Traditional Herbal Medicine in Dominica

Traditional herbal medicine in Dominica is deeply anchored in the island’s cultural history, a legacy of Indigenous people knowledge (the Kalinago) blended with African, European and Creole healing traditions. Used long before modern pharmaceuticals were widely accessible, these remedies remain an integral part of daily life, especially in rural villages. Elders and herbal healers (locally known as bush doctors) have passed down a sophisticated understanding of local plants, used to treat everything from fevers and digestive issues to inflammation and respiratory ailments. Many herbs are harvested directly from forest edges, backyard gardens and coastal communities, demonstrating the deep relationship between people and the island’s rich natural environment.

Botanical Heritage of Healing Plants in Dominica

Dominica’s abundant rainforests support an impressive array of medicinal herbs. Many are used fresh, dried, or prepared as teas, poultices, oils, or infusions. These herbs form a living pharmacopeia, supported by both oral tradition and modern integration into wellness and spa sectors.

Common Medicinal Plants and Their Uses

Below is a curated list of medicinal herbs used in Dominica, combining commonly known plants with harder-to-find species, many of which are known by Creole names. Their uses range from digestive relief and immune support to topical cures and spiritual washdowns.

Aloes (Aloe vera) – Burns, digestion, detoxification
Balizier (Heliconia bihai) – Women’s health, soothing baths
Basilic (Ocimum basilicum) – Nausea, headache relief
Bay Leaf (Pimenta racemosa) – Muscle relief, digestion, antiseptic
Black Sage (Cordia curassavica) – Respiratory relief, inflammation
Bois Bande (Parinari campestris) – Vitality tonic
Bois Cacao (Erythroxylum havanense) – Fever, general weakness
Bois Dieu (Guarea guidonia) – Joint pain, poultices
Cerasee / Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia) – Blood sugar, blood purifier
Cashew Bark (Anacardium occidentale) – Diarrhea, antiseptic
Cinnamon Leaf (Cinnamomum verum) – Blood circulation, immune support
Clitoria / Butterfly Pea (Clitoria ternatea) – Memory aid
Coco Macaque / Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) – Joint support, immunity
Coco Plum Bark (Chrysobalanus icaco) – Diabetes, blood sugar
Cocoa Leaf (Theobroma cacao) – Anti-inflammatory tonic
Coconut Bark (Cocos nucifera) – Gastrointestinal support
Cuban Oregano / Christmas Bush (Plectranthus amboinicus) – Coughs, bronchial issues
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) – Congestion, sinus vapor
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) – Digestion, colds
Gwayav / Guava (Psidium guajava) – Diarrhea, fever
Guinea Hen Weed (Petiveria alliacea) – Antiviral, immunity
Holy Basil / Gwo Zèfè (Ocimum tenuiflorum) – Coughs, respiratory support
Jumbie Pear / Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) – Diuretic, liver tonic
Jackass Bitters / Zèb Malad (Neurolaena lobata) – Parasites, fever illness
Lantana Leaf (Lantana camara) – Skin and rash care
Lemongrass / Fever Grass (Cymbopogon citratus) – Fever, relaxation
Mamou / Man Vine (Aristolochia odoratissima) – Female health tonic (use with caution)
Marigold / Souci (Calendula officinalis) – Skin care, anti-inflammatory
Milkweed / Mossië (Asclepias curassavica) – Respiratory relief
Mint / Wild Mint (Mentha spp.) – Digestion, headaches
Moringa / Benzolive (Moringa oleifera) – Nourishment, blood sugar support
Nightshade / Tulikoon (Solanum americanum) – Inflammation (caution advised)
Papaya Leaf (Carica papaya) – Dengue relief, gut cleansing
Palo Mulato (Bursera simaruba) – Skin and wound healing
Pennyroyal / Zèb-a-Kalò (Mentha pulegium) – Menstrual relief, fatigue support
Phyllanthus / Zèb Woch (Phyllanthus amarus) – Liver support, gallstones
Pigweed / Zèb Cochon (Amaranthus spp.) – Skin irritation, digestive tonic
Sandalwood (Amyris balsamifera) – Sleep and anxiety elevations
Snakeweed / Zèb Pawòl (Stachytarpheta cayennensis) – Fever, gas, cramps
Soursop Leaf / Gwo Tanbou (Annona muricata) – Blood pressure, sleep aid
Spanish Needle (Bidens alba) – Immune support, blood purifier
Stonebreaker / Zèb Woch (Phyllanthus niruri) – Kidney, liver support
Stinking Toe Bush / Wild Basil (Hyptis pectinata) – Respiratory issues
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) – Chronic inflammation, pain
Vervain / Zèb-a-Fèy (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) – Gastric, uterine tonic
Wild Basil / Little Basil (Ocimum americanum) – Nausea, digestive issues
Wild Carrot / Jumbie Pear (Daucus carota) – Diuretic
Worm Grass / Zé Maki (Chenopodium ambrosioides) – Intestinal parasites
Zèb-a-Fèy / Blue Vervain (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) – Female pain, digestive support
Zèb Lalé (Bidens pilosa) – Immune support, inflammation relief

