ETHNOBOTANY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR POSTPARTUM CARE USED BY THE PEOPLE OF UMAUTA VILLAGE, BOLA DISTRICT, SIKKA REGENCY

Abstract

The use of traditional medicinal plants for postpartum care remains an important aspect of local knowledge among the people of Umauta Village, although it has not been comprehensively documented through scientific research. This study aimed to identify the medicinal plant species, the plant parts utilized, and the preparation and application methods employed in postpartum care. A descriptive qualitative method with a Participatory Ethnobotanical Appraisal (PEA) approach was applied. Data were collected through field observations, semi-structured interviews, plant inventory and identification, and documentation involving 20 informants, including postpartum mothers, traditional birth attendants, family members, and healthcare workers. The findings revealed that the community uses ten species of medicinal plants from several plant families. Leaves were the most frequently utilized plant part (90%), followed by root bark (10%). The preparation methods included boiling, pounding, grating, and direct use, while the remedies were administered orally, applied topically, attached to the body, or used as herbal bathing mixtures. These medicinal plants are traditionally used to accelerate physical recovery, relieve pain, and improve blood circulation in postpartum mothers. The study highlights the significance of the ethnobotanical knowledge of the Umauta community in preserving local wisdom and its potential contribution to the development of evidence-based traditional healthcare practices.