). Participants reported using various parts of Pinus merkusii for stress relief. The most common preparation methods included raw consumption, cooking, and boiling (oral consumption, 50-100 grams). Stress levels decreased after plant use; a Stuart–Maxwell test confirmed this change was significant (χ²=14.14, df=2, p-value=0.001).
Conclusion: The study highlights traditional knowledge of plants for stress relief in hill tribe communities, providing insights into culturally relevant therapies. However, limitations such as a small sample size and lack of a control group affect generalizability, emphasizing the need for further research on their therapeutic potential.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
McEwen BS. Neurobiological and systemic effects of chronic stress. Chronic Stress 2017;1:1–11.
Kenda M, Glavac NK, Nagy M, Dolenc MS. Medicinal plants used for anxiety, depression, or stress treatment: an update. Molecules 2022;27:6021.
Nguanchoo V, Wangpakapattanawong P, Balslev H, Inta A. Hmong medicinal plant knowledge transmission and retention in social modernity. Hum Ecol 2022;50:419–33.
Panigrahi S, Rout S, Sahoo G, Ethnobotany: a strategy for conservation of plant. Ann Rom Soc Cell Biol 2021;25:1370-7.
Hall C, Knuth M. An update of the literature supporting the well-being benefits of plants: a review of the emotional and mental health benefits of plants. J Environ Hort 2019;37:30–8.
Ssenku JE, Okurut SA, Namuli A, Kudamba, A, Tugume P, et al. Medicinal plant use, conservation, and the associated traditional knowledge in rural communities in Eastern Uganda. TM & IH 2022;50:39.
Chareonsup L, Jirakiattikul Y, Rithichai P, Harakotr B. Contents of Triterpenes, Phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity of Centella asiatica(L.) Urban. Thai Sci Technol J 2021;29:469-82.
Limpijumnong S. NSTDA and partners to boost medicinal plant production in Thung Kula Ronghai [homepage on the Internet]. Pathum Thani: National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA); 2024 [Cited 2024 Jan 26]. Available from: https://www.bcg.in.th/eng/nstda-and-partners-to-boost-medicinal-plant-production-in-thung-kula-ronghai/
Demenech LM, Fernandes SS, Paulitsch RG, Dumith SC. An invisible villain: high perceived stress, its associated factors, and possible consequences in a population-based survey in southern Brazil. Trends Psychiatry Psychother 2022;44 e20210228:1-9.
Ngamjarus C, Pattanittum P. n4Studies: application for sample size calculation in health science research, Version 2.3. 2024; App store.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Plants of the world online [homepage on the Internet]. London: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; 2024 [cited 2024 Jan 22]. Available from: http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org
Ministry of public health Thailand. HDCservice [homepage on the Internet]. Thailand: Ministry of Public Health; 2024 [cited 2024 Jan 22]. Available from: https://hdc.moph.go.th/center/public/main
World Health Organization, Thailand. Hypertension care in Thailand best practices and challenges 2019 [homepage on the Internet]. Nonthaburi: World Health Organization, Thailand; 2024 [cited 2024 Jan 22]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789290227403
DerSarkissian C. What Is Oxidative Stress? [homepage on the Internet]. New York: WebMD; 2024 [cited 2024 Jan 22]. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-oxidative-stress
Ramadhani F, Girsang E, Florenly. The bioactive of Pinus merkusii needle and bark extracts as antioxidants anti-aging. JKPK 021;6:78.
Wardani G, Ernawati, Eraiko K, Sudjarwo SA. The role of antioxidant activity of Chitosan-Pinus merkusii extract nanoparticle in against lead acetate-induced toxicity in rat pancreas. Vet Med Int 2019;9874601:1-6.
Sudjarwo SA, Eraiko K, Sudjarwo GW, Koerniasari. The potency of chitosan- Pinus merkusii extract nanoparticle as the antioxidant and anti-caspase 3 on lead acetate-induced nephrotoxicity in rat. J Adv Pharm Technol Res 2019;10:27–32.
Grieve A. Modern herbal. London: Penguin; 1984.
Orhan I E. Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: from traditional medicine to modern medicine with neuroprotective potential. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012;946259.
Betteridge DJ. What Is Oxidative Stress?. Metabolism 2000;49:3-8.
Anjum A, Vani C, Madhavan NR. Antioxidant activity of eugenol in Piper betel leaf extract. J Family Med Prim Care 2020;9:327-31.
Tung BT, Duyen DTK, Nhat BS. Evaluating the antioxidant and xanthine oxidase enzyme inhibitory activities in vitro of Piper betle Linn. leaf extract. VNU J Sci Med Pharm Sci 2020;36. doi: 10.25073/2588-1132/vnumps.4231.
Chen F, Huang G. Extraction, derivatization and antioxidant activity of bitter gourd polysaccharide. Int J Biol Macromol 2019;141:14–20.
Smith J, Brown A. Traditional herbal medicine for stress relief: a review of efficacy and mechanisms of action. J Ethnopharmacol 2021;270:113092. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.113092.
Chen K, Zhang TZ, Liu T, Zhang Y, Song Y. How does urban green space impact residents’ mental health: a literature review of mediators. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021;18:11746.
Borgi MM, Collacchi B, Cirulli FM, Medda E. Reduction in the use of green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on mental health. Health & Place 2023;83:103093.
Barton J, Rogerson M. The importance of greenspace for mental health. BJPsych Int 2017;14:79–81.
Reece R, Bray I, Sinnett D, Hayward R, Martin F. Exposure to green space and prevention of anxiety and depression among young people in urban settings: a global scoping review. J Public Ment Health 2021;20:94-104.
White MP, Elliott LR, Grellier J, Economou T, Bell S, Bratman GN, et al. Associations between green/blue spaces and mental health across 18 countries. Sci Rep 2021;11:8903.
Braçe O, Garrido-Cumbrera M, Foley R, Correa-Fernández J, Suárez-Cáceres G, Lafortezza R. Is a view of green spaces from home associated with a lower risk of anxiety and depression?. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020;17:7014.
Triguero-Mas M, Dadvand P, Cirach M, Martínez D, Medina A, Mompart A, et al. Natural outdoor environments and mental and physical health: relationships and mechanisms. Environ Intl 2015;77:35-41.
Stigsdotter UK, Nature, health and design. Alam Cipta 2015;8:89–96.
Beyer KMM, Kaltenbach A, Szabo A, Bogar S, Nieto FJ, Malecki KM. Exposure to neighborhood green space and mental health: evidence from the survey of the health of Wisconsin. Intl J Environ Res Public Health 2014;11:3453–72.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.