Medicinal Plants of Bagaces, Costa Rica

Trisha A. McIntyre & Sara E. Scott. 

Department of Biology, College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota 56374 

An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plant use was conducted in Bagaces, a small town located in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.  We interviewed 21 individuals to determine the plants most commonly used for medicinal purposes, the conditions for which they are used and their preparation.  Approximately 50 plants were used by the community.  All plants were noted in previous medicine literature.  The individuals with less education used medicinal plants more frequently than individuals with more education.  Plants were utilized mainly to treat common conditions, such as digestive problems, colds, headaches and pain.  Men and women knew and used the same amount of medicinal plants.  Most knowledge about medicinal plants was received from older family members.  Results from this study add to our understanding of medicinal plants, and show that the Bagaces community uses traditional plant-based medicines as much as modern medicine.