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Bush medicine in the Exumas and long island, bahamas a field study

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Abstract

Reports from native informants backed with voucher plant specimens were obtained in a 1969–1970 field study on the Bahama islands of Great Exuma, Little Exuma and Long Island. Over 130 plant species of some 60 families are used within this culture for a wide variety of medicinal purposes. Pertinent background material and personal observations during field work indicated that knowledge of “bush medicine” is fading. The information recorded includes common names of each medicinal plant, uses, and preparations. A systematic list cross-referenced with common names is provided.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Tufts University, 02155, Medford, Massachusetts

    Joan Eldridge

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  1. Joan Eldridge
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Additional information

This work was originally supported by NSF Grant #G5738, an Undergraduate Research Participation Grant in Biology made to Tufts University, and by grants for undergraduate research in biology made by The Hurdle Hill Foundation and the Arnold Bernhard Foundation to Tufts University.

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Eldridge, J. Bush medicine in the Exumas and long island, bahamas a field study. Econ Bot 29, 307–332 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02862180

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02862180

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