Use Of Medicinal Species As Non-Timber Forest Products In La Tranca Arriba, San Plácido Parish

The study conducted in La Tranca Arriba, San Plácido parish, aimed to classify medicinal species as non-timber forest products. Surveys of 25 inhabitants aged 20-80 revealed that 24 species, 23 genera, and 18 families were used medicinally, with Matricaria chamomilla L., Mentha rotundifolia L., Origanum vulgare L., Mentha sativa L., and Cymbopogon citratus being the most utilized. These plants were primarily used for hair loss, gas, deworming, colic, and colds, with leaves being used in 52.5% of cases, mainly through infusion (67.65%). All recorded species had a significant use value greater than 20%, indicating their importance in local natural medicine.