Dominican Medicinal Plants: A Guide for Health Care Providers

Aceite de __________
Means “oil of (plant or animal name)”; look up
the plant or animal name specified for more
information. The most common plant-based oils
used for medicine include: coconut (coco),
castor bean plant (higuereta), sesame (ajonjolí),
olive (aceituna) and avocado (aguacate) oils.
For certain illnesses (particularly asthma), these
oils are taken by the spoonful, sometimes in
combination with oils from animal sources such
as snake (culebra), turtle (tortuga), shark
(tiburón) and cod fish (bacalao). These animalbased
oils are reportedly used by some
individuals in an asthma remedy called botella
de aceites which is typically given to children.
Achiote
See Bija.
Agave
See Maguey.
Agua
Water or water infused with herbs when used
in the context of energetic/spiritual healing; such
preparations are often scented with perfume oil,
extracted in alcohol and/or tinted with artificial
coloring agents. These aguas are often
associated with attracting good luck or
dispelling undesirable energy and frequently
used as ingredients in baths (baños) or for
cleansing rituals (limpiezas).
Agua bendita
Holy water or water that has been blessed and
sanctified by a priest or bishop, typically in the
Catholic church and some other religions. This
water may be attributed healing properties and
used in spiritual and ritual healing or in therapies
for physical ailments.
Agua de rosas
Rosewater; the hydrosol of the distillate of rose
petals; a byproduct of making rose essential oil;
may also contain other ingredients, including
alcohol, glycerine, coloring or flavoring agents
and preservatives; may be attributed therapeutic
properties and used for physical illness
treatments and spiritual cleansing rituals.
Agua florida
Floral water; a popular alcohol-based cologne
or perfume with a floral scent; used in baths and
as part of spiritual cleansing and healing
practices.
Aguacate*
Avocado (Persea americana).
Plant Part Used
Leaves, seed, fruit.
Dominican Medicinal Uses
The leaves are traditionally prepared as an
infusion and taken orally for diabetes, diarrhea,
inducing abortion, intestinal worms, menstrual
cramps, parasites and vaginal infections, and the
seed decoction is taken for contraception. The
fruit is typically used for nutritional and culinary
purposes.
Safety
No data on the safety of the leaf or the seed in
humans has been identified in the available
literature; animal toxicity studies have shown
equivocal results. The fruit is commonly
consumed as food and generally regarded as
safe.
Contraindications
Oral use of the leaves is contraindicated during
pregnancy (due to emmenagogue and uterine
muscle stimulating effects) and lactation (due to
potential for harmful effects based on case
reports in goats). No information on the safety of
the leaves in children has been identified in the
available literature.
Drug Interactions
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