Background: Chuanqing People is one of the unrecognized ethnic groups in China, having unique cultural backgrounds and rich knowledge of traditional medicinal plants. The herbal market on Dragon Boat Festival plays an important role in inheriting the traditional medicinal knowledge of Chuanqing People. The aim of this study was to record the characteristics, current situation, and problems of medicinal plant usages of the Chuanqing People of China, to serve for the inheritance of traditional knowledge and the protection of biodiversity. Methods: The information was collected through key informant interviews, semi-structured interviews, and taxonomy identification; and then, results were compared with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and other ethnic medicines of Guizhou Province. Data were analyzed with Use Value (UV) and CI value. Results: A total of 102 species from 53 families and 92 genera were recorded, including Orchidaceae and Asparagaceae (6 species respectively), Berberidaceae and Compositae (5 species respectively), Apocynaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, and Polygonaceae (4 species respectively) as predominate families. Moreover, 71 investigated human ailments were grouped into 12 categories. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (34 mentions) were the most frequently mentioned in our study. The most frequently used species was Hedera nepalensis var. sinensis (Tobler) Rehder (UV & CI=0.288). Conclusion: The traditional herbal market during the Dragon Boat Festival is a hotspot of traditional medicinal plant knowledge of local people. However, urbanization threatens the inheritance of the local medicinal plant knowledge. The study highlights the traditional medicinal knowledge of Chuanqing People, which provides basic data for further research on botanical and conservation.

Background: The Chuanqing People (穿青人) are an ethnic group native to Guizhou Province of China, with a unique culture and rich knowledge of traditional medicinal plants. The herbal market at the Dragon Boat Festival plays an important role in the inheritance of traditional medicinal knowledge among the Chuanqing People. This study aims to record the characteristics, current situation, and problems of medicinal plant usage by the Chuanqing People of China. Such information is important for the inheritance and protection of the Chuanqing People’s traditional medical knowledge. Methods: Data were collected through key informant interviews, semi-structured interviews, and taxonomic identification. The results were compared with those of traditional Chinese medicine and other ethnic medicines in Guizhou Province. Data were analyzed with use-value (UV) and cultural importance index (CI) values. Results: A total of 102 species from 53 families and 92 genera were recorded, with Orchidaceae and Asparagaceae (6 species each), Berberidaceae and Compositae (5 species each), and Apocynaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, and Polygonaceae (4 species each) as the predominant families. The most frequently used taxon was Hedera nepalensis var. sinensis (Tobler) Rehder (UV and CI=0.29). Moreover, 71 investigated human ailments were grouped into 12 categories. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (34 mentions) were the most frequently mentioned in this study. Conclusions: The traditional herbal market during the Dragon Boat Festival is a hotspot of traditional medicinal plant knowledge of the Chuanqing People. However, urbanization threatens the inheritance of local medicinal plant knowledge. This study highlights the traditional medicinal knowledge of the Chuanqing People, providing basic data for further research on and protection of minority medicine.

Background: The Chuanqing (穿青人) are an ethnic group native to the Guizhou Province of China, with a unique culture and rich knowledge of traditional medicinal plants. The herbal market at the Dragon Boat Festival (DBF) plays an important role in the inheritance of traditional medicinal knowledge among the Chuanqing. This study aims to record the profile of medicinal plants of the Chuanqing, discuss the dilemmas faced by its inheritance and propose strategies. Such information is important for the inheritance and protection of the Chuanqing’s traditional medical knowledge. Methods: Data were collected through key informant interviews, semi-structured interviews and free listing. The collected voucher specimens were identified and deposited in the herbarium. The medicinal plants were compared with the Information System of Chinese Rare and Endangered Plants of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The results were compared with those of the pharmacopeia of the People's Republic of China (ChP) and the Quality Standard of TCM, and National Medicine in Guizhou Province (QSG) and traditional medicines of Southeast Asian countries. Data were analyzed with use-value (UV) and cultural importance index (CI) values. Results: A total of 102 species from 53 families and 92 genera were recorded, with Orchidaceae and Asparagaceae (6 species each), Berberidaceae and Asteraceae (5 species each) as the predominant families. Whole plant (36%) was the most common medicinal part. Decoction (44%) was the most common preparation method. Seventy-one investigated human ailments were grouped into 12 categories. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system (34 mentions) were the most frequently mentioned in this study. Moreover, the most frequently used taxon was Hedera sinensis (Tobler) Hand.-Mazz. (UV and CI=0.29). A total of 9 medicinal plants were recorded in the Information System of Chinese Rare and Endangered Plants of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The Chuanqing’s medicine had high similarity with ChP and QSG. While it had a high similarity in preparation method, and low similarity in medicinal parts, plant families and disease treatments with traditional medicines in Southeast Asian countries.Conclusions: The traditional herbal market at the DBF is an important platform for communicating traditional medicinal plant knowledge of the Chuanqing. There are some differences and connections between the Chuanqing's medicine, Chinese traditional medicines, and traditional medicines in Southeast Asian countries. The Chuanqing's traditional medicine is facing many difficulties in the inheritance and development. More scientific research and policies planning are needed to solve it. This study highlights the traditional medicinal knowledge of the Chuanqing, providing basic data for further research on and protection of minority medicine.