Rethinking medicinal plants and plant medicines

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Date

2018

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

National Inquiry Services Centre

Abstract

Because plants are perceived as sessile and immobile, they are often represented as objects or things in current literature. In this paper, I explore variations and shifts in research and literature since 2000 that reconsider the ways that plant-related ideas, expertise and practices intersect in multiple associations related to medicinal plants. I argue that, in their relationship with humans, plants have histories, are mobile and can also bring about political and other effects. I use ethnographic material from Namibia and the Western Cape of South Africa to review medicinal plants, by focusing on human-plant relations and the incorporation of plants as non-human subjects with non-intentional agency.

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Keywords

Agency, Interdisciplinary, Knowledge, Medicinal plants, Non-human

Citation

Gibson, D. (2018). Rethinking medicinal plants and plant medicines. Anthropology Southern Africa, 41(1), 1�14. https://doi.org/10.1080/23323256.2017.1415154