Ethical considerations for conducting ethnopharmacological research

“The Shaman’s Apprentice” Film Questions What does the field of ethnobotany study? How does it differ from the field of ethnopharmacology? Who is considered to be the father of the science of ethnobotany? What are alkaloids? What function do they serve in plants? In people? How do shamans learn therapeutic knowledge of plants? Why can combinations of medicinal plants be more powerful than single plants alone? Why can using a whole plant for medicine differ from using singular medicinal compounds found within them? What are herbaria? Extra credit: In the film, the ethnobotanist Mark Plotkin discusses ethical considerations for conducting ethnopharmacological research. Summarize his view and discuss your own on this matter.