Table 2

Most common medicinal herbs and their reputed uses cited by public health sector physicians in Trinidad

Common name

Botanical name

Traditional medicinal uses identified

No. (%) of physicians citing

Lemon grass

Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf.

Fever, common cold, blood purifier, headache

34 (17.7)

Gingko

Gingko biloba L.

Enhance memory, vertigo, dementia, impotence

29 (15.1)

Marijuana

Cannabis sativa L.

Asthma, glaucoma, anorexia, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, nausea/vomiting, analgesic antidepressant

26 (13.5)

Garlic

Allium sativum L.

Hypertension, fever, joint pain, cough, analgesic, anti-parasitic, kidney problems

24 (12.5)

Aloes

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller)

Superficial wounds/cuts, dysmenorrhea, acid peptic disease, acne, skin purifier, peptic ulcer, constipation

23 (12.0)

Senna

Cassia senna L.

Laxative, antihelmentic, 'colon cleanser', 'blood purifier'

19 (9.9)

Noni

Morinda citrifolia Linn.

Hypertension, acne, diabetes, pain, immune system, prostate

18 (9.4)

Ginseng

Panax ginseng C.A. Mayer

Enhance stamina and memory, aphrodisiac

17 (8.9)

Echinacea

Echinacea purpurea L. Moench

Boost immune system, upper respiratory tract infections, common cold, acne

15 (7.8)

St. John's wort

Hypercium perforatum L.

Depression

15 (7.8)

Evening primrose oil

Oenothera biennis Nutt.

Hormonal imbalance in menopause, breast pathology and mastalgia

11 (5.7)

Saw palmetto

Serenoa repens (Bartram) Small

Benign prostatic hypertrophy

11 (5.7)

Wonder-of-the-world

Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. l

Swelling, earache, rash, mumps, cuts

9 (4.7)

Saffron

Curcuma longa L.l

Purgative, antiseptic, acne common cold, fever, cough antihistamine, menstrual problems, osteoarthritis

9 (4.7)

Clement et al. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2005 5:20   doi:10.1186/1472-6882-5-20