As a tropical country, Belize has a variety of plants that have been used for many generations for medicinal purposes to treat a myriad of ailments. On Monday afternoon, we got a rare opportunity to learn about the nature of these plants at the Maya Mountain Lodge on the Cristo Rey Road in the Cayo District.
Dr. Rosita Arvigo, author and an expert on Belizean medicinal plants spoke to a full house, opening a window to the world of medicinal plants.
Having spent 40 years researching plants, Dr. Arvigo also spent 13 years under the tutelage of Dr. Elijio Panti, a revered traditional healer from the nearby San Antonio Village. During his lifetime, Dr. Panti attracted patients from throughout the Americas and died at 103.
The first plant that was discussed was the ‘Polly Red Head’ or the ‘Guardian of the Forest.’ Birds love the seeds from this plant and so are dispersed widely. The plant is useful to treat mosquito derived irritations, burns and infected sores.
The Polly Red Head is boiled for ten minutes in a gallon of water and then allowed to cool. The liquid is then poured over the skin and allowed to dry naturally. “It heals the skin, anything to do with the skin,” said Dr. Arvigo.
Because it is rich in iron, the liquid from the Polly Red Head can be imbibed as a tea to treat anemia.
Another useful plant discussed was the Piper Plant for which there exist 12 species in Belize and has gotten renewed attention from botanists. Pipers such as ‘The Cow Foot’ and the ‘Obel’ have a characteristic stringy flower. Piperine is the same plant as the black pepper. Children can suck on the piper flower to get its powerful anti-parasitic properties.
But to get the most from the Piper, nine leaves are placed in a liter of water and boiled for ten minutes. Castor oil is then added to the product. Children can take the liquid all day, for nine days. The treatment is best administered during the new moon. Dr. Arvigo explains that that is the time when the worms come out of their protective sacs. At that stage, Dr. Elijio has been recorded as saying, “Adios Gusanos.”
However it was the Hibiscus Flower that got the most attention from the one and a half hour lecture at the forest covered Maya Mountain Lodge.
The red or pink (not white) Hibiscus is boiled for ten minutes and allowed to cool, then sipped all day long to prevent from threatened abortion, miscarriages and excessive bleeding from menstruation. The author of such books like Rainforest Remedies explained that one quart of the hibiscus solution should be drunk for three consecutive days to stop uterine bleeding. By its nature, hibiscus has a slippery feel. The viscous content from the flower coats the uterine membrane, stopping blood from flowing out of the microscopic blood supply to the uterus.
It is advised that the female should stay in bed and rest under the hibiscus treatment, pioneered by Hortence Wade.
Lastly, boiled turmeric was also reviewed because of its anti inflammatory properties, able to treat arthritis and enteritis. When taken along with black pepper, the body’s absorption of turmeric is dramatically increased. The anticancer properties of turmeric were also wisely explored.
