Bridging traditional and biomedical systems: Tikuna medicinal plant knowledge for vector-borne disease management in the Colombian Amazon

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) pose significant public health challenges for indigenous Amazonian communities. A limited understanding exists regarding how indigenous knowledge systems conceptualize and manage these diseases beyond Western biomedical frameworks. This study examined the Tikuna people’s ethnomedicinal knowledge and healthcare practices for VBD management in Puerto Esperanza, Colombian Amazon. Using mixed methods, including questionnaires, interviews with traditional practitioners, medicinal plant mapping, and field collections, researchers analyzed data through ethnobotanical indices (TRAMIL Significant Use Level, Relative Frequency of Citation, and Use-Value of Species). Findings revealed complex social dynamics in health knowledge distribution: while 91 per cent of community members recognized VBDs, only 38 per cent could differentiate symptoms and vectors, indicating knowledge stratification. Traditional practitioners serve as crucial cultural mediators in a three-stage healthcare process, bridging self-care and biomedical treatment. Forty-five plant species across 29 families were identified, with Petiveria alliacea dominating community use (NUST 50.82) while Crescentia cujete characterized specialized practice (RFC 0.17, UVs 0.63). Spatial analysis showed sophisticated landscape categorization, with 53.3 per cent of medicinal plants concentrated in highland stubble areas. Despite extensive medicinal plant knowledge, limited disease-specific understanding highlights the need for intercultural health approaches that integrate traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary public health strategies for more effective VBD management in indigenous communities.