Guides Corner

Medicinal Plants of the Lowland Tropics Gallery
A look at the healing properties of our Lowland plants.

Here's some information on the medicinal properties of plants in our Lowland Tropics Gallery. All the plants listed here are labeled in the gallery.

A huge thanks to volunteer Amber Guetebier for researching and producing this document.

• Fruit contains Bromelain, " a protein splitting enzyme that aids digestion" (Chevallier 165) as well as significant levels of vitamins A and C
• Sour, unripe fruit improves digestion, increases appetite, and relieves dyspepsia.
• In India, it is used as a uterine tonic.
• The ripe fruit soothes and cools, settles gas and reduces excessive gastric acid. The high fiber content makes it useful in treating constipation.
• Juice of the ripe fruit is a digestive tonic, and a diuretic.
• The leaves encourage the onset of menses, as well treatment for the pain of menstruation.

• Fruit has a high concentration of carbohydrates, ands is a good source of calcium, vitamins A and B, ascorbic acid and thiamine.
• The sap alone or mixed with other plants heals cuts, scratches, various skin diseases. It is also used as a moisturizer for wind-cracked or scaly skin.
• For mouth sores, a treatment is made from the sap and the leaf buds.

• Fruit and seeds make a cooling and nutritive tonic, excellent for overcoming the effects of alcohol.
• In SE Asia, the seed starch is used to relieve "biliousness" while the roasted seeds are thought to be an aphrodisiac.
• Heated leaves burned with maize and coconut shells as are used in treating ulcers.
• The charred and powdered leaves are an effective cicatrizant for wounds due to surgery.
• Mixed with vinegar the latex (sap) promotes healing of abscesses, snakebite and glandular swelling.
• The bark, made into a poultice, is used for fever, diarrhea, as an expectorant and lactagogue. The wood has sedative properties and the pith is said to induce abortion.
• The root used in treatment of skin diseases, asthma and as an extract for fever and diarrhea.

• Crushed leaves used for chickenpox, ringworm and headache.
• The fruit is a laxative, refrigerant, antiscourbic, febrifuge, antidysenteric, and stimulates the appetite.
• The fruit is ideal for hypertension, diabetes and as an antiparalyitic, hemostatic, antiemetic, and a diuretic.
• An infusion, decoction or tincture of the crushed seeds serves as an emmenagogue, lactagogue, and, in large doses, as an abortifacent.
• The seeds are narcotic, emetic. They are powdered as anodyne, useful for the treatment of asthma, colic, and jaundice. It also counters ringworm.
• The leaves and flowers are consumed as an antiusive and febrifuge.

• In Caribbean the leaves and roots make an astringent infusion taken to treat fever, epilepsy, dsystentry. The infusion is also taken as an aphrodisiac.
• An infusion of the leaves alone is used as an antiseptic gargle.
• Seed pulp reduces blistering when applied immediately to burns.
• Internally, the seed pulp acts an antibody against poison. (Chevallier 51, 165)
• Seed pulp contains carotenoid, a coloring principle-often an ingredient in margarine!

• All parts of the tree except for the seeds contain tannins
• Gum oozing from incisions is known as "Bengal Kino", a mildly astringent substance used as a substitute for Kino, derived from the "Bastard teak" (Pterocarces marsupium)
• Bengal Kino is taken as a decoction or a tincture for acid indigestion, diarrhea, dysentery, and as a gargle for sore throats. It is also used as a douche for vaginitis.
• The gum is mild in effect and is commonly given to children.
• A decoction of the astringent leaves and flowers is taken for diarrhea, heavy menstrual bleeding and fever. It is also applied externally to hemorrhoids and other skin conditions.
• A decoction of leaves, bark or flowers is thought to be an aphrodisiac. Just the flowers are believed to have a contraceptive effect.
• The seeds are a purgative, and are mainly used externally to treat herpes and ringworm.
• Should not be used during pregnancy.

• Linalol (11-30%), Safrole, eugenol, geraniol and sesquiterpenes (including 15-25% germacene)
• Sedative, antiseptic.
• Oil has a soothing effect, therapeutically slowing an excessive heart rate, calming and lowering blood pressure.
• Because of the soothing aspects of the oil, it can be used to treat anxiety and insomnia as well. (Chevallier 179)
• "Leaves sooth itchy skin. Also, a paste made from the dried flowers can be used to treat asthma: the dried flowers are effective for intermittent fever, stomach disorders and boils. Bark remedies scable, ascites lymph swelling and as liniment. Flower consumed as an aromatic and against malaria. Seed used externally for fever. In Indonesia, cures scable. " (arcbc.org)

• Eases stomach pain
• Carminative
• Aromatic
• Warming digestive stimulant
• Antispasmodic
• Volatile oil (borneol, camphor, pinene, humulene, caryophyllene, carvone, eucalyptol, terpinene, sabinene)
• In the 1960's the volatile oil was found to have a strong antispasmodic action, confirming its use medicinally to treat gas, colic, and cramps
• Digestive-indigestion, gas cramps.
• Currently used in India to treat asthma, bronchitis, kidney stones, anorexia, debility and weakened vata (Chavellier 35).
• In China it is used to treat urinary incontinence, and as a tonic.
• It also is used to treat bad breath and if taken with garlic will reduce its strong smell
• It may also be an aphrodisiac.

