MEDlCINAL PLANTS OF JAMAICA. PARTS 1 & 11.

A bark infusion was also used at one time as a syphilis treatment. The juice of the young roots was thought
useful in cases of colic. Thomson considered it narcotic.
According to Githens Zanthoxyllum spp. contain tannins in the bark but other constituents including
resin, bitters, alkaloids and glycosides vary considerably with the species. (8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 22, 37, 50, 59,
60, 62).
SAPINDACEAE
BLIGHIA SAPIDA Koenig. Akee.
The use of the leaves of akee to prepare a cold remedy is confirmed. The tea with salt added is used as a
mouthwash for incipient pyorrheoa. (7, 27).
SCITAMINEAE
Nearly three hundred perennial herbs of tropical America and Africa. Little chemical investigation has
been carried out; many species contain abundant starch.
MARANTA ARUNDINACEAE L. Arrowroot.
Arrowroot is included here by virtue of its continued use in Jamaica, as an invalid food. Beckwith says
that for diarrhoea a thick pap is prepared with the grated fresh "root". In earlier times it was considered to be a
powerful antidote to a variety of poisons including spider bites and arrow poisons and was commonly used in
the later stages of dysentery. In the Grenadines it is still employed as an antidote for manchineel poisoning.
West Indian arrowroot contains about 68.5% water. 20.78% starch, 9.48% cellulose and 1.22% ash
which is rich in potassium carbonate.
Barham considered that in powder form it caused sweating and was useful in cases of fever, measles,
smallpox, and for a woman at childbirth. Maya medicine also includes the latter use. (I, 2, 3, 5, 13, 27, 37, 50,
56, 60, 62).
SOLANACEAE
CAPSICUM SPP. including C. FRUTESCENS L. Bird Pepper.
Sweet peppers are reported to contain 150 to 180 mgm. of vitamin C per 100 gm. green weight. Hot
peppers continue to be used in Jamaica to prepare a gargle for a sore throat. In Maya medicine peppers crushed
with salt and the root of Mimosa sp. were used as a throat swab in cases of whooping cough and for the. same
purpose they were smoked with black tobacco: use was also made of the fruits in the treatment of earache. (2, 3,
5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 15, 22, 23, 27, 37, 39, 42, 50, 51, 56, 60, 61, 62).
NICOTIANA TABACUM L. Tobacco,
Only one minor medical use of tobacco has been reported to us for Jamaica-see Alchornea latifolia.
Tobacco smoking for the relief of toothache is also practised elsewhere and in Africa the pulverized leaf has
been used as a dressing for decaying teeth. The dried leaves of Virginia tobacco were at one time official in the
pharamcopoeias: they are sedative and antispasmodic. Though little used as an internal remedy they were
sometimes prescribed in cases of dropsy, dysuria. tetanus. colic and asthma. The leaves which contain nicotine
have been smoked for "dry belly-ache", asthma. spasmodic coughs and nervous irritability.
As an external application tobacco was, at one time, much used on ulcers. sores. ringworm. skin
parasites. Similar uses have been recorded more recently in Africa. It is said that toxic effects may result from
the use of tobacco was a styptic dressing. (3, 5, 7, 12, 15, 26, 27, 37, 39, 50, 56, 60, 61).
PHYSALIS ANGULATA L. Poisonous Cape Gooseberry: Wild Tomato.
A peasant woman has recently told us that this species can be used to prepare tea to prevent an abortion
after a fall during pregnancy. In Maya medicine the plant is found as an ingredient of a bath for fainting and
used as a poultice for swellings. In Africa it finds some use in the treatment of scabies and smallpox though
Githens considers it of doubtful value. (2, 5, 7, 10, 56).