The Establishment of a Botanical Garden for Medicinal Plants in Tihosuco
Phase 3 - Promoting the Garden
People in Tihosuco were interested in establishing the herb garden for two main reasons. One was that they viewed the project as a way of expanding their own knowledge over herbalism. Another was to encourage the traditional use of medicinal herbs within Tihosuco, an art that was declining rapidly in popularity.
The main aim of the project was to create a means of presenting what plants were used in Tihosuco and to demonstrate their use to other interested people. In return, people could discuss and show what plants they used and how they used them, creating an exchange of knowledge and skills. The botanical garden and the accompanying book, which explained how to use the plants, would provide an accessible presentation of Tihosucean herb use.
Many people I interviewed expressed their hope of encouraging younger people to develop an interest in using medicinal herbs. People told me of their concern that the majority of herb users, and therefore the people with herbal knowledge, were older people. With few young people interested in herb use, the knowledge and practice traditionally held by the Mayan peoples over countless generations could virtually be lost within one or two generations. The modern pharmaceutical products, which had become readily available over the counter (at a cost!), are viewed by some as being more effective at treating diseases. Although this is most certainly true for some treatments, for others this is questionable. But the trend is that people, particularly the younger generation, are becoming more dependent on modern treatments, eroding the confidence in traditional herbal use.
The information book, recording what people had said about the herbs during the interviews, was originally designed as a simple collection of information, a mere collection of organized notes. Using a computer at the University of Merida, the information was compiled within a large table. Each row represented an individual plant. Six columns within the row contained; the plants common name; use; part used; other plants used with it; how it was prepared and how it was used. However, having collected a large volume of information, and acknowledging the importance of presenting it in a useable manner, the book needed to be more structured. It was not intended to be a comprehensive manual. It aimed only at presenting to herb users and non-users alike an example of the wealth of herbal knowledge held by the people of Tihosuco, and to give an idea of the simplicity of their use.
An explanation of the book is given by clicking on this line
The original information inevitably contained numerous gaps and mistakes. Spanish was the second language to all involved in the interviews (I could not speak Maya and the informants could not speak English!). Also the volume of information, which often arose from a short interview, did not allow full details to be taken for each plant and its individual uses. Some of the gaps were filled during second and third interviews. Yet still numerous gaps remained.
A meeting was called in October for all involved in the project to attend. The meeting was designed to correct the book so the final edition could be printed. It was the first time that virtually all of the informants were grouped together at the same time. It created a lively atmosphere for discussion.
I had hoped that in one full day we could go through all the 275 plants recorded to point out all the necessary corrections. For people to devote a full day, away from their fields and houses, was a lot to ask, and I did not want to burden the people too much for their time. However, more than a full day was needed to complete the task.
The Mayan language was only re-invented in the last century as a written
language. This time, the Roman alphabet was used, as opposed to the hieroglyphs
used by the ancient Maya, se
en
carved in temples and pyramids. Maya is predominantly a verbal language,
and it has only existed verbally for some centuries since the use of hieroglyphs
was abandoned. Many Mayan people enjoy taking time to discuss an issue.
My Western concept of urgency and time did not have much relevance in
a Mayan meeting. It was for this reason that after one full day, only
about 70 of the plants had been discussed!
For this reason, additional trips had to be organized to Tihosuco and extra meetings had to be arranged to continue correcting the book. On the 14th November, I visited Tihosuco to collect the corrected information. It was the last day possible for me to do this, as the book had to be typed, printed, bound and then presented to the people of Tihosuco before I was to leave on the 22nd November. With full credit to the informants they came in, as and when they were able, to contribute towards the meeting, and with only half an hour before my return bus was due, the corrections were finished.
During the next four days in Merida, the book was corrected and completed. One copy was printed and five copies were photocopied from this and bound, along with five accompanying booklets listing the plants in the book, for facilitating their reference. One copy was presented to the University, one copy was presented to Siguesmundo Lucini (the original link between myself and Tihosuco), I kept one copy, and the original and two copies were presented to the project in Tihosuco. Personal copies of the book would later be printed for each of the informants.
On Friday 19th November, I visited Tihosuco for the final time and presented formally the work, which had been made throughout the year. In addition to the garden and the book, an album of the photographs taken over the year were presented.
An open day was planned at the museum at the beginning of November 1999, to officially inaugurate and publicize the garden. However, we realized a bit late that it conflicted with the Hanal Pixan, or day of the dead festival. Another date could not be planned before my time to leave.
A selection of herbs were propagated, simply using holed plastic bags as pots, as a demonstration to show how the garden can benefit visiting herbal users. In addition to Tihosuco presenting both live specimens and information of herb use, people could also take a herb plant with them back their own community for propagation and use. A nursery could be established within the museum grounds to facilitate this.
The museum also has a shop where local crafts, including some herbal preparations are sold. Potentially this is another area for development.
Back in England
Although I am unable to continue my direct involvement with the project in Tihosuco, I am still able to contribute by informing people about the project, encouraging them to go there, and publicizing its work, such as by developing this WebSite. This site will be regularly updated with any new developments.
I have given a couple of talks about the project, with more planned during the year of 2000. Also I have been in touch with organizations that would be interested in its work. Despite being unable to develop the work in Tihosuco whilst in England, I am still in touch with the University of Merida and with Tihosuco to support any interested researchers who wish to work there if needed. I also have plans to return to Tihosuco to visit within the next couple of years. Ideas are also to raise funds to support and develop the project there.
If any one visits Tihosuco, please send any news and photographs, which you may have, to:
sonicmattc@hotmail.com
A contact address can be found by going to LINKS on the HomePage.