The document provides information on herbal remedies used in Haiti for common ailments. It describes plants and plant parts used as remedies for pain, dyspnea, nausea, constipation/diarrhea. For each ailment, several plants are listed along with the plant part used, preparation method, percentage of Haitians using it, and additional information. The goal is to inform Haiti Tree Re-Introduction Program representatives about herbal remedies that could be implemented in Haiti.

1.
Herbal Remedies
Emily Hesch, Amanda Sandor, Kirby Vasquez, Kasey Hinkle
The Haiti Tree Re­Introduction Program representatives approached us and asked us to create
an information source about herbal remedies that could be implemented in Haiti. This information
should be used by voodou shamans in Haiti or as the HTRIP representatives see fit. We gathered our
information using two main sources, one a table of remedies present in Haiti and the other a guide for
Western doctors with Haitian patients. The guide for doctors described the most common symptoms of
Haitian patients, so we chose to break our study down by these common ailments: pain, constipation,
diahrrea, dyspnea, nausea, depression, and fatigue. Below you will find the plant names, parts of plant
used, directions for use, background information, and other useful information accompanied by an
image of each plant.

2. Pain​ (Patients are usually very vague about location of pain,
believing that whole body is affected; because disease travels,
location of pain is not important to them)
Plant: ​Bidens pilosa L.
Part of Plant Used: ​Leaf
Directions: ​Infuse into water and ingest
Percentage of Haitians Using: ​Between 10­40%
Plant: ​Capraria biflora L.
Part of Plant Used: ​Shoots

3. Directions: ​Decoct and ingest
Percentage of Haitians Using: ​Less than 10%
Additional Information:​ Was shown to significantly reduce inflammation in rats.
Acosta, Sulay Loy, et al. "Anti­inflammatory effects of an aqueous extract of Capraria biflora L." ​Acta
Farmacéutica Bonaerense​ 22.1 (2003): 53­56.
Plant: ​Desmodium incanum
Part of Plant Used: ​Aerial Part
Directions: ​Decoct and ingest
Percentage of Haitians Using: ​Less than 10%

4.
Plant: ​Lepidium virginicum L.
Part of Plant Used: ​Leaf
Directions: ​Decoct and ingest
Percentage of Haitians Using: ​Between 10 and 40%
Additional Information:​ Found to have ​antiamoebic, antioxidant, antiprotozoal, and
anti­mycobacterial ​properties
Calzada, Fernando, Elizabeth Barbosa, and Roberto Cedillo‐Rivera. "Antiamoebic activity of benzyl
glucosinolate from Lepidium virginicum."​Phytotherapy Research​ 17.6 (2003): 618­619.
Osuna, Lidia, et al. "Micropropagation of Lepidium virginicum (Brassicaceae), a plant with
antiprotozoal activity." ​In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology­Plant​42.6 (2006): 596­600.
Agarwal, Jyoti, and D. L. Verma. "Antioxidant Activity­Guided fractionation of aqueous extracts from
Lepidium sativum and identification of active flavonol glycosides." ​Academia Arena​ 3.12 (2011):
14­18.
Estrada­Soto, Samuel, et al. "Anti­mycobacterial Activity of Extracts from Plants used in Mexico for
the Treatment of Infectious Diseases." ​Pharmacognosy Magazine​ 4.18 (2009).

5.
Plant: ​Tradescantia spathacea Sw.
Part of Plant Used: ​Leaf
Directions: ​Heated and applied to skin
Percentage of Haitians Using: ​Less than 10%
Plant:​ Calabash (​Lagenaria siceraria​)
Part of Plant Used: ​Fruit
Directions:​ Use as ‘Cupping Glass’
Additional Information:​ small, perforated calabashes stopped up with wax are placed on/near the
pain, an incision can also be made at the site of the pain, most commonly used during a waning moon
http://www.creoleclasses.com/Free%20Ressources/Third%20World%20Folkk%20Beliefs%20and%20
Practice

