After exploring the rainforest with local "bush" doctors and shamans in Central America, I became even more amazed at how brilliantly complex nature is!
It seemed that for every local aliment there was always a plant nearby to cure it. Here are some of the local plant favorites.
Cat tail (Mis xiv):
traditional uses include rashes, blisters, sores, ulcers, fungus, ringworm, inflammation, UTI's, and other open skin wounds.
Susumba (pa-al, Toom-pa'ap):
traditional uses include rashes, infections, coughs, flu, and making a poultice for snakebites.
Yama bush (Buul-che, Ya-me-bu):
traditional uses include fever, flu, heart tonic, weakness, exhaustion, and even used as a pregnancy test.
Calabash tree (Lek, Luch):
traditional uses include asthma, bronchitis, coughs, hiccups, hypertension, and lung congestion.
Here’s a guide to some of my favorite medicinal plants while forest foraging in the Pacific Northwest…