So, it’s just after 2 AM and I’m still researching information for my blog. An earlier discussion on Facebook brought up the interesting topic of topical remedies available right here in our twin island republic. Now, anyone who’s ever grown up in either the rural parts of the country or grew up among older folks such as our parents and grandparents would have heard some of the more traditional homoeopathic treatments like using aloes to calm an itch or putting a wonder of the world leaf on a burn to heal faster. Yes, those we’ve known for a long while. But, I often wondered, are there any others?
Turns out that there are literally thousands of remedies available right in your own backyard or garden. I’ve merely highlighted a few of the lesser known ones that may have slipped your medicinal radar, so to speak:
Bissy: Also called ‘padoo’, this is nothing more than the dried fruit of the kola nut (like kola in essence). This tree grows quite often here and in other parts of the Caribbean. Use it to soothe insect bites, skin rashes, heats and acute dermal poisoning or allergies.
Carpenter’s Bush: Boil and draw the stem, leaves and young flowers to help combat a nasty cough or stubborn cold.
Bachelor Button: Infamous in rural areas, known to be quite effective in keeping diabetes in check as well as Kidney stones.
Soursop: Crush green leaves, leave it in water, and drink it as a cooling
Christmas Bush: Crush the leaves, boil them and inhale the vapours to ease an asthma attack. Also works well with coughs, colds, fevers and body aches and pains.
Calabash: Gut the young fruit, mix with honey and apply a thick formula to your hair. Detangles, un-knots and puts in a shine you can’t buy over the counter. Or, boil the leaves and drink to defeat diabetes.
Roucou: The reddish paste we put into food around Christmas time has much more to it than we know. Boil the roots into a paste with the young leaves or the fruits to beat high blood pressure and diabetes or rub some on cuts, bruises and other open wounds to sterilize.
Black Sage: Also known as ‘blister’ bush’, safe to guess why. Boil leaves, crush and apply. Easy.
Pawpaw: For the guys. Drinking the boiled roots of the male plant is equally beneficial in the stoppage of water as well as reducing the risk of kidney stones and colon cancer.
Cat’s Claw: This one is gonna be unpleasant but necessary: boil and drink with other plants to cure worms. Mind the taste. Ewww…
Jungle Mint: Also known as African mint, this particular herb is known to cure fevers when the young leaves are crushed and thrown over an open flame. Also, helps in aiding sleep.
Shandilay: For the ladies. Soak crushed leaves in water, drink with salt. Helps with maintaining ‘feminine pH’ down there…
Timarie: Also for the ladies. Drinking the cured young plant is said to cure womb infections.
Wild Senna; Crush the leaves, mix with sulphur and rub on skin or hair to beat ringworm and other parasites.
The wonder of the World: What CAN’T this plant do?
Zebapique: From grout to diabetes, asthma and more. Soak leaves, shoots or whole plants in alcohol and drink MODERATELY for maximum benefits.
So, next time before you rush off to the drug store to pay lord know’s what that might cure you, take a walk outside in your aunt’s garden and see what’s available to help you. You just might be surprised to know what comes up…literally.
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