6.
Plant Name:​ Turmeric ​(​Curcuma longa)
Part of Plant Used: ​Rhizomes
Directions:​ Ingested, added to food or taken as a supplement
Additional Information:​ ​Also decreases inflammation, ​Was shown to alleviate dental pain, Was
shown to reduce pain in patients with cancerous lesions
http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/2435036/reload=0;jsessionid=xmbuIgElLYLGXO82bRmW.22
Chaturvedi, T. P. "Uses of turmeric in dentistry: an update." ​Indian Journal of Dental Research​ 20.1
(2009).
Plant Name: ​Valerian (​Valeriana officinalis​)
Part of Plant Used: ​Root
Directions:​ Ingested, added to food or taken as a supplement, commonly used for muscle/joint pain
Additional Information: ​Perennial plant, blooms in the summer months, treats pain
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins­supplements/ingredientmono­870­VALERIAN.aspx?activeIngredien
tId=870&activeIngredientName=VALERIAN

7. ​Dyspnea​ (Haitians use this term to describe asthma, a state of
anxiety and hyperventilation)
Plant Name: ​Cecropiaceae or pumpwood (​Cecropia schreberiana​)
Part of Plant Used: ​Dried trunk is used, decoction
Percent of Haitians Using: ​more than 40%
More Information: ​Tree used to treat asthma and cough can grow up to 20 meters
http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=117
Plant Name:​ Vitaceae (​Cissus verticillata L.​)
Part of Plant Used: ​leaf made into syrup
Percent of Haitians Using: ​more than 40%
More Information: ​Used to treat respiratory problems, perennial shrub or vine

8.
Plant Name:​ Eupolin (​Eupatorium odoratum L.​)
Part of Plant Used: ​shoot, decoction with three stems and salt, or crushed and mixed with honey
Percent of Haitians Using: ​less than 10%
More Information: ​ingested, used for coughs and asthma
Plant Name: ​Violet Wood Sorrel (​Oxalis violacea L.)
Part of Plant Used: ​leaf, decoction mixed with animal fat
Percent of Haitians Using: ​less than 10%
More Information: ​Ingested for asthma, perennial herb
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Oxalis+violacea
​Nausea: ​(When ill, Haitians like pumpkin soup, bouillon, or a
special soup of green vegetable, meat, plantain, dumplings and
yam, porridge, oatmeal, and ​akasan​, a cornmeal cream prepared
with milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla flavoring, and salt.)

9. Plant Name: ​Cilantro or Coriander (​Coriandrum sativum L.​)
Part of Plant Used: ​Leaf, used as a decoction
Percentage of Haitians Using: ​Less than 10%
M​ore Information: ​Used for fever or vomiting, annual plant about 50 cm tall full grown
http://www.naturalstandard.com/news/news201105018.asp
Plant Name: ​Bignoniaceae or Calabash Tree (​Crescentia cujete L.​)
P​art of Plant Used: ​Fruit, cooked with sugar, honey, and rum
Percent of Haitians Using: ​More than 40%
M​ore Information: ​For stomach problems and intestinal parasites, perrenial, native to Central
and South America

10. Plant Name: ​Lemongrass or Poaceae (​Cymbopogon citratus​)
Part of Plant Used: ​Leaf, decoction or infusion
Percent of Haitians Using: ​More than 40%
More Information: ​For colds and stomach problems: herb that needs warm conditions, full
sunlight, and moisture to grow
http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture/herbs/lemongrass.html
Plant Name: ​Cucurbitaceae (​Momordica charantia L​.)
Part of Plant Used: ​Leaf, decoction
Percent of Haitians Using: ​more than 40%

11. More Information: ​Ingested, used for blood cleansing, fever, stomach problems, and intestinal
parasites: sub tropical vine with extremely bitter fruit
Plant Name:​ Allspice, Pimienta Dulce, or Myrtacae (​Pimenta dioica​)
Part of Plant Used: ​Leaf, infusion
Percent of Haitians Using: ​More than 40%
More Information: ​Ingested, used for colds or stomach problems; slow growing evergreen tree
http://www.ntbg.org/plants/plant_details.php?plantid=8885
​Constipation/Diarrhea

