Jillian De Gezelle

Ph.D. Candidate, The New York Botanical Garden

Biological Sciences, Plant Sciences subprogram
The Graduate Center, City University of New York (2005-present)
"Traditional Reproductive Ethnomedicine, Fertility Regulation, and the Use of Estrogenic Plants in the Q’eqchi’ Maya Communities of Belize"
Expertise: ethnobotany, ethnomedicine, reproductive health

Profile

My doctoral research in Belize is an ethnomedical study of traditional botanical treatments for reproductive health. I am working primarily with Q'eqchi' Maya healers in the Toledo District, in collaboration with the Belize Indigenous Training Institute (BITI) to document traditional plant-based remedies and the details of their collection, preparation and administration. Interviews focus on plants used to treat estrogen-related conditions, namely menopause, fertility regulation, and menstrual difficulties, though they cover female and male reproductive health broadly. Ten species were selected for bulk collection for phytochemical work, including screening for estrogenic bioactivity. Nine of the ten species displayed estrogenic and/or antiestrogenic activities. This may account for their medicinal efficacy and traditional usage in Q'eqchi' medicine.

Selected Publications

Balick, Michael J., Jillian M. De Gezelle and Rosita Arvigo. 2008. Feeling the Pulse in Maya Medicine: An Endangered Tool for Diagnosis, Therapy and Tracking Patients' Progress. EXPLORE-The Journal of Science and Healing 4(2):113-119.