Dominican Medicinal Plants: A Guide for Health Care Providers

Sultana S, Perwaiz S, Iqbal M, Athar M. 1995. as cited in Gruenwald et al. (2004). Crude extracts of
hepatoprotective plants Solanum nigrum and Cichorium intybus inhibit free radical-mediated DNA
damage. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 45:189-192.
Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C, eds. 2004. Physicians’ Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines, Third Edition.
Montvale, NJ: Thomson Healthcare, Inc. 988 pp.
Yukes JE, Balick MJ, Kronenberg F, Reiff M, Johnson K. 2002-2003. Urban Ethnobotany Project, Phase III -
Dominican herbal remedies for women's health. Unpublished field notes. Manuscript on file, The New
York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY.
Hierbabuena
OTHER COMMON NAMES
Hierba buena, mentha, menta, toronjil, yerba buena (Spanish); mint, peppermint, spearmint (English)
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Mentha spp.; various species in this genus are used, most commonly Mentha spicata (called
hierbabuena or spearmint) and Mentha × piperita (toronjil or peppermint). [Lamiaceae (Mint Family)].
DOMINICAN MEDICINAL USES
In ethnobotanical studies conducted in New York City, Dominican interview participants reported using
or knowing about the use of this plant as a remedy for the following health conditions (Balick et al. 2000,
Yukes et al. 2002-2003):
- Anxiety
- Burns
- Diabetes
- Indigestion
- Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea)
- Minor skin abrasions
- Stomach ache and abdominal pain
- Stress
- Uterine fibroids
Plant Part Used: Leaves, stems, flowers and volatile oil distilled from the fresh aerial parts of the herb in
flower.
Traditional Preparation: Typically the leaves are prepared as a tea by infusion or decoction.
Traditional Uses: Hierbabuena leaves and stems (either fresh or dried) make a delicious tea for easing
stomach ache, abdominal pain or indigestion. As a tea for the relief of stress and anxiety, this herb is
sometimes combined with chamomile (manzanilla). They can be prepared as either a hot or cold tea. For
diabetes, a tea of the leaves is prepared without sugar or sweetener. For burns or minor abrasions, a
poultice is made by crushing or liquefying the fresh leaves so that they exude a small amount of green
juice (zumo), and this zumo is applied to the affected area. For menstrual cramps (dolores menstruales),
hierbabuena is boiled with eggshells (cáscaras de huevos) and cinnamon (canela) to make a tea.
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