Palo Mayombe, IV.1.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part IV -- Nfinda |
pp. 169-203 |
|
IV.1. |
Herbarium of Mayombe |
pp. 170-195 |
IV.2. |
Palos of Mayombe |
pp. 196-203 |
[Part V --] Appendices |
pp. 204-210 |
IV.1. |
Herbarium of Mayombe |
pp. 170-195 |
pp. 171-95 herbs
p. |
vernacular n. |
Latin name |
attributes |
171 |
abelmosco |
Hibiscus abelmoschus |
"fragrant and musky ... oil of its seeds can be used as ... perfume ... . ... It repels insects." |
|
agogo |
Brugmansia suaveolens |
"to facilitate dreaming ... and for spirit interaction. ... It ... generates loving bonds between man and spirit." |
|
aku`n |
Persea gratissima |
"also known as Avocado is ... for luck and to change one's fortune." |
172 |
amuyo |
Erigeron pusillus |
"effective against urinary problems and hemorrhage." |
|
ancanaa` / ntola |
Manilkara albescens |
"fivefold symmetry. Its flowers have five petals and its fruits always come in clusters of five." |
|
banso / ortiga |
Tragia gracilis |
"hardy small plant that thrives under harsh conditions." {candelilla (GA-CH, p. 175)} |
|
bejuco zarzaparilla |
Smilax domigensis |
"effective in the treatment of leprosy." "Gurunfinda loves this plant." |
|
beleloasu |
Trichilia hirta |
"expelling of hostile and negative spirits. It also dispels body lice". |
173 |
benkeye |
Erythroxylon confusum |
"to provoke chaos" |
|
berikolae |
Pithec-ellobium unguis-cacti |
"very thorny; it lives in symbiosis with the yellow shouldered parrot, its [the plant's] fruits being crucial to its [the parrot's] survival. ... It is used ... to create ... discord between couples and groups." |
|
bijaguara / angico / yopo |
Anaden-anthera colubrina |
"contains tryptamine and bufotenine in its seeds. ... It ... is frequently employed to cause insanity." |
|
biwoto ("IP", p. 327, s.v. "Alacrancillo") |
Heliotropium indicum |
"is used medicinally for healing wounds ... . ... It is more frequently used in ... baths." |
174 |
bukua |
Abarena glaucum |
"success in business, gambling, and love." |
|
caguairan |
Copaifera |
"good against acne. ... exterminate warts." "sacred to Cobayende." |
|
calentura |
Asclepias curassavica |
"to drain the eyes of people ... of envy." {"QuM"} |
|
cana brava |
Bambusa vulgaris |
"siliceous fluid ... from the cane is good medicine for ... asthma." |
175 |
carbonero |
Cassia biflora |
"stir sexual desires ... to reunite lovers". |
|
cat's claw |
Momisia iguanaea |
"combat fevers and ... ailments of the liver." {iguana hackberry (GA-CH, p. 607)} |
|
cedro / nkunia menga tuala |
Cedreira mexicana |
"Usually the tree used is the white cedar. ... The oil ... opens ... to otherworldly experiences." {Swietenia mahogani (DLCRC, p. 64a)} |
|
ceiba |
Ceiba pentandra |
"silk cotton tree ... is the most important tree in Palo Mayombe". "This is Nsasi's favorite tree". |
176 |
chamico |
Datura stramonium |
"sacramental plant ... mostly used to induce insanity and send nightmares" |
|
chichicate |
Urera baccifera |
"is used to unleash legions of malefica ... . It ... can expel gallbladder stones, aid in the recovery from tuberculosis and heal ovarian bleeding." |
|
chinyo |
Merremia tuberosa |
"is at times used to sow discord or create movement in a situation." |
|
chona |
Annona glabra |
"known as alligator apple ... |
177 |
" |
" " |
It ... is frequently applied in bilongo[-]s to manipulate court cases." |
|
chunue |
Cordia valenzuela |
"brings stability to the nkisi and in particular those of Nkuyu." {"wild cherry" (GA-CH, p. 85)} |
|
conchita |
Clitoria ternatea |
"an aphrodisiac and to ease ... painful periods. It has proved ... an antispasmodic". |
|
cle-kukumenga |
Randia aculeata |
"indigo berry ... aids liver recovery" |
|
cuajincillo |
Prunus myrtifolia |
"cherry" |
|
cundeamor |
Momodica balsamica |
"A decoction can be made and thrown on the ground to ... keep one[']s perimeter clean." {antidiabetic, fruit-aril is eaten cooked ("BA").} |
178 |
dagame |
Calophyllum candidissum |
"lemonwood ... . It bitter and pungent resin treats ulcers and its leaves ... diabetes." "sacred to Vence Bataya." |
|
dioke |
Ambrosia artemisii-folia |
