Hodges and Bennett researched the medicinal and ritual uses of Pluchea carolinensis among Latino and Haitian herbalists that had immigrated to the metropolitan setting of Miami-Dade County, Florida. This plant, commonly referred to as salvia, is utilized extensively throughout the Americas and in this case study, 81% of the specialists at the 27 botánicas (herbal medicine shops) surveyed, recognized it. Emphasizing the importance of proper plant identification to phytochemical and pharmacological research, the authors discuss the historically confusing taxonomy of P. carolinensis. Among the plant’s many medicinal uses that informants mentioned, treatments for sore throats and catarrh were the most prevalent. Various ritual cleansing uses of the plant as part of the immigrants’ syncretic Afro-Carribean religions, Santería and Voodoun, were also mentioned. Drawing from a literature review, the authors provide descriptions of other uses of the plant as practiced in different cultural and geographical contexts.

In contrast to many past failed botánica investigations in the area, the authors consider the fact that their research focused solely on one species to have been an enabling factor for obtaining good data from their informants. They reflect on the methodological importance of using specialists as informants in urban ethnobotanical research. In rural or remote study sites, the general population typically possesses substantial plant knowledge; however, the distribution of knowledge becomes more restricted in urban environments. The global trend of converging ethnic pharmacopoeias in urban areas is thought to lead to less variation and experimentation in plant use, in large part owing to a growing reliance on written information. Nonetheless, the use of plant-based remedies thrives around the globe and the authors see their study site as a virtually untapped reservoir of knowledge on traditional healing.

Prepared by Megan Glore