Hmong Medicinal Plant Knowledge Transmission and Retention in Social Modernity

Abstract

We studied Hmong medicinal plant knowledge in Thailand, focusing on knowledge transmission and retention. Sixteen herbalist specialists and 210 non-herbalist-specialist informants were interviewed. Hmong medicinal plant knowledge is increasingly being threatened. The non-specialist informants used only a fraction of the medicinal plants that they knew were useful. Many species had not been used for a long time and some had disappeared from the study areas. This is particularly true for younger generations who had higher levels of formal education, literacy skill, and who used more internet and social media. The useful passing of traditional knowledge from the older generations to the next may soon be lost. We suggest that the cross-generational learning of traditional knowledge should be integrated into educational strategies to reduce the risk of knowledge erosion and improve knowledge retention.