MEDICINAL PLANTS AND TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Kazuhiko HORIGUCHI^I), Hikari MATSUO²⁾, Yukio NEMOTO ^I) and Harry SAKULAS³⁾

1) IGAKUDO Institute of Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, Japan
2) Dept. of Applied Biological Science, Nippon University, Japan
3) Wau Ecology Institute, Papua New Guinea

In Papua New Guinea they have great knowledge on the plant utilization for medicine. A recent study shows more than 400 species of plants are used for medical treatments. In this study we closely worked with local practioners to record their traditional treatments and study their medicinal plants. The practioners used 50 plants for 39 ailments. One of most important plants, Alstonia scholaris, is used for asthma, respiratory problems and lung cancer. Leaves of Rubus moluccanus are taken to treat diarrhoea. The 40-year-experienced practioner presented us 20 clinical practices. Some patients, who could not be helped by hospital treatments, were cured completely by him. Finally our record says 15 out of 20 cases were recovered very well or well and none of them went bad.