MEDlCINAL PLANTS OF JAMAICA. PARTS 1 & 11.

More recently these practices appear to have been discontinued but Beckwith reported its use, alone or with
laundry blue, as an application for boils. In Africa it is used for intestinal troubles in children, colic, dropsy and
to promote sneezing. The tops are said to contain a glycoside asclepiadin and the roots vincetoxin. (2, 5, 8, 14,
15, 24, 27).
ASCLEPIAS NIVEA L. White Head.
Used similarly to the preceding species and Beckwith records that the juice of this species, squeezed
through a clean cloth, provides a worm remedy. (2).
FUNASTRUM CLAUSUM (Jacq.) Schleder. Milk Wys (Withe).
Used in decoction as a general beverage for adults and children, and as a cold remedy.
BIGNONIACEAE
A family of some five hundred mostly woody tropical plants of which the chemistry is little
known.
CRESCENTIA CUJETE L. Calabash.
For coughs, colds and 'to clean out the womb' young fruits are roasted, the juice squeezed out and taken
with castor oil. 'The fruit pulp is well known, if not too well known, to force the menses, birth and after-birth,
(Barham). Beckwith gives a complex recipe for a cough syrup: 'Roast nine young calabashes, strain, add one
pound sugar, five sweetsop leaves, five chigger nut leaves. Boil in thick, add a pint of wine and a "quattie"
proof rum. Take a wine-glassful three times a day. The fruit pulp is also considered purgative (used with castor
oil) and of use as a poultice. It is said to contain crescentic acid and chlorogenic acid. (2, 5, 14, 1 5, 24, 26, 27).
BORAGINACEAE
A family of about one thousand five hundred and fifty species of herbaceous and woody plants of
temperate to tropical regions in which occur alkaloids, glycosides, tannins and pigments. Among the glycosides
is consolidin and the alkaloids include cynoglossin and allantoin. Hound's-tongue, alkanet, borage and lungwort
are members of this family.
CORDIA GLOBOSA H.B.K. Black Sage; John Charles; Gout Tea.
This species is used in Jamaica to prepare a tea as a general beverage and for colds and
tightness in the chest'. In the Grenadines, where it is called man black sage, the leaves are
similarly used to make tea for colds. (13, 25).
HELIOTROPIUM PARVIFLORUM L. Wild Clary; Dog's Tail: Sage.
Used to make tea for colds, 'for the belly', and as a wash for sore eyes. It may also be used as a general
beverage. In Lagos H. indicum L. has similar uses. (25).
TOURNEFORTIA HIRSUTISSIMA L. Chiqqer Nut; Crocus Bush: ?Hog Hook.
Used both internally and externally in the treatment of colds, coughs and fever. Both leaves and stems
are used to make the decoction. A bath containing this plant is also used after childbirth as also is the tea 'to
clear the system'. Beckwith says that for coughs it is used in conjunction with sweetsop and young calabashes,
while for 'gentleman's complaint' it is used with wild sage (?) and a dose of salts. (2, 25).
CACTACEAE
A family of about one thousand five hundred mostly succulent species mainly of tropical and subtropical
America. They contain a series of characteristic alkaloids.