Trails

Medicinal Trail

The medicinal trail exhibits the plants used in traditional folklore medicine by the people of The Bahamas. This practice, termed Bush medicine, involves the brewing of roots, bark and leaves of particular plants and trees to make beverages (commonly called teas). This tea making tradition was passed down from generation to generation and the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve is dedicated to preserving this traditional knowledge. Over 200 plant species are used for medicinal purposes in The Bahamas, to reduce anxiety, restore appetite, relieve respiratory infections, increase sexual vitality, and treat asthma and skin allergies.

This trail is organized by ailment, featuring specimen trees and plants that are used in the treatment of a particular illness. It is a must for anyone interested in homeopathic medicine and ethnobotany.

Browse the plants found in this area below.

MEDICINAL PLANT AREA
DERMATOLOGICAL USES 59 Milky Weed Euphorbia mesembrianthemifolia 60 Cough Bush Neurolaena lobata 61 Shephard's Needle Bidens alba 62 White Sage Lantana involucrata 63 Bahama Sage Lantana bahamensis 64 Bahama Buttercup Turnera ulmifolia 65 Aloe Aloe vera 66 Scurgeons needle Opuntia cochenillifera 67 Short-leaved Fig Ficus citrifolia 68 Sword Bush Phyllanthus epiphyllanthus 69 Obeah Bush Stemodia maritima 70 Blue Flower Stachytarpheta jamaicensis 71 Bahama Senna Cassia chapmanii 72 Bay Geranium Ambrosia hispida	PAIN RELIEF 5 Lignum Vitae Guaiacum sanctum 23 Horse Bush Gundlachia corymbosa 34 Silver Top Palm Coccothrinax argentata 70 Blue Flower Stachytarpheta jamaicensis 73 Thatch Palm Thrinax morrisii 74 Strong Back Bourreria succulenta 75 Mahogany Swietenia mahagoni 76 Jack-Ma-Da Koanophyllon villosum 77 Life Leaf Kalanchoe pinnata INFANT CARE 76 Jack-Ma-Da Koanophyllon villosum 78 Catnip Salvia serotina 79 Dill Antheum gravelons
BUSH TEAS AND TONICS 2 Rufous Orchid Encyclia rufa 4 Pigeon Plum Coccoloba diversifolia 5 Lignum Vitae Guaiacum sanctum 35 Gum Elemi Bursera simaruba 68 Sword Bush Phyllanthus epiphyllanthus 74 Strong Back Bourreria succulenta 75 Mahogany Swietenia mahagoni 77 Life Leaf Kalanchoe pinnata 80 Snakeroot Picramnia pentandra 81 Pissabed Vallesia antillana 82 Sweet Margaret Psidium longipes 83 Lemon Grass Cymbopogon flexuosus 84 Iron Wood Krugioidendron ferreum 85 Wild Lime Zanthoxylum fagara 86 Brasiletto Caesalpinia vesicaria 87 Snow Berry Chiococca alba 88 Wild Dilly Manilkara bahamensis 89 Feather Bed Diospyros crassinervis	COLD AND FLU REMIDIES 60 Cough Bush Neurolaena lobata 61 Shephard's Needle Bidens alba 70 Blue Flower Stachytarpheta jamaicensis 69 Obeah Bush Stemodia maritima 72 Bay Geranium Ambrosia hispida 83 Lemon Grass Cymbopogon flexuosus 77 Life Leaf Kalanchoe pinnata 90 White Torch Amyris elemifera 91 Mexican Poppy Argemone mexicana 92 Goat weed Capraria biflora 93 Wooley Booger Corchorus hirsutus OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY 66 Scurgeons needle Opuntia cochenillifera 68 Sword Bush Phyllanthus epiphyllanthus 94 Cancer Tree Jacaranda coerulea
GASTROINTESTINAL REMIDIES 65 Aloe Aloe vera 68 Sword Bush Phyllanthus epiphyllanthus 70 Blue Flower Stachytarpheta jamaicensis 71 Bahama Senna Cassia chapmanii 72 Bay Geranium Ambrosia hispida 73 Thatch Palm Thrinax morrisii 76 Jack-Ma-Da Koanophyllon villosum 80 Snakeroot Picramnia pentandra 95 Crabwood Ateramnus lucidus 96 Sea Grape Coccoloba uvifera 97 Cascarilla Croton eluteria 98 White Stopper Eugenia axillaris 99 Princewood Exostema caribaeum 100 Naked Wood Myrcianthes fragrans 101 Vanilla Orchid Vanilla barbellata	POISONOUS PLANTS 102 Castor Bean Ricinus communis 103 Young Manchineel Grimmeodendron eglandulosum 104 Manchineel Hippomane mancinella 60 Poison Wood Metopium toxiferum RESPIRATORY AILMENTS 27 Bay Lily Hymenocallis arenicola 60 Cough Bush Neurolaena lobata 77 Life Leaf Kalanchoe pinnata 98 White Stopper Eugenia axillaris CIRCULATION REMIDIES 67 Short-leaved Fig Ficus citrifolia 70 Blue Flower Stachytarpheta jamaicensis 75 Mahogany Swietenia mahagoni 76 Jack-Ma-Da Koanophyllon villosum 80 Snakeroot Picramnia pentandra 106 Satin Leaf Chrysophyllum oliviforme 107 Golden Fig Ficus aurea

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Medicinal Trail