Dominica Botanic Gardens

Dominica Botanic Gardens
Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies

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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 Socerers."
    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

Medicinal Plants List

SCIENTIFIC NAME	COMMON NAME	PARTS USED	AILMENTS/USES
*Acalypha hispida*	Red Catstail, Chenelle Plant	root+flower	decoction for coughing blood
		leaves	poultice for leprosy
		flower	diuretic for kidney ailments
		bark	expectorant and to relieve asthma
		root	pulmonary problems
*Adansonia digitata*	Baobab	seed	fevers
*Albizia niopoides*	Caribbean Albizia	roots	contusions, angina
		bark	scorpion stings
*Alpinia purpurata*	Ginger Lily	leaves	stomach complaints
*Alstonia scholaris*	Ditta Bark, Pulai	bark	malaria, diarrhoea, dysentery
*Annona muricata*	Soursop, Kowosol	leaves	skin diseases, abscesses, colds, fever, diarrhea, gonorrhea; as sedative, and to induce labor and lactation
		bark	dysentery and worms
*Annona reticulata*	Custard Apple, Cashima	leaves	diarrhea, fever
		bark	sprains and dislocations
		seeds	lice
*Artocarpus altilis*	Breadfruit	leaves	heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, diarrhea, urinary tract infections
		stem exudate	abscesses, bruises and sprains
*Artocarpus heterophyllus*	Jackfruit	leaves	poultice for ulcers
		wood	decoction as sedative
		pith	decoction as abortive
		root	decoction for fever and diarrhea
		latex	poultice for abscesses and snake bites
*Azadirachta indica*	Neem	leaf	antiviral: for flu, colds, herpes, dengue fever
		fruit/oil	leprosy, rheumatism
*Bambusa spinosa*	Spiny Bamboo	leaves	childbirth lochia, vermifuge
		young shoot	expelling worms from ulcers
		root	urine voiding, cirrhosis, miscellaneous tumors
*Bombax ceiba*	Bombax, Red Silk Cotton	roots	astringent and aphrodisiac
		gum	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	tea for abdominal complaints
		leaf	tea to reduce fever
		bark & leaf oil	antiseptic and astringent
		bark powder	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	fever
		Seed	snakebites, cuts, coughs and rheumatism
		Seed oil	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	chronic coughing, stomach ache
		fruit skin	tea for smallpox, diarrhea
		seeds	powdered for neuralgic pain
*Mangifera indica*	Mango	flowers	astringent for diarrhea and dysentery
		leaves	diarrhea, fever, diabetes
		seed	intestinal worms
		bark/latex	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	rheumatism, wounds, fever, headaches, laxative
		fruit	asthma, lumbago, dysentery, cancer, fractures, menstruation
		bark	jaundice, hypertension, laxative
		seed	laxative, head lice
*Musa acuminata*	Banana, Lacatan, Cavendish Banana	stem	pulp infusion for dysentery
		leaves	burns, dysentery, diarrhea, malignant ulcers
		flowers	cooked for bronchitis, dysentery, diabetics
		ripe peel	abortive, salve for insect stings and bites
		unripe peel	ashes for dysentery, malignant ulcers
		sap	epilepsy, leprosy, dysentery
		root	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	pyorrhea, neuralgia, diarrhea, wounds, menstruation
		new shoots	coughs, abortifuge
		fruit skin	vermifuge, dysentery
		seed	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	skin diseases, dysentery and hemorrhoids
		Leaves	inflamed and swollen joints, open ulcers
		Sap	ringworm and other skin diseases
*Vitex divaricata*	Bois Lezard, Huleumele	bark	Topically for ulcers