Uses of medicinal plants by Haitian immigrants and their descendants in the Province of Camaguey, Cuba.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Haitian migrants played an important role shaping Cuban culture and traditional ethnobotanical knowledge. An ethnobotanical investigation was conducted to collect information on medicinal plant use by Haitian immigrants and their descendants in the Province of Camagüey, Cuba.

Methods

Information was obtained from semi-structured interviews with Haitian immigrants and their descendants, direct observations, and by reviewing reports of traditional Haitian medicine in the literature.

Results

Informants reported using 123 plant species belonging to 112 genera in 63 families. Haitian immigrants and their descendants mainly decoct or infuse aerial parts and ingest them, but medicinal baths are also relevant. Some 22 herbal mixtures are reported, including formula

SUBMITTER: Volpato G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2690575 | biostudies-literature | 2009 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature