Abstract:
The use of forest plants as medicinal materials is an essential part of the
life of indigenous peoples, one of which is the Dayak tribe of the Meratus
Mountains. This study aimed to analyze the use of plants as medicinal
ingredients for the indigenous Cabai community in Patikalain Village,
Hantakan District, Hulu Sungai Tengah Regency, which is part of the
Meratus Mountains Dayak tribe. The method of data collection was done
by semi-structured interviews. Selected respondents were determined by
purposive sampling and snowball sampling techniques. Data were analyzed
by tabulation matrix. There were 18 types of forest plants that were used as
medicine by the indigenous people of Cabai. The most widely used plant
habitats for medicinal purposes were shrubs/shrubs and trees. Roots and
leaves were the most widely used plant parts in medicine. There were at
least 23 diseases that could be treated with various types of plants. Forest
plants were widely used for internal medicine compared to external
medicine. Treatment using plant ingredients was the first alternative used
by the community in medicine. If this did not work, then community
members who were sick would be directed to seek treatment at the Local
Health Care Unit. If modern medicine did not work, the next alternative,
then additional treatment using traditional rituals, was the last option. This
finding was a contribution to knowledge in the traditional medicine system
of the local community.
