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ANDEAN MEDICINAL PLANTS

Peru is a country filled with diverse landscapes that allow for the growth and cultivation of a wide

diversity of plants, many of which are not found elsewhere in the world. The plants in the Andean region range

from agricultural crops to wild relatives, and some have widely known medicinal values. There is generally a high

regard for traditional medicine in Peru. Especially in rural areas, traditional medicine is likely to be the first if not

only thing that people will turn to for their ailments. Many of these medicinal plants are widely unknown outside

of South America, and scientific research is usually incomplete. However, in the limited studies that exist, some

Andean crops have shown definitive health benefits in scientific studies. These crops show promise to supplement

current health regimens and with further research and promotion, there is a possibility that these natural products

could improve specific health conditions worldwide.

PERUVIAN GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

The geography of Peru can be divided into eight natural regions, based on altitude and land use, however it

is more common to simply divide it into 3 larger regions: the coast, the highlands, and the jungle. In the arid

coastal region, few plants grow without irrigation systems, but olives and sugarcane are cultivated. A large portion

of Peru’s flora can be found in the highlands, which contain a wide range of climate conditions based mainly on

elevation. At higher elevations, this region can be very hostile. Frigid temperatures, high winds, and strong solar

radiation are a few of the factors that plants in the upper elevations must adapt to. In the lower elevations of the

range, the climate is more favorable and corn, tubers, many fruits, and grains can be cultivated. The jungle is

comprised of a portion of the Amazon rainforest, home to a great natural diversity of plants. Many tropical fruits,

as well as introduced crops such as rice and sugarcane are grown in this region.

Peru has a very limited amount of arable land, which is estimated to be only 3.24% of total land area, due

to the dry coast and large mountain ranges. Much of this arable land is used to grow crops that will ultimately stay

within the country, or at least within the region. Of the crops that are grown for the international market,

asparagus, grapes, coffee, artichokes, onions, mangoes, paprika, avocados, and bananas are some of the top

agricultural exports of Peru (Meade, Baldwin, and Calvin). However, many traditional Andean crops such as

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