4 Jamaican herbs and remedies you never knew you needed

Lifestyle

Dec 15

Aside from white-sand beaches, weed and reggae music, Jamaica has a lot to offer when it comes to natural, organic and simple remedies for just about anything you can find at home or get at your local market. The culture that exists in Jamaica today is a result of Indigenous, African, Asian and European cultures mixing in an effort to try and preserve their own practices and beliefs. Gradually and inevitably, the cultures merge to become what we know as Jamaica today, which is why our national motto is “Out of Many, One People.” These specific home remedies are believed to be a mix of African, Indian and Chinese influences in Jamaica. The best thing about these plants is that most of them are available as tea bags prepackaged for consumption, so it’s easier to reap the endless benefits from nature’s gifts. Here are the four at-home remedies that I actually personally use from my home country, Jamaica:

1. Cerasee

Cerasee (seh-rah-see) is a bitter green plant that is usually brewed into a tea to treat “constipation,” or as a detoxifying agent for excess sugars in the body and blood. It is usually recommended to have it by itself without added sugars to aid in achieving a proper “wash out.” Cerasee is also used to treat hypertension, diabetes, parasitic worms, abdominal pains, UTI’s and menstrual cramps.

2. Leaf of life

“Bryophyllum pinnatum,” which Jamaicans call “Leaf of Life,” has been given that nickname for a reason. The plant is mainly used for respiratory conditions such as shortness of breath, asthma, colds, coughs and bronchitis, but it also has antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, detoxing, immune-boosting, anti-cancer and anti-pain properties, making it a multi-purpose plant. It is also super effective for getting rid of excess mucus in your system. It can be consumed as tea, juiced or eaten raw. And trust me when I say it tastes just like lettuce.

3. Fever grass/lemongrass

Lemongrass, which we call “fever grass” in Jamaica, is my personal favorite, especially as a tea. It is used to cure fevers, as the name suggests. Lemongrass is pretty popular in other parts of the world, too. The oil from its leaves, known as “citronella,” can be used as medicine, which is either applied to the skin or inhaled as aromatherapy.

4. Vervain

I discovered this one recently when I was seeking remedies for my cramps. “The blue porterweed,” which we call “vervain” (pronounced ver-vine) in Jamaica, is used to treat wounds, boils, burns, inflammation, indigestion, respiratory conditions, hypertension and bacterial infections. It also tastes great as a tea with a little lemon juice.

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