Tulum Women Share Traditional Medicine Secrets

Tulum, Quintana Roo — As part of the actions for the International Day of Indigenous Women, which was commemorated on September 5, a workshop titled "Rueda de Saberes" (Wheel of Knowledge) was held in the community of Francisco Uh May, within the municipality of Tulum. The objective was to strengthen the knowledge and practice of traditional medicine, as well as to dignify public health services directed at indigenous women.

During the session, Dr. Sonia Vargas Torres, the Director General of Health, emphasized the importance of revaluing ancestral knowledge as a fundamental part of the current health system. "We talked about traditional medicine, the customs, the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples, and about health advances from childhood to old age. It is fundamental to continue with the traditions of using medicinal plants and medical blending," she stated.

The workshop, convened by the Human Rights Commission of the State of Quintana Roo (Cdheqroo), also included a talk with women from the locality about women's health services and how these can be complemented with inherited knowledge. It was highlighted that in Mexico there are approximately 26 thousand species of plants, of which 50 percent are endemic and 12.8 percent have medicinal properties.

"We have a profound respect for traditional medicine. We recognize the value of cultural diversity and of ancestral knowledge. These types of spaces are key to guaranteeing the well-being of women in indigenous areas," added Dr. Vargas.

The event also included the participation of Deysi Alcantar Botello, Director of Training, Education, Promotion and Diffusion of Human Rights at the Cdheqroo, and Tania Méndez Sánchez, an instructor from the Instituto de Formación Especializado en Derechos Humanos (IFEDH).

The participants shared experiences about the use of medicinal plants and agreed on the need to transmit this knowledge to new generations. It was insisted that many modern medicines have their origin in natural compounds and that traditional knowledge remains current and valuable in modern medical treatment.