Dominican Medicinal Plants: A Guide for Health Care Providers

Dominican Medicinal Uses
The inner bark is traditionally prepared as a
decoction and taken orally for allergy, anxiety,
arthritis, low blood pressure, kidney ailments,
common cold, flu, sinusitis and women’s health
conditions.
Safety
The bark is generally regarded as safe and
widely consumed as a culinary spice. Excessive
or prolonged use may cause irritation.
Contraindications
Large quantities of cinnamon should not be
during pregnancy due to potential teratogenic
effects.
Drug Interactions
Methacyclines (interferes with dissolution).
Clinical Data
Human clinical trials: antidiabetic (bark).
Laboratory & Preclinical Data
In vivo: antioxidant (bark).
In vitro: antibacterial, antifungal, headlice
treatment, HEp-2 treatment (essential oil).
* See entry for Canela in “Part 3: Dominican
Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more
information, including references.
Canelilla*
Allspice, bay rum tree (Pimenta dioica).
Plant Part Used
Leaf, berry, essential oil.
Dominican Medicinal Uses
Leaves: tea for common cold, flu; externally:
mashed and applied topically for arthritis, joint
pain; multi-herb tincture: taken internally for
impotence, infertility, sexually transmitted
infections. Berries, essential oil: externally for
joint pain.
Safety
Potential hypersensitivity to essential oil. Leaf
extract: low to moderate toxicity when taken
orally.
Contraindications
Lack of information on use in pregnancy,
lactation or young children.
Laboratory & Preclinical Data
In vitro: antibacterial, antifungal (essential oil).
In vivo: anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive
(leaf extract).
* See entry for Canelilla in “Part 3: Dominican
Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more
information, including references.
Canfor
See Alcanfor.
Cañafístula*
Golden shower tree (Cassia fistula).
Plant Part Used
Fruit (seed pod).
Dominican Medicinal Uses
Seed pods: decoction, orally, for constipation, to
expel worms and as a laxative.
Safety
No health risks identified in literature for proper
use; however, long-term or excessive use can
have adverse effects.
Contraindications
Pregnancy, lactation, children under 12 y;
persons with acute intestinal inflammatory
disease or appendicitis.
Laboratory & Preclinical Data
In vivo: anti-diabetic (leaf and bark extracts),
antifertility, sedative, CNS depressant (seed
extract), anti-inflammatory (leaf extract), antineoplastic,
anti-tumor (fruit extract), antioxidant,
hypocholesterolemic.
In vitro: anti-alzheimer’s (root extract),
antibacterial.
* See entry for Cañafístula in “Part 3:
Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this
book for more information, including references.
Cardo Santo*
Mexican prickly poppy (Argemone mexicana).
Plant Part Used
Leaf, flower, root and stem.
Dominican Medicinal Uses
Leaf/whole herb: prepared as a tea for bloodcleansing,
cancer, stomach ulcers, delayed
menstruation, vaginal infection, menopause
symptoms; prepared as a douche for vaginal
infection and inflammation; as a multi-herb
mixture for ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids and
tumors; root: boiled tea for stomach pain.
Safety
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