Medicinal plants: a natural treasure in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas
San Cristóbal de las Casas is a cosmopolitan and multicultural city, which is home to a great diversity of medicinal and gastronomic plants, which are part of the culture and health of its inhabitants. In this region of the Chiapas Highlands, it is estimated that there are more than 600 species of plants with healing properties, of which 50% are cultivated in the state
Medicinal plants are sought after by people to treat all kinds of diseases, from cancer to diabetes, cholesterol, triglycerides, nerves and respiratory tract. Some of the most famous and demanded plants are:
- The cacerina, a plant endemic to Chiapas, which is said to have the ability to cure cancer.
- Horsetail, a plant used to cleanse the kidneys and eliminate toxins from the body.
- Guarumo and San Pedro's tear, two plants used to regulate blood sugar levels and combat diabetes.
- Rosewood, guayacán bark, mahogany seed and zopilocatle, four plants that are used to strengthen the immune system and prevent infections.
- Sarsaparilla, dandelion, lime blossom, taray tree, Brazil tree and corn hair, six plants that are consumed to purify the blood, improve digestion, relax the nerves and relieve pain.
These plants can be found in various herb shops, markets and commercial establishments in the city, where they are sold in the form of leaves, flowers, seeds, bark or roots. They can also be grown in home gardens, community gardens or public institutions, where learning and knowledge sharing about their uses and benefits is encouraged.
The inhabitants of San Cristóbal de las Casas have known how to reconfigure and adapt their knowledge about medicinal and gastronomic plants to the social and cultural dynamics that are experienced in the city. Through different spaces and communication mechanisms, they have recreated their practices and traditions, incorporating discourses on healthy eating, the need to consume natural and local products, and resistance against the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Medicinal plants are a natural treasure that is preserved and valued in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. They are a source of health, culture and identity for its inhabitants, who use them as an effective, economical and ecological alternative to take care of their well-being.