Dominican Medicinal Plants: A Guide for Health Care Providers

Note: These two species are often used interchangeably as they are similar in appearance; however, S.
jamaicensis appears to be more commonly used medicinally.
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 or effects (Yukes et
al. 2002-2003):
- Anxiety
- Diarrhea
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Flatulence and intestinal gas
- Limpiar la sangre
- Mala sangre
- Menopausal symptoms
- Nervios
- Stress
Plant Part Used: Leaves and stems.
Traditional Preparation: Typically prepared as a tea of the leaves and/or aerial parts.
Traditional Uses: For intestinal gas or flatulence, a tea is prepared with the aerial parts of this plant and
sweetened with molasses (melaza). The leaves are also used for treating diarrhea and other stomach
disorders, prepared as an infusion and taken orally. To relax and relieve nervousness, stress, anxiety and
tension, a calming tea is prepared with the leaves as an infusion. This remedy is also used for treating
menopausal symptoms including hot flashes and to cleanse the blood for conditions associated with “bad
blood” (mala sangre). This herb is attributed bitter and astringent qualities.
Availability: Dried leaves and stems are sometimes sold at botánicas that specialize in Caribbean
medicinal plants.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
Verbena (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) is an upright herb or small shrub that grows to 30-40 cm tall with
stems that are bluntly 4-angled and smooth or with a few slender hairs. Leaves are oblong to oval in shape
(2-10 × 1.3-4.2 cm) and have coarsely-toothed margins. Flowers are densely clustered on long, curving
terminal spikes and have light violet, lavender or bluish-purple petals that are fused at the base to form a
trumpet-like shape with 5 rounded lobes at the end. Fruits are dry, woody and nearly cylindrical with 2
fused chambers, each containing a seed (Acevedo-Rodríguez 1996).
Distribution: Range extends from southern United States to northern South America, including the
Caribbean; this plant has been introduced and naturalized in other tropical regions and grows in disturbed,
open areas (Acevedo-Rodríguez 1996).
Note: The morphology of Stachytarpheta cayennensis is similar to the above description; however, this
species has pale blue-purple to white flowers as compared with the darker, deeper blue or indigo colored
petals of its close relative, S. jamaicensis.
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