Guía Etnobotánica de Plantas Medicinales de las Parroquias Rurales de Cuenca-ecuador (Coordinación)

The rich biodiversity of medicinal plants found in the rural parishes of Cuenca represents an invaluable cultural heritage preserved through ancestral knowledge transmitted across generations. This Ethnobotanical Guide was developed to rescue, document, and disseminate this traditional knowledge, safeguarding practices that integrate culture, health, and spirituality. The book compiles the results of extensive ethnobotanical studies that include surveys, interviews, and fieldwork in rural communities. Multiple species widely used in traditional medicine were identified, their therapeutic applications were systematized, and their botanical and phytochemical characteristics were analyzed. This work aims to strengthen cultural identity, promote the value of ancestral knowledge, support health professionals, and foster sustainable tourism through the recognition of the region’s medicinal flora.