Medicinal Plants Used in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea

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The deterioration of health services in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) of Papua New Guinea (PNG) over recent years has led to critical shortages of medical supplies in its hospitals and rural health centres. This dire situation is similar to what Bougainvilleans experienced during “The Crisis” (1989-1998) when the PNG Government imposed a total blockade into Bougainville of goods and services, including medical supplies. 

The blockade, which commenced in May 1990, remained in position until a ceasefire in September 1994 and operated informally for much of Bougainville until 1997. In addition to triggering a collapse in Bougainville’s economy and causing many deaths, the blockade forced Bougainvilleans to return to a traditional way of life, including the use of medicinal plants to treat a wide range of common ailments. The types of ailments treated with medicinal plants in Bougainville include, but are not limited to: 

· skin conditions, e.g. ulcers, recent wounds, psoriasis, eczema, jock itch (Tinea cruris), white-spot (Tinea versicolor), grille (Tinea imbricata), ringworm (Tinea corporis);

· headaches;

· lung conditions;

· laryngitis;

· eye infections;

· toothache; and

· intestinal conditions (dysentery, diarrhoea, parasitic worms). 

Medicinal plants are also used by Bougainvillean women to promote pregnancy, prevent pregnancy, hasten childbirth and as abortifacients. 

Knowledge of the use of medicinal plants on Buka Island is held by senior male and female members of a family and passed on to selected younger family members. This knowledge includes the specific types of plants for particular ailments, their physical location and the preparation methods for their medical application. 

The number of plants used for medicinal purposes common in Bougainville is unknown, but a World Health Organisation (WHO) publication entitled “Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea”* provides information on, and colour photographs of, 126 commonly used medicinal plants in PNG. This publication was prepared in collaboration with the University of Papua New Guinea. 

As small-scale logging and associated land-clearing continues apace on Buka Island, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find medicinal plants that were previously widespread. This is expected to continue as Buka’s population increases, placing increasing pressure on land availability for food gardens and the planting of commercial crops, and increasing demand for sawn timber used for house construction. 

*Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea, World Health Organization 2009 – ISBN 978 92 9061 249 0