Hartley NeitaTHE VILLAGE in which I grew my young years was about one square mile in size. Most of it, however, consisted of trees such as logwood, calabash, cotton, bamboo, wild cherry, guinep, cashew, mango, cactus penguin, and ebony, and of course, there were all types of grasses such as guinea, and Seymour, and there were weeds galore.
Naturally with this varied vegetation there were many plants which were used for folk medicine. There were mint shrubs. Many types. They ranged from the peppermint to the penny royal, wild sage and the black mint. A sprig boiled in water was useful for stomach disorders. A clump of fever grass grew in our backyard. Three blades in a mug of hot water, sweetened to taste, got rid of our fevers. Years later I discovered this grass had an economic value, when MacNair Ltd. of Kingston through the Agricultural Marketing Corporation shipped 600 lbs to Holland from where it was distributed to Indonesians living in Europe who used it as a flavouring for meat.
The periwinkle, which is a white and pink flower grew wild in our garden. Little did I know then that one day research would show that it has anti-cancer properties.
SINGLE BIBLE
Another plant we regarded as wild was the aloe. We called it Single Bible. We were told that the juice from its leaves which was very bitter was given to Christ to drink when he asked for water while on the Cross. It was used, especially in rural Jamaica, as a tonic and laxative, and was also used as a cure for burns and cuts. My thumb was also smeared with the juice to stop me from sucking it. Yes, it worked.
A cactus which grew in our backyard was the toonah. Its leaves were thick and oval-shaped. When children had headaches, the leaf was sliced and tied to our foreheads to cool the pain.
COMFREY PLANT
Years ago, I discovered the comfrey. It is a plant which grows close to the ground and has broad leaves like the cabbage. I was eating irregularly at the time and was constantly suffering from an upset stomach. Fearing that my doctor would send me to surgery, I was dosing myself with various anti-acid medicines which gave some relief. It was then I heard about this "magic plant". It was introduced to me by Diane Robertson who had a herbal farm on the Old Stony Hill Road in St. Andrew. She gave me three leaves and told me to brew it in a gallon of boiling water, allow it to cool, sweeten it to taste and drink a cup each morning. That was some 30 years ago and
I have not been troubled with
stomach cramps since.
She also gave six plants to a visiting Texan who has propagated them and now has a farm of a couple thousand acres in his state. He started bagging them (one bag
per cup of hot water), and
subsequently developed a thriving business. A loss for Jamaica.
The sour sop is also a magic fruit. Pulped and mixed with lime juice or milk, it is not only a refreshing drink but also a mild sedative. A glass drunk one hour before going to bed helps to relax and gives a night of sound sleep. Three leaves steeped in a cup of boiling water and sweetened, also helps to calm nerves and provide a night of pleasant sleep.
Another useful plant is the paw paw. The fruit contains papain, a digestive enzyme which is a tenderiser. One of the most common superstitions associated with this plant is that it should not be
planted too close to a house as it will sap the sexual powers of the occupants. Male animals should also not be tied to the tree. And it is said that if a cutlass is used to cut a paw paw tree and not cleaned immediately, it can never be sharpened again.
Jack mandora.
