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.
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
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
|
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 |
Baobab
|
seed
|
fevers
|
Caribbean Albizia
|
roots
bark |
contusions, angina
scorpion stings |
Ginger Lily
|
leaves
|
stomach complaints
|
Ditta Bark, Pulai
|
bark
|
malaria, diarrhoea, dysentery
|
Soursop, Kowosol
|
leaves
bark |
skin diseases, abscesses, colds, fever, diarrhea, gonorrhea; as sedative, and to induce labor and lactation
dysentery and worms |
Custard Apple, Cashima
|
leaves
bark seeds |
diarrhea, fever
sprains and dislocations lice |
Breadfruit
|
leaves
stem exudate |
heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, diarrhea, urinary tract infections
abscesses, bruises and sprains |
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 |
Neem
|
leaf
fruit/oil |
antiviral: for flu, colds, herpes, dengue fever
leprosy, rheumatism |
Spiny Bamboo
|
leaves
young shoot root |
childbirth lochia, vermifuge
expelling worms from ulcers urine voiding, cirrhosis, miscellaneous tumors |
Bombax, Red Silk Cotton
|
roots
gum |
astringent and aphrodisiac
diarrhea and dysentery |
Brownea
|
bark
|
menorrahgia, menstrual pain
|
Flame of the Forest
|
bark/resin
|
astringent (tightens/shrinks tissue)
|
Barbados Pride
|
root
leaf flower seed |
gall and kidney stones
childbirth abortifuge |
Ylang Ylang
|
flowers/oil
|
aroma therapy,
slows rapid breathing |
Golden Shower
|
root
bark fruit |
purgative
astringent |
Cinnamon, Canelle
|
bark
leaf bark & leaf oil bark powder |
tea for abdominal complaints
tea to reduce fever antiseptic and astringent ingested for diabetes |
Balsam, Copaiba Balsam
|
sap (resin)
|
Topically: stop bleeding, heal wounds, psoriasis.
Internally: bronchitis, gonorrhea, among others |
Sago Palms
|
various
|
cancers
tumors rheumatism |
Tonka Bean, Cumaru
|
bark
seed seed oil |
fever
snakebites cuts, coughs and rheumatism earaches and ear infections |
African Oil Palm, Oil Palm
|
oil
|
for Vitamin A deficiency
as liniment aphrodisiac diuretic for cancer headache rheumatism |
Campeche, Logwood
|
bark, leaves
|
astringent
anemia dysentery diarrhea intestinal parasites menstrual disorders |
Ixora
|
flowers, leaves, bark
|
blood-shot eyes
sores ulcers |
Bermuda Juniper
|
shoots/oil
|
diuretic (promotes urination)
|
Sausage Tree
|
fruit
|
purgative
in dressing wounds ulcers |
Queens Flower Tree
|
seeds, leaves
|
seeds narcotic, leaves purgative
|
Litchi, Lychi, Litchee
|
fruit
fruit skin seeds |
chronic coughing, stomach ache
tea for smallpox, diarrhea powdered for neuralgic pain |
Mango
|
flowers
leaves seed bark/latex |
astringent for diarrhea and dysentery
diarrhea, fever, diabetes intestinal worms rheumatism, diphtheria, syphilis |
Paperback Tree
|
leaves & twigs (oil)
|
Topically - headaches, thrush, vaginal infections, acne, insect bites, among others;
Internally -cystitis, glandular fever, chronic fatigue, among others; |
Noni, Pangkila
|
leaves
fruit bark seed |
rheumatism, wounds, fever, headaches, laxative
asthma, lumbago, dysentery, cancer, fractures, menstruation jaundice, hypertension, laxative laxative, head lice |
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 |
Oleander
|
sap (toxic)
|
skin diseases
|
Screwpine
|
leaf
|
reduce external swelling
|
Avocado, Pear, Zaboca
|
leaves
new shoots fruit skin seed |
pyorrhea, neuralgia, diarrhea, wounds, menstruation
coughs, abortifuge vermifuge, dysentery diarrhea, dysentery, toothache |
Blue Petrea
|
leaves
|
abortifuge, diarrhoea
|
Allspice, Pimento
|
leaf/oil
|
toothache anesthetic
|
Zanana Falaise, Batard Lapite
|
scales on leaf underside
|
burns, thrush, heal infant navel
|
Saraca, Ashoka Tree
|
bark
|
uterine cramps, bleeding & fibroids
|
Teak
|
wood, flowers
|
hemorrhoids, bronchitis
|
Mahot LaMer, Portia Tree
|
bark
leaves sap |
skin diseases, dysentery and hemorrhoids
inflamed and swollen joints, open ulcers ringworm and other skin diseases |
Bois Lezard, Huleumele
|
bark
|
Topically for ulcers
|