Journal of Ethnopharmacology 95 (2004) 317–327 Environment and illness in the Calchaqu´ ı Valley (Salta, Argentina): phytotherapy for osteo-articular and cardio-circulatory diseases Mar´ ıa Rosa Mart´ ınez * , Mar´ ıa Lelia Pochettino, Alicia R. Cortella Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cient´ ıficas y T´ ecnicas (CONICET), Laboratorio de Etnobot´ anica y Bot ´ anica Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Paseo del Bosque s/n, 1900 La Plata, Argentina Received 1 January 2001; received in revised form 1 June 2004; accepted 29 July 2004 Available online 2 October 2004 Abstract The aim of this work is to analyze and discuss the phytotherapy employed for two kinds of diseases, osteo-articular and cardio-circulatory, among the inhabitants of Molinos (Calchaqu´ ı Valley, Salta Province, Northwestern Argentina). These diseases take their origin in certain environmental conditions as well as the rural activities characteristic of the zone. The observations and interviews conducted among “m´ edicos campesinos” (traditional healers) and the general population provided valuable information concerning the relationship between man and his environment, as it relates to health-illness processes. As a result of our research, we present a chart of the 25 recorded diseases and the 42 plant species employed in their therapy, considering the organs used, the ways of preparation and administration, as well as the geographic origin. © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Phytotherapy; Osteo-articular diseases; Cardio-circulatory diseases; Northwestern Argentina 1. Introduction Disease is defined by May (1958) as a state of maladjust- ment to the environment. Cultural processes, other organisms and non-living factors play an important role in causing dis- ease when considering culture in the context of ecological set- ting (Rappaport, 1975). To prove this point, we undertook a study on the phytotherapy of the inhabitants of small villages in the Calchaqu´ ı Valley in the Province of Salta, Northwest- ern Argentina (Fig. 1), where a complex interplay between the environment and the state of health of the people is taking place. Two disease categories are targeted, osteo-articular and cardio-circulatory diseases, which the inhabitants attribute to environmental conditions and to economic and subsistence activities. Among cardiac affections, “heart” has a particular importance, because this is related to the prevalence of the Chagas-Mazza disease, which is endemic in the area. * Corresponding author. Tel.: +54 221 4257744; fax: +54 221 4257527. E-mail addresses: mrmart@netverk.com.ar (M.R. Mart´ ınez), pochett@museo.fcnym.unlp.edu.ar (M.L. Pochettino). 2. Study site and the people The research was conducted in the small village of Moli- nos and its area of influence, including the villages of Humanao, El Churcal, Tomuco, La Angostura, Colom´ e, Amaicha and Tacuil, all of which are located within the De- partment of Molinos in the Province of Salta (Fig. 2). The village of Molinos is located at 2020 m above sea level in the central region of the Calchaqu´ ı Valley. This val- ley consists of different ecological layers, which correspond to different elevation belts. From the phytogeographic point of view, the study site belongs to the Province of “Monte” (Cabrera, 1971). The climate, generally warm and arid, has a wide daily temperature fluctuation. The climatic conditions in the mountainous and highland areas, which fall within the phytogeographic provinces called “Prepuna”, “Puna” and “Altoandina”, are more extreme. Rains are scarce and ir- regular, with a precipitation of 165.8 mm per year, which are generally registered in the highest elevations during the summer (from November to March) (Crivos and Mart´ ınez, 1997). 0378-8741/$ – see front matter © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.07.018