These plants form the backbone of herbal practices practised across Dominica’s villages and are often referenced in local sayings and everyday conversations about health, comfort, and recovery.

Cultural Practice and Preparation Methods

Herbalists often combine plants based on ailment and age, carefully balancing potency. Preparation methods include:

Infusion (tea): most popular preparation, known locally as bush tea
Poultice: crushed herbs applied directly to wounds or skin issues
Tincture: herbs steeped in alcohol, used sparingly
Steam inhalation: inhaling vapours infused with eucalyptus, citronella or bay leaf
Cold soak refresher: herbs soaked in cool water and consumed raw for gentle hydration and cleansing

Each method ensures herbal compounds are extracted effectively, safely, and adaptively for home environments.

Spiritual and Traditional Beliefs

Dominican healing isn’t only medicinal; it’s something people, like their ancestors, have continued to believe in, but not in a spiritual sense. Many herbs are seen as protective and cleansing, used in baths to ward off illness, evil energy, or bad fortune. For example:

Holy Basil (Gwo Zèfè) is burned or steeped in baths for purification
Pennyroyal (Zèb-a-Kalò) connects to childbirth and protection rituals
Neem (Azadirachta indica) is used in bath rituals to clear energy

These practices reflect a cultural understanding that healing involves mind, body and environment, linking older traditions to modern wellness frameworks.

Important Herbs in Traditional Dominican Bush Medicine

Herbal remedies are also used to treat specific conditions directly. Here are key herbs grouped by their main uses:

Digestive Relief

Guava leaf (Gwayav) – diarrhoea, general gut health
Zèb-a-Fèy (Stachytarpheta japonica) – stomach cramps and bloating
Mint (Mentha spicata) – gas, nausea, calming

Respiratory Health

Zèb Woch (Phyllanthus amarus) – bronchitis and liver support
Wild thyme (Plectranthus amboinicus) – coughs and chest infections
Gwo Zèfè (Holy Basil) – asthma, cold and flu relief

Modern Applications and Preservation

As Dominica builds sustainable tourism and health and wellness tourism niches, traditional bush remedies are being included in spas, holistic retreats, and cultural heritage tours. Herbal teas are packaged for visitors, while trained herbalists teach about plant lore. Organisations such as the Kalinago Barana Aute, Forestry Division and local cooperatives now promote ethical harvesting and awareness to prevent overextraction. Universities and NGOs, in partnership with regional agencies, promote scientific research and documentation of herbal knowledge.

Notable Initiatives Supporting Herbal Knowledge

Waitukubuli National Trail Association – educational plant tours
Dominica Herbal Farm Project – community-based cultivation education
OECS Traditional Knowledge Initiative – documentation and preservation

Dominica’s natural healing tradition enriches the cultural landscape and supports livelihoods through eco-learning and a plant-based craft economy.

Herbal Medicine in Community Life

Across the island, older women and men are still consulted when ailments arise, often before a clinic visit. Herbal remedies are prepared fresh in many kitchens. Dominicans often incorporate bush tea into their daily routine to boost overall vitality. This living tradition remains especially resilient in rural hamlets and among the island’s indigenous people, who continue to practice and teach ancestral healing techniques.

Herbal medicine also fosters community resilience. When storms disrupt supply chains, locals turn to their gardens and hillsides for wellness needs. This reliance has created a holistic model, combining healing, survival and cultural remembrance under a shared local knowledge system.