For your research it would be beneficial to talk to a Haitian
doktè fèy (medicine man). You’ll
learn a lot from them.There are also two books, about leaves and herbs from Haiti , that you
could check out: Plant ak Pyebwa Tè DAyiti
by François Severin and Les plantes et
Les Legumes D’Haiti qui Guerissent by Arsène Pierre Noël
I only know about some leaves because my mom grows some of
them. She can make tea for every type of ailments you can think of. Her mother
was the same too. I am always surprised that she has a stash of so many
varieties of leaves at home.
My mom has used fèy
melis for treating migraines, cramps, and gas. It’s also used for calming
effects, nervousness, insomnia and nightmares.
She has primarily used Fonbazen
for gas, stomach problems, intestinal worms, and cramps. But she says it can be
used for “cleaning” the stomach and flushing the kidneys. The
boiled leaves can be uses in a compress (on the forehead or the temporal area) for
treating headaches, nausea, and vertigo.
She has also boiled the leaves in a large cooking pot with
water and used them for baths.
