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Dominica Botanic Gardens
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Medicinal Plants


​Numerous plants in the Botanic Gardens reportedly have medicinal properties. Some of these plants and their medicinal properties are well known in Dominica, such as the tea from the Guava leaf (Psidium guajava)  for diarrhea, and that from the Orange leaf  (Citrus sinensis) to stop vomiting. However, there are many plants in the Botanic Gardens whose reported medicinal properties are unknown, or at least not widely known in Dominica; but these plants are known in the other islands, or in other parts of the world, for specific medicinal properties.

​In Dominica, the medicinal uses of plants have their origin primarily in the cultures of African slaves brought to these islands and the original Carib inhabitants. For example, the Caribs used the leaves of   
Periwinkle   (Catharanthus roseus)    in a tea for diabetes. This is the same Periwinkle from whose sap, in modern pharmacology, several medicinal alkaloids are produced. These are used to lower blood sugar in diabetics, in the treatment of leukemia, and as powerful tranquilizers. So powerful were the herbal effects of Periwinkle, the French called it "Violet of the Sorcerers."

​​Unfortunately, indigenous plant remedies are usually untested scientifically, and their efficacies may vary from ineffective or non-existent to quite potent, or even poisonous, depending on preparation and dosage. Several years ago in Guyana, a number of people died after drinking a medicinal "bush tea" brewed from the bark of a forest tree. In addition, some herb remedies are recommended for several different ailments, creating the impression of a panacea with its unscientific aura, or a nostrum with its snake oil image. Because of these, herbal or folk medicines are generally looked upon with some skepticism.
However, we should recognize that many of our mainstream medicines have their origins in plants. Apart from the Periwinkle alkaloids, other examples include  salicilin, the base for  aspirin, originally derived from  Willow bark (several Salix sp);  digitalin, for regulating heart beat, from  Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea); and  quinine  for malaria, from Fever or  Cinchona  bark (several Cinchona sp). Today, it is estimated that plants provide the basis for between 30 and 40 percent of our conventional drugs. Currently, there is increasing interest in these plants and their medicinal properties because of a new recognition of their utility and importance, even as their natural habitats diminish with the expansion of human settlement and the destruction of the world's forests. Today, researchers are studying the indigenous herbal medicines of people all over the world, to record the preparation and use of these medicines and to discover their active ingredients.

The medicinal plants listed below are only those included among the plants we describe on this website, at this point. These are linked to their plant descriptions, where brief information on their medicinal properties is given. This listing is provided for general information only. It is not an endorsement. If inappropriately used, some of these plants can be deadly. For the herbal enthusiast, further details of medicinal properties and use can be found on the internet.

References:
Lucy A. Snyder. Description and Natural History of the Periwinkle. Cyberbotanica, Univ. of Texas, Austin, 1998 (biotech.icmb.utexas.edu)
Medicinal Plants. Science Reference Services, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 2005 (www.loc.gov)
Jerold M. Lowenstein. The Spin on Aspirin. California Wild, Vol. 59:1, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, 2006 (www.calacademy.org)
Penelope N. Honychurch. Caribbean Wild Plants and Their Uses. Macmillan, London, 1986
Meet the Plants. US National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kalaheo, Hawaii 2004 (ntbg.org)
Robert A. DeFilipps, et al. Medicinal Plants of the Guianas. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. draft, n.d. (mnh.si.edu)
Robert A. DeFilipps. Useful Plants of the Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 1998

SCIENTIFIC NAME
​COMMON NAME
​PARTS USED
​AILMENTS / USES

Acalypha hispida
​Red Catstail, Chenelle Plant
​root+flower
leaves
flower
bark
​root
decoction for coughing blood
​​poultice for leprosy
​​diuretic for kidney ailments
​​expectorant and to relieve asthma
​​pulmonary problems


​Adansonia digitata
​Baobab
​seed
​fevers

​​​Albizia niopoides
​Caribbean Albizia
​roots
bark
​​contusions, angina
​scorpion stings

​Alpinia purpurata
Ginger Lily
​leaves
​stomach complaints

​Alstonia scholaris
​Ditta Bark, Pulai
​bark
​malaria, diarrhoea, dysentery

​Annona muricata
​Soursop, Kowosol
​leaves
bark
​skin diseases, abscesses, colds, fever, diarrhea, gonorrhea; as sedative, and to induce labor and lactation
​dysentery and worms


​Annona reticulata
​Custard Apple, Cashima
​leaves
bark
seeds
​diarrhea, fever
​sprains and dislocations
lice


​Artocarpus altilis
​Breadfruit
​leaves
​
stem exudate
​heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, diarrhea, urinary tract infections
​abscesses, bruises and sprains


​Artocarpus heterophyllus

​Jackfruit
​leaves
​
wood
pith
root
​latex
​poultice for ulcers
​decoction as sedative
​decoction as abortive
decoction for fever and diarrhea​
​poultice for abscesses and snake bites


​Azadirachta indica

​Neem
​leaf
​fruit/oil

​antiviral: for flu, colds, herpes, dengue fever
​
leprosy, rheumatism

​Bambusa spinosa
​Spiny Bamboo
​leaves
​​young shoot
​root

​childbirth lochia, vermifuge
​expelling worms from ulcers
​
urine voiding, cirrhosis, miscellaneous tumors

​Bombax ceiba
​Bombax, Red Silk Cotton
​roots
​gum
astringent and aphrodisiac
​diarrhea and dysentery