• Seed pulp contains Xanthines, a fixed oil.
• The seeds also contain very small amounts of endorphins.
• Nervous system stimulant.
• In Central America and the Caribbean the seeds are take as a heart and kidney tonic.
• Plant is used to treat angina, and as a diuretic. Cacao butter makes a base for lip salves and suppositories.
• In 1994, Argentinean researchers showed that cacao extracts counter the bacteria that is responsible for boils and septicemia.

• Volatile oil up to 4% (cinnamaldehyde 65-75%, eugenol 4-10%)
• Tannins (condensed)
• Coumarins
• Mucilage
• Warming stimulant,
• Carminative,
• Antispasmodic
• Antiseptic
• Antiviral
• antifungal
• Cinnamon's medicinal value is due largely to the volatile oil with antiviral and stimulating properties.
• Japanese research in the 1980's showed that cinnamaldehyde to be sedative and analgene, thought to reduce blood pressure.
• Traditionally, in both India and Europe is issued to stimulate circulation, especially in fingers and toes. It also aids with digestive problems such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
• It is also used to soothe aching muscles externally

• Dried unripe fruits and dried sliced roots used as a remedy for bronchitis.
• Ripe fruits are stomatic and act as a vermifuge.
• Decoction of the leaves is used as a hair wash to prevent dandruff and preserve hairs' colour.

• Contains 0.06%-0.32% caffeine, theobromine and theophylline, and tannins.
• Theophylline is a stimulant. It also relaxes smooth muscle.
• Caffeine is a simulant.
• General stimulant, particular effect on central nervous system, temporarily improving perception and physical performance. Coffee increases heart output.
• Stimulates digestive juices and is a powerful diuretic. Can help in the treatment of headaches and migraines. Caffeine is combined with conventional analgesics for over the counter headache remedies.
• In Aryuvedic medicine the unripe beans are used for headaches and the ripe roasted beans for diarrhea. Coffee enemas cleanse the bowels.
• Short term stimulant that can provoke insomnia. Persons prone to acid indigestion, diarrhea, high blood pressure, and heart palpitations should avoid.

• Some anti-arrhythmic activity, chronotropic and antiviral.
• Anti-herpes, antioxidant, capillary protective, prevents plaque aggregation.
• Hypotensive.
• Some antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtillis and Staphylococcus aureus.
• Inhibits in vitro Salmonella typhi, Streptococcus pneumonia.

• Antihelmintic urethritis, headache, toothache, ear ache, asthma, boils, burns, cough, fever, laxative, litholytic, menstrual irregularity, prostate disorders.
• Haiti and St. Lucia- for inflammation, trauma and diarrhea.
• Costa Rica -as a purgative.
• Juice used in Mexico to prevent diarrhea.
• Venezuela -treat tumors, treat hematomas.
• Caribbean-anti-inflammatory, trauma, analgesic.
• Dominican Republic-used to treat hematoma

• Volatile oil (1-3%)-
• --Zingiberene(20-30%)
• --Oleoresin (4-7.5%)
• --Gingerol, shogaols
• Antiemetic
• Carminative
• Circulatory stimulant
• Inhibits coughing
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antiseptic
• Gingerol is an acrid constituent that is responsible for the herb's hot taste and stimulating properties. The shogaols, formed as the plant dries, are the more strongly irritant and acrid than constituents presented in fresh rhizome.
• Antiemetic-motionsickness. In 1990 trials at St. Bartholomew's hopsital in London found ginger more effecitve to treat nausea than conventional postoperative medications (Chevallier 153).
• Antiseptics-In China, 70% of patients with bacillary dysnentry recovered when treated with ginger.
• Digestive-treats indigestion, nausea, gas, colic, motion sickness, morning sickness, gastro-intestinal infections (including some types of food poisoning)Stimulates circulation, helps blood rise to surface.
• Important remedy in treating Chilblains (Chevallier 302) and poor circulation by increased the overall blood circulation.
• Helps high blood pressure , increasing sweating and helping to reduce body temperature in fevers.
• Respiratory-warming, soothing for coughs, colds, flu, other resp. problems.
• In Chinese herbal medicine, it is used for fever, headaches and aching muscles in the fresh form, and for cold hands, weak pulse and pale complexion in its dry form.
• Chilblains, colds, flu, fever, coldsores, constipation, digestive upsets including gas and colic, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, morning sickness, nausea, motion sickness…

• Unripe (fruit) bananas and plantains are astringent and are used to treat diarrhea.
• Plantain leaves, dried and made into a syrup, are used widely in Cuba to treat coughs and chest conditions such as bronchitis.
• Root is strongly astringent and has been give to arrest the coughing of blood.

• Research has begun on Alkaloids known but no confirmation as to the status.
• In Thai ethnomedicine, it is used as an analgesic and a sedative.
• In both Thai and South American traditional medicine, extracts of the plant are used as stimulants.
• Research has shown that the use of this plant counters addiction to opiates, cocaine, nicotine and alcohol.
• Tikunas of Colombia used the bark scraping to ease pain after childbirth.
• Decoction of the bark is used to alleviate stomach and rheumatic pains as well as diarrhea.

Have suggestions for other topics? Please contact Lisa Van Cleef @ lisavan@pacbell.net or leave a message for me here. My inbox is on the work table in the kitchen.