Abstract
Background: This article describes the local concepts indigenous Nahua women hold regarding their reproduction.
Specifically it provides a description of two indigenous illnesses—isihuayo and necaxantle, it discusses their etiology,
symptoms, and treatments, and it analyzes them within the local ethnomedical framework and sociopolitical
Background: Although, medicinal plants have been important for women’s health historically, the knowledge about such use during pregnancy in developing countries is limited. This is the first quantitative, ethnobotanical study on Malian women’s use of and attitudes towards the use of medicinal plants during pregnancy.