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
*Adansonia digitata*	Baobab	seed	fevers
*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
*Artocarpus altilis*	Breadfruit	leaves	heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, diarrhea, urinary tract infections
		stem exudate	abscesses, bruises and sprains
*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
*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
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
*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
*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;
*Nerium oleander*	Oleander	sap (toxic)	skin diseases
*Pandanus sp*	Screwpine	leaf	reduce external swelling
*Petrea volubilis*	Blue Petrea	leaves	abortifuge, diarrhoea
*Pimenta officinalis*	Allspice, Pimento	leaf/oil	toothache anesthetic
*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