The Caribbean is host to one of the most diverse areas of the whole world - both culturally and ecologically. This book takes a look at some of the herbs and medicinal plants found in the Caribbean, a place awash with ancient herbal remedies for a number of common ailments. With advice on how to use them wisely, moderately and regularly, it also explores some of the myths and legends associated with these herbs and plants.

This text describes the more common flowering plants, both native and naturalized, found in the Eastern Caribbean, with a particular focus on plants found at low elevations. It features 214 species, grouped into families, listed under the scientific name, each with a colour photograph, and array of local names and a simple description. Distribution in the region is indicated by maps and facts and folklore relating to their uses are provided. A quick and dirty method is described for use in the field to identify the plant. Botanical terms are explained and illustrated by a series of fully-labelled drawings and a glossary.

This book highlights the results from over a year of ethnobotanical research in a rural and an urban community in Jamaica, where we interviewed more than 100 people who use medicinal plants for healthcare. The goal of this research was to better understand patterns of medicinal plant knowledge, and to find out which plants are used in consensus by local people for a variety of illnesses. For this book, we selected 25 popular medicinal plant species mentioned during fieldwork. Through individual interviews, we were able to rank plants according to their frequency of mention, and categorized the medicinal uses for each species as “major” (mentioned by more than 20% of people in a community) or “minor” (mentioned by more than 5%, but less than 20% of people). Botanical identification of plant specimens collected in the wild allowed for cross-linking of common and scientific plant names. To supplement field research, we undertook a comprehensive search and review of the ethnobotanical and biomedical literature. Our book summarizes all this information in detail under specific sub-headings.

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This volume provides a well illustrated, easily read, and no-nonsense guide to Jamaican wild herbs and their several medicinal and related uses. The widespread cultural practice of using a multitude of healing, culinary, and cosmetic herbs is distilled to a core of about 70 species.