"ragweed ... can also ease the itching of insect bites" {cf. black ragweed seed used as food-offering for ghosts of the dead among Meso-Amerindians (e.g., QD, p. 219).} |
|
dondoko |
Cestrum nocturnum |
"intense sweet smell of lilac which it releases in the night." {gala`n de la noche, very recommended for widows who wish to remarry (I`P, p. 465)} |
|
dormidiera |
Mimosa pudica |
"wonderful thorny bush which has a turbulent relationship with lilies and they should not be planted too close to each other." |
179 |
dulcamara |
Solanum dulcamara |
"bittersweet nightshade or snakeberry ... highly effective against pains in the joints and diabetes" |
|
dou`ki |
Gossypio-spermum praecox |
"treatment of hypertension, infection and swellings." "sacred to Tiembla Tierra and is used in works ... to punish." |
|
egua |
Gonolobus pubescens |
"can be used against hemorrhoids" |
|
embi |
Aristolochia trilobata |
"Orchid like vine. ... . ... was used ... to ... after childbirth ... expel the placenta, hence in European traditional medicine it is often called the birthwort." |
180 |
escoba armaga |
Parthenium hysterophorus |
"to fight pimples and ulcers." |
|
espartillo |
Sporobolus indicus |
"used in works with Nkuyu and Nsasi, in particular to manifest them as ndoki." {West-Indian dropseed (GA-CH, p. 270)} |
|
ewele keri |
Cissus trifoliata |
"grape ivy is a plant that guards the health of a household if planted at the front and back door of the house." "sacred to Baluande" {sorrel vine (GA-CH, p. 135)} |
|
fideillo |
Cuscuta americana |
"known as the Devil's hair due to its ... parasitic nature. It can attach to a great variety of plants ... and lives on in the host." |
181 |
fiko |
Erythroxylum vaccinii-folium |
"stimulates the nervous system and fights fatigue. ... It is sacred to Zarabanda and is used in works ... for new partnerships ... of business." |
|
finli |
Hura crepitans |
"with its spiny grey trunk is commonly used ... to expel intrusive spirits ... . ... It is at times used in the sacred drink ayahuasca. It is also known as dynamite tree due to the noise caused when the seed cap[sule]s are bursting". {finli = aba = acebo de sierra (TEPM, p. 103)} {salvadera, sandbox tree ("O&PH")} |
|
firio |
Indigofera suffruticosa |
"its indigo pigments ... turn into an intense royal blue color." "sacred to Baluande" |
|
flecheo |
Pithecellobium saman |
"rain tree ... is used in funeral rites" |
182 |
fugwe` / abrojo |
Tribulus cistoides |
"facilitates receiving the spirit. ... It ... restores the immune system ... . It is sacred to all nkisi." |
|
fumasi |
Elsota virgata |
"to break spells ... . ... It can also be used for opening opportunities". |
|
genjibre |
Zingiber officinale |
"ginger" |
|
gougoro` |
Cinnamomum camphora |
"effective spider and scorpion repellant" |
|
granada |
Punica granatum |
"pomegranate". [p. 183 :] "to ward off accidents and to chase away the spirits of nightmare." |
183 |
groo |
Bucida augustifolia |
"is used in Haiti ... to make wanga[-]s." |
|
guaney |
Linociera domingensis |
"for banishing and expels with great ease the presence of unwanted individuals. |
|
guaco |
Micania guaco |
"to expel ingested bilongo[-]s" |
|
hueso |
Picramnia pentandra |
"treatment of dengue. ... . ... to ward off any hostile intrusion". |
|
iggioro |
Beilschmiedia pendula |
"slugwood ... . Moss is easily drawn to this". |
|
imbi iye |
Elaphrium simaruba |
"a wood used to make drums in Haiti ... . |
184 |
" " |
" " |
... It ... is particularly good for countering gout". |
|
inki |
Gymnanthes lucida |
"to induce emotional stability" |
|
inkita / cuaba |
Amyris balsamifera |
"fragrant wood ... . The oil eleni is extracted from this wood." |
|
ise |
Pimpinella anisum |
"Anise ... a plant that draws spirits easily and facilitates true dreaming." |
|
inso / siguaraya |
Trichilia havanensis |
"to mislead any adversary." |
|
kindungo |
Capsicum annuum |
"rejuvenation and combats ... old age" |
185 |
kousu |
Stillingia sebifera |
"to maintain vitality." "sacred to Cobayende" |
|
kuakari |
Didymopanax morototoni |
"can ease tension and hysteria" |
|
kualango dianputo |
Allium sativa |
"garlic" |
|
kunino |
Schaefferia frutescens |
"to appease ... . ... to combat flu, cold and coughs." |
|
langwe |
