Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

1980

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Iscan, M. Yasar

Abstract

Herbal medicine, the role of indigenous healers in health maintenance, ethnomedical ecology, and the impact of westernization on the traditional medical system of the Biminis, Bahamas, are investigated from several perspectives. Herbalists' socio-clinical role, botanical pharmacopoeia, and medicament preparation processes are qualitatively described, quantitative data being presented for the latter. Edited interview transcripts supplement findings stated in the text. Fifty-six plants are reported whose medicinal usage is undocumented for the Bimini people. Statistical evaluation of herbalists' hand-and-eye measurement techniques (n=150) indicates maximum error from respective remedy means is less than 10%. Chemical constituents of positively identified medicinal species are reported and indicated as medically therapeutic and/or toxic in physiological activity. Some remedies are pharmacognostically appraised through the literature. Quantitative analysis of remedy preparation processes suggests herbalists' procedures may significantly reduce potential medicament toxicity, average reduction for the target compound of this study being 96.5% for decoctions.

Extent

221 p.

Comments

Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters|Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1980.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters

Identifier

FADT14024

Format

pdf

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