Medicinal Plants Classification of Minangkabau and Mentawai; Structuralism Levi-Strauss Perspective

Abstract

In 2012, research in medicinal plant species discovered around 297 different types in the Simanau and Maek villages of the Minangkabau region in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Sixty three of those were considered rare species, endangered with extinction. If it is studied deeply, it is possible that the types of medicinal plants in vilages of the Minangkabau region can amount to thousands of species. For this research, the structure of knowledge on practicing healer understood through ethnographic studies. This research result that the diversity and types of medicinal plants in Simanau village could be classified into four groups. This classification, known as ureh nan ampek, consisting of sitawa (antidote), sidingin (fresh taste), cikarau (defender) and cikumpai (destroyer). This suggests that the practicing healers have knowledge in recognizing the different types of plants that can be used for treatment, and have knowledge about how and what medicinal plants are used. This article attempts to understand the structure of knowledge of the practicing healers in Simanau village about the types and the classification of the medicinal plants.

Power Relations Urang Pandai and Candidate on Regional Head Election in West Sumatra, Indonesia

“…In the study of medical science, the traditional treatment method using these four types of plants has been proven to have properties to cool the body and strengthen the spirit. It is, therefore, effective in treating measles and fever caused by keteguran (fever caused by reprimand by supernatural beings or jinn for entering a certain place) [24]. This traditional medical expertise will usually be passed on to someone through a serious learning process or through what is known as the "people of faith" pattern (people of descent).…”

“…There is an orthodox Islamic healing way, a Sufi healing tradition, and the healing of the traditional healer. Their healing systems and methods differ [24]. Sufi healers are urang pandai who use fawaid (beneficial verses) in the Qur'an and Sunnah and combine them with some esoteric knowledge.…”

“…Beside as sufi healer the word urang pintar is also used for those who have supernatural abilities because of the existence of people of descent or (intermediaries) although most of them are also people of tarekat. Stark et al [24] uses the "mediums" to describe the urang pandai (berakuan). He told that orang berakuan is a person who acts as a medium.…”

Potential Medicinal Plant Species For Fever Used by Minangkabau Ethnic at Nagari Taruang-Taruang, West Sumatra, Indonesia

“…Research data regarding the use of medicinal plants by the Minangkabau ethnic group is still limited. However, research related to ethnomedicine in the Minangkabau ethnic group has been carried out in the village of Simanau area (Arifin et al, 2018) besides the study on medicinal plants for postpartum health care (Silalahi et al, 2020).…”