The Caribbean is host to one of the most diverse areas of the whole world - both culturally and ecologically. This book takes a look at some of the herbs and medicinal plants found in the Caribbean, a place awash with ancient herbal remedies for a number of common ailments. With advice on how to use them wisely, moderately and regularly, it also explores some of the myths and legends associated with these herbs and plants.

The Caribbean is host to one of the most diverse areas of the whole world - both culturally and ecologically. This book takes a look at some of the herbs and medicinal plants found in the Caribbean, a place awash with ancient herbal remedies for a number of common ailments. With advice on how to use them wisely, moderately and regularly, it also explores some of the myths and legends associated with these herbs and plants.

Jamaica has a high degree of biological and cultural diversity. Roughly, 3000 species of plants grow on the island, with 25 percent of them being found nowhere else on Earth. The Maroons of Jamaica represent one of the most important cultural groups. The history of the Maroons of Jamaica has African roots and begins in the year 1690, when a small number of slaves that had been brought from the Komoranti nation in Africa (the Akan region of West Africa or present day Ghana) fled from the hardships of plantation life and migrated to the mountains. Here they found freedom and a new autonomous way of life. Having established themselves in small communities, these forest freemen and women became known simply as Maroons, a title taken from the Spanish word cimaron, meaning wild or unruly.Today, two distinct Maroon groups persist in Jamaica, namely the Winward (eastern) and Leeward Maroons (western). Although, they have survived more than three centuries of colonization, today they continue to face new challenges - that of cultural erosion and integration into Jamaican society. Despite rapid change, a result of the exposure to non-Maroon society, Maroon communities have maintained many aspects of their traditional practices especially the use of local and introduced plants as medicines. Although, there has been no comprehensive study of Maroon ethnobotany, it is widely recognized that they possess a well developed traditional knowledge of the uses of Jamaica?s flora. This study presents some of this knowledge, and includes the common medicinal plants utilized by the Winward Maroons of Portland. This publication represents only a small fraction of the plants the Maroons use. It is hoped that this research can serve as an initial baseline for further documentation and Maroon cultural preservation.

"Imagine if you could just drink a delicious cup of tea and banish your worst headaches. Or step into a sweetly scented bath and wash away skin eruptions and rashes. What if you could get rid of that nagging back pain once and for all--in just a matter of days? If this all sounds too good to be true, it's because it is ... for most people. Over the last 500 years, these amazing health benefits--and many others besides--have been a fact of life for Jamaica's Maroons. Hidden away for centuries--nearly forgotten--the Maroons are among the world's most skilled herbalists. But 'civilization' has finally reached their high mountain valleys ... and their culture and knowledge is disappearing. Now, Ivelyn Harris, the last living Maroon healer, has broken her silence. Afraid that her ancestors' healing knowledge may die with her, Ivey has decided to share her secrets. Secrets that made heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other devastating illnesses almost unknown among the Maroons. Remedies for everything from headaches to hemorrhoids to heart problems."--Publisher's description.

This book highlights the results from over a year of ethnobotanical research in a rural and an urban community in Jamaica, where we interviewed more than 100 people who use medicinal plants for healthcare. The goal of this research was to better understand patterns of medicinal plant knowledge, and to find out which plants are used in consensus by local people for a variety of illnesses. For this book, we selected 25 popular medicinal plant species mentioned during fieldwork. Through individual interviews, we were able to rank plants according to their frequency of mention, and categorized the medicinal uses for each species as “major” (mentioned by more than 20% of people in a community) or “minor” (mentioned by more than 5%, but less than 20% of people). Botanical identification of plant specimens collected in the wild allowed for cross-linking of common and scientific plant names. To supplement field research, we undertook a comprehensive search and review of the ethnobotanical and biomedical literature. Our book summarizes all this information in detail under specific sub-headings.