Some Field Methods in Medical Ethnobiology by Elois Ann Berlin and Brent Berlin; Field Methods 2005; 17; 235

Medical ethnobiology the multidisciplinary scientific study of the folk knowledge and cultural practices embodied in traditional medical systems With emphasis on the natural resources used in the maintenance and restoration of human health.

Research in Medical ethnobiology is comprised of three major components: ethnomedicine, medical ethnobotany, and ethnopharmacology

PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT TO CONDUCT THE STUDY Prior informed consent must be obtained from the communities in which the research is to be conducted. Ideally, funding agencies should award at least 1 year of sup­port for the informed consent process.

TRAINING LOCAL RESEARCH ASSISTANTS A comprehensive research program has a cadre of trained field assistants. Some of the most important skills that local research assistants must acquire include: core field linguistic methods, especially accurate linguistic transcription; interviewing skills and native lan­guage questionnaire production and testing;

botanical, ethnobotanical, and ethnoecological data collection and recording methods, including: The use of global positioning system instruments, map reading, map production, and basic photography

herbarium processing and curation procedures; basic computer literacy, including word processing and database manage­ment; and elementary biological laboratory techniques, regulations, and precautions.

ETHNOMEDICAL DATA COLLECTION Preliminary understanding of folk concepts of anatomy and physiol­ogy are essential. Have collaborators produce their own drawings of the human body.

One of the most productive ques­tions is “What are the names of all of the kinds of health problems you know?” Preserving the order of elicitation of terms is useful in establishing salience. Named subclasses can be elicited by: “What are all of the kinds of ____?” “Are there any other kinds of ____?” “Is ____ a kind of ____?”

ETHNOMEDICAL EXPLANATORY MODELS OF ILLNESS Survey instruments must be trans­lated and back translated in the local language. Ethnomedical explanatory models of recognized health conditions consist of: Ultimate cause: Why did you get sick? Proximate cause: a series of contributory or risk factors Onset: Is the onset rapid or gradual?

Signs: How does it look, feel, or smell to persons other than the patient? Symptoms: What are the sensations and indicators that the patient perceives? Normal course: What is the normal progression of the condi­tion if left untreated? Complications: Does the condition sometimes worsen and perhaps transform into another condition? Prognosis: What is the expected outcome of this condition?

Ecology: Is it associated with conditions of the biological envi­ronment or psychosocial environment? Special groups affected: Who gets it (age, gender, ethnicity)? Treatment: How can it be made better or cured? Healing resources: Who can treat or cure it? Special precautions during treatment: special dietary restrictions behav­ioral restrictions

Clinical data Ethno-epidemiology survey Medical ethnobotany Secure local, national, and international collecting permits Make arrangements with collab­orating botanists Produce botanical voucher specimens that conform to the highest standards,

The following ethnobotanical information is relevant: local name(s) of the plant, health condition(s) that the plant is said to treat, plant part(s) employed other plants or substances used as admixtures specialized collection requirements (e.g., time of day or night, season), complete methods of preparation,

complete modes of administration, quantities (based on native system of measurement) of all ingredients used), dosage (with special consideration for age, gender, health condition of patient), presumed curative principles of each constituent desired effect produced by each ingredient, duration of treatment, and dietary constraints, restrictions on regular activity?

This ethnomedical data can guide pharmacological laboratory analysis for analgesic activity antibiotic activity, neurological effects or metabolic effects. The discovery of novel com­pounds could lead to the development of new pharmaceuticals.

The use of herbal remedies that are safe and efficacious can be promoted in place of expensive patent or over-the-counter medicines. Phar­macologically effective medicinal plants can be produced in home gardens and community plots