Medicinal Plants and the Fight Against Diabetes in Mexico
Joseline Hernández, a UNAM student, explores traditional healers' wisdom in Benito Juárez to combat Mexico's 18.4% diabetes rate. Documenting 21 medicinal plants, she bridges tradition and science for a holistic approach to healthcare.
In the face of a growing diabetes epidemic in Mexico, a young student of Industrial Chemistry, Joseline Hernández Hernández, from the Faculty of Higher Studies (FES) Cuautitlán at UNAM, is undertaking a groundbreaking project. She is delving into the realm of traditional medicine practiced by healers in the municipality of Benito Juárez, Veracruz, to explore the potential of medicinal plants in treating diabetes. This initiative not only seeks to address a pressing health issue but also aims to preserve invaluable traditional knowledge.
The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in Mexico stands at a significant 12.6 percent, according to the 2002 National Health Survey, with an additional 5.8 percent undiagnosed rate. This means that a staggering 18.4 percent of the population over 20 years old is affected by this chronic non-communicable disease. Regrettably, diabetes ranks among the top three causes of death in Mexico, posing a considerable health challenge.