12. Plant Name: ​Euphorbiaceae or Foxtail Copperleaf (​Acalypha alopecurioidea Jacq​.)
Part of Plant Used: ​Leaf, decoction or infusion with salt
Percent of Haitians Using: ​ More than 10%, less than 40%
More Information: ​Ingested for stomach pains and digestive problems
Plant Name:​ Gaertn (Canellacea or canela) (​Canella winterana L​.)
Part of Plant Used: ​Bark, decoction or maceration with rum
Percent of Haitians Using: ​Less than 10%
More Information: ​Used for stomach pains or colds
Plant Name​: Verbenaceae or Quitadolor, Menta Americana, or Busy Matgrass (​Lippia alba​)
Part of Plant Used: ​Aerial part, decoction

13. Percent of Haitians Using: ​More than 40%
More Information: ​Used for colds, stomach pains, and menstrual pains
Plant Name:​ Yerba Luisa or Lemon Beebrush (​Aloysia triphylla​)
Part of Plant Used: ​Leaf, decoction
Percent of Haitians Using: ​Less than 10%
More Information: ​Used for diarrhea; low maintenance annual herb that needs full sun
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c962
Plant Name:​ Fabaceae or Marabú or Sicklebush ( Dichrostachys cinerea​)
Part of Plant Used: ​Leaf, three leaves decoction
Percent of Haitians Using: ​Less than 10%

14. More Information: ​Ingested for diarrhea; fast growing and classified as invasive in some
countries
Plant Name:​ Myrtaceae or Guayaba or Guava (​Psidium guajava​)
Part of Plant Used: ​Shoot, three leaves with salt, decoction
Percent of Haitians Using: ​More than 10%, less than 40%
More Information: ​Ingested used for diarrhea, stomach problems, and stomach pains; shade
tree or shrub
http://www.rain­tree.com/guava.htm#.U1lj7NzoRG4
Fatigue
Plant: ​Kola Nut (​Cola acuminata​) ­ also for depression
Part of Plant Used: ​Whole/powdered/crushed nuts, seeds
Directions: ​Made into tea or seeds are chewed

15. Background/other: ​Needs a hot humid climate, It may be cultivated in drier areas where
groundwater is available
Plant: ​Licorice Root (​Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Part of Plant Used: ​Roots
Directions: ​Made into tea
Background/other: ​grows in hot, dry climates; can also be used for bronchitis, inflammation,
anxiety, stress
Plant: ​Maca (​Lepidium meyenii​)
Part of Plant Used: ​Root
Directions: ​Powdered and added to food or drink
Background/other: ​Contains B vitamins and proteins among other things, has been used by
Incans for thousands of years, considered a ‘superfood’

16.
Plant: ​Astragalus​ (​Astragalus membranaceus​)
Part of Plant Used: ​Root
Directions: ​Dried root can be made into tea or soup
Background/other:​ ​Perennial herb, grows well in full sun, prefers dry, sandy soil, harvested in
the Fall after three years, also used for high blood pressure, colds, stomach ulcers, digestive
issues, and emotional stress
Depression​ (also see Kola Nut above)
Plant: St. John’s Wort ​(​Hypericum perforatum)
Part of Plant Used: ​Flowers and leaves
Directions: ​Taken as a pill or dried leaves made into tea
Background/other:​ Used medicinally for at least 2000 years, initially thought to protect the user
from ghosts or witches' spells, also used to treat colds, chest congestion, menstrual cramps,

17. headaches, diarrhea, fever, snake bit, asthma, tuberculosis, skin problems, wounds, bruises,
burns, and infections, can affect antidepressants, birth control pills, blood thinners, medicines for
HIV, cancer drugs, cyclosporine, or digoxin
Plant: ​Saffron (​Crocus sativus)
Part of Plant Used:​ Stigmas of flowers
Directions: ​Can be taken as pill, dry stigma
Background/other: ​J​ournal of Ethnopharmacology ​study shows that ​as effective as fluoxetine
(Prozac) in reducing symptoms of depression with fewer side effects; treat menstrual disorder,
difficult labor, inflammation, vomiting, and throat diseases​; takes a lot of flowers to make
dosages
*please see this link for additonal information on other herbs and plants that can be used
for medicine in Haiti:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/supplementary/1746­4269­5­16­s1.pdf

18.
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Benson, Jonathan. "Six Steps to Beating Chronic Fatigue with Natural Remedies." ​NaturalNews​.
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Colin, Jessie M., Dr. "Cultural and Clinical Care for Hatians." US Public Health Service, 2014.
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