- Medicinal Herb Garden
https://www.islandherbsandspices.com/product-category/jamaican-herbs-2/
A medicinal herb garden is a type of garden where different kinds of medicinal plants are grown with the goal of serving the needs of general health maintenance. You may be wondering, “what are medicinal plants then?”
A medicinal plant is described as any type of plant that can be used to cure or prevent certain kind of diseases in the human body. You may not know this but the truth is, about 25% of all prescription drugs are gotten from plants and over 70% of pharmaceuticals are made from components found in plants. To a large extent, medicinal plants have provided mankind with different kinds of potent drugs to help reduce the prevalence of infections and chronic diseases. Millions of people across the world use plant-based drugs, and despite the continuous advancement in synthetic drugs, some of the plant-derived drugs still remain important and relevant. Medicinal plants can be used or consumed in different forms. They can be used as powders, salves, herbal baths and teas, extracts or syrups.
As you take a walk around the medicinal herb garden, the tour guide will show you over 30 different kinds of herbs and also explain their uses to you. Below is a list of herbs you’ll likely come across.
- Ackee (Leaf): One of the most popular foods in Jamaica is the combination of Ackee leaf and salted cod fish. Locals call it “Ackee and salt fish”. The Ackee leaf can also be used to make tea. It is believed that tea made from ackee leaves can treat colds and flu.
- Aloe Vera: The Aloe Vera plant has a lot of medicinal benefits. It can be used to fight infections, support the immune system, decrease the inflammation in arthritis, improve the skin, cure ulcers and heartburn, and improve cardiovascular health.
- Annatto: No part of the annatto plant is a waste; the bark, leaves and seeds can be used for medicinal purposes. This herb is the major ingredient in a product called Cumsee Lotion which can be used to treat ulcers, lower blood pressure, reduce pain etc.
- Basil: Tea made from this herb can serve as a remedy for stomach upset.
- Bissy (Kola Nut): The Jamaicans call kola nut “Bissy”. It is a herb popularly known for it’s ability to neutralize poison in the body. However, it can also be used to reduce menstrual cramp pains and cure nausea, headaches, vomiting, indigestion, rheumatism, jaundice etc.
- Cerasee: The Cerasee plant produces a bitter taste when boiled, however, people still consume Cerasee tea because of it’s ability to cure stomach upsets.
- Cinnamon: Normally, cinnamon leaves are used as spices in the preparation of foods, however, they can also be boiled and consumed as a remedy for stomach upset, cold and vomiting.
Fever Grass: In other parts of the world, this medicinal plant is known as ‘lemon grass’. However, Jamaican locals prefer to call it fever grass because of its curative properties – it is believed that a tea made from fever grass is a good remedy for fever. Fever grass can also be used to cure headaches, stomach aches and urinary infections.