​Brownea coccinea
​Brownea
​bark
​menorrahgia, menstrual pain

​Butea monosperma
​Flame of the Forest
​bark/resin
astringent (tightens/shrinks tissue)

​Caesalpinia pulcherrima
​Barbados Pride
​root
leaf
flower
seed

gall and kidney stones
childbirth
abortifuge

​Cananga odorata
​Ylang Ylang
​flowers/oil

aroma therapy,
​slows rapid breathing

​Cassia fistular
​Golden Shower
​root
bark
fruit

​purgative
astringent

​Cinnamomum verum.
​Cinnamon, Canelle
​bark
leaf
bark & leaf oil
bark powder
tea for abdominal complaints
tea to reduce fever
antiseptic and astringent
ingested for diabetes

​Copaifera officinalis
​Balsam, Copaiba Balsam
​sap (resin)
Topically: stop bleeding, heal wounds, psoriasis.

​Internally: bronchitis, gonorrhea, among others

​Cycas sp
​Sago Palms
​various
cancers
tumors
rheumatism

​Dipterix odorata
​Tonka Bean, Cumaru
​bark
seed
seed oil
fever
snakebites cuts, coughs and rheumatism
earaches and ear infections

​Elaeis guineensis
​African Oil Palm, Oil Palm
​oil
for Vitamin A deficiency
as liniment
aphrodisiac
diuretic
for cancer
headache
rheumatism

​Haematoxylon campechianum
​Campeche, Logwood
​bark, leaves
astringent
anemia
dysentery
diarrhea

intestinal parasites
menstrual disorders

​Ixora coccinea
​Ixora
​flowers, leaves, bark
blood-shot eyes
sores
ulcers

​Juniperus bermudiana
​Bermuda Juniper
​shoots/oil
diuretic (promotes urination)

​Kigelia africana
​Sausage Tree
​fruit
purgative
in dressing wounds
ulcers

​Lagerstroemia speciosa
​Queens Flower Tree
​seeds, leaves
seeds narcotic, leaves purgative

​Litchi chinensis
​Litchi, Lychi, Litchee
​fruit
fruit skin
seeds
chronic coughing, stomach ache

tea for smallpox, diarrhea

powdered for neuralgic pain

Mangifera indica
​Mango
​flowers
leaves
seed
bark/latex

astringent for diarrhea and dysentery
diarrhea, fever, diabetes
intestinal worms
rheumatism, diphtheria, syphilis

Melaleuca linearifolia
​Paperback Tree
​leaves & twigs (oil)
Topically  - headaches, thrush, vaginal infections, acne, insect bites, among others; 

​Internally  -cystitis, glandular fever, chronic fatigue, among others;

​Morinda citrifolia
​Noni, Pangkila
​leaves
fruit
bark
seed
rheumatism, wounds, fever, headaches, laxative
​asthma, lumbago, dysentery, cancer, fractures, menstruation
 jaundice, hypertension, laxative
 laxative, head lice

​Musa acuminata
​Banana, Lacatan, Cavendish Banana
​stem
leaves
flowers
ripe peel
unripe peel
sap
root
pulp infusion for dysentery
burns, dysentery, diarrhea, malignant ulcers
cooked for bronchitis, dysentery, diabetics
abortive, salve for insect stings and bites
ashes for dysentery, malignant ulcers
epilepsy, leprosy, dysentery
carbuncles, digestive disorders and dysentery

​Nerium oleander
​Oleander
​sap (toxic)
skin diseases

​Pandanus sp
​Screwpine
​leaf
reduce external swelling

Persia americana
​Avocado, Pear, Zaboca
​leaves
new shoots
fruit skin
seed
pyorrhea, neuralgia, diarrhea, wounds, menstruation
coughs, abortifuge
vermifuge, dysentery
diarrhea, dysentery, toothache

​Petrea volubilis
​Blue Petrea
​leaves
abortifuge, diarrhoea

​Pimenta officinalis
​Allspice, Pimento
​leaf/oil
toothache anesthetic

​Pitcairnia angustifolia
​Zanana Falaise, Batard Lapite
​scales on leaf underside
burns, thrush, heal infant navel

​Saraca indica
​Saraca, Ashoka Tree
​bark
uterine cramps, bleeding & fibroids

​Tectona grandis
​Teak
​wood, flowers
hemorrhoids, bronchitis

​Thespesia populnea
​Mahot LaMer, Portia Tree
​bark
leaves
sap
skin diseases, dysentery and hemorrhoids
inflamed and swollen joints, open ulcers
ringworm and other skin diseases

​Vitex divaricata
​Bois Lezard, Huleumele
​bark
Topically for ulcers


Return to top
​​Gardens Introduction

​

Preface - How it Began
Introduction to Website
A Brief History
Plan of Gardens 
Contemporary Commentary​
​Trees, Shrubs, Birds

​
​
Selected Trees and Shrubs
Medicinal Plants
​
Gardens Activities
  Florida's Fairchild Garden
Parrot/Animal Sanctuary
Birds of the Gardens
Garden Views

​
​
Three Virtual Tours
Panoramic Views Today
Early Panoramic Views
 
Hurricane David's Ravages
Future Developments
Curators/Administrators
Reports and Documents
  
Getting Involved
Related Links
Sub-sites

​

Honorees
Island Scholars
Cabinet Photos
​​Treasures of the Cathedral

​Diaspora Policy Paper
​

Visit the DAAS  Website
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Copyright © -  Davison Shillingford, Clayton Shillingford and (the late) Raglan Riviere