Cordia collococca |
"used to make guitars." |
|
leremi |
Securidaca volubilis |
"restoration of the liver. |
186 |
" |
" " |
... is used to reunite people that have been parted because of bilongo." |
|
loso |
Oriza stativa |
"Rice" |
|
lunga kuma |
Zanthoxylum martinicense |
"The thorns are ... used ... for warding off the evil eye." |
|
maeri / gwangango |
Acacia cornigera |
"The thorns on the tree serve as houses for ants who in return defend the tree." |
|
macusey macho |
Philodendrum lacerum |
"with its young leaves that look like dragon's heads treats arthritis" |
|
peregun |
Dracena |
[p. 187 :] "serenity and dedication." |
187 |
male |
Cucurbita maxima |
"pumpkin ... . ... The seeds are good for the marrow and the heart." |
|
manlofo |
Ficus religiosa |
"fight cholera ... and smallpox." |
|
mansagro |
Macfadyena ungis-cacti |
"to separate and create chaos among friends." |
|
masere |
Myrica cerifera |
"bayberry ... . ... . ... against ... typhoid" |
188 |
mastuerzo |
Lepidium virginicum |
"to attract love" |
|
mayanda |
Carthamus tinctorius |
"affictions of the uterus, menstrual pains" |
|
mbala |
Ipomea batatas |
"sweet potato" |
|
mbota |
Cordia alba |
"diminsh cramps" |
|
mbuni |
Bunchosia nitida |
"very hardy wood used in healing rituals" |
|
mechuso |
Ocimum basilicum |
"blisters, ... rashes of the skin." |
|
monchunto / copaiba |
Copaifera officinalis |
"antifungal" |
189 |
ndemba |
Sesamum indicum |
"sesame seeds" |
|
nduambo |
Gossypium arboreum |
"good against urinary infections" |
|
ndukora |
Tetracera volubilis |
"heals spider bites" |
|
nbuembo |
Batatas crassicaulis |
"against chesty colds" |
|
nfei |
Agapanthus africanus |
"effective against tumors" |
|
ngu`ngo |
Kallistroemia maxima |
"sagebud is most effective in works ... to reverse spells." |
|
nkafo kibulo |
Solanum havanense |
"remedy ... of the eyes" |
190 |
nkunia |
Datura suaveolens |
"to bring people together, especially the root. ... this plant is excellent for ... the increase of animal magnetism." |
|
nontori |
Heteropterys laurifolia |
"a curious plant ... which can be applied in works of bindings. It has obsessive qualities" |
|
npoti |
Hippocratea volubilis |
"used in workings of prosperity and to fortify one[']s luck." |
|
nyouyole |
Gouania polygama |
"Black nightshade. ... This plant is ... said to be the blood of Gurunfinda". |
|
oline |
Chenopodium ambrosoides |
"the Jesuit's tea ... has a taste similar to fennel and anise, albeit with an additional note of bitterness." |
191 |
pangua |
Nicotinia tabacum |
"tobacco" |
|
peregrina |
Kalanchoe aegyptiaca |
"cough syrup can be made from it." "sacred to Baluande." |
|
plantano |
Musa paradisiaca |
banana-plantain "sacred to all nkisi." |
192 |
abre camino |
Vernonia polyanthes |
"It attracts good fortune and is indispensable for the prenda." |
|
sandu |
Cocos nucifera |
"coconut" |
|
seikon |
Acalypha diversifolia |
"afflictions of the digestive system" |
|
sekuse |
Philodendron bipinnafidum |
"vermifuge ... and can also be used against rheumatism and ulcers." |
|
sigua |
Celosia cristata |
"anti-bacterial" |
|
sucui |
Ilex montana |
"a holly" |
193 |
sunsumie |
Acacia farnesiana |
"treebarks in curing malaria." |
|
tongo |
Leonitis nepetifolia |
"against high blood pressure ... . ... It is ... referred to as lion's ladder ... . It can ... induce a ... slightly hypnotic state". |
|
topia` |
Acacia gliricidia |
"powerful repellent of external parasites and insects." |
|
totoi |
Commelina virginica |
"anti-hypertensive" |
|
touje |
Polianthes tuberosa |
"to calm down nfuri and make nfumbe more serene. ... It ... is used in works of peace ...; it brings tranquility and a more lofty spirituality". |
194 |
tu`anso |
Turbina corymbosa |
"Women's distress" "sacred to Tiembla Tierra." |
|
tufiolo |
Coffea arabica |
coffee |
|
wangara |
Serjania |
"Litchi" |
|
waniko |
Thunbergia fragrans |
"against headaches and insomnia." |
|
yena |
Petiveria alliacea |
[p. 195 :] "against bats ... . ... good effects in the treatment of Alzheimers." |
195 |
yongoso |
Helianthus annus |
"sunflower" |
|
yukula / caoba |
Swietenia mahagoni |
"cure anaemia" |
|
yumbe |
Capsicum baccatum |
"cayenne pepper" |
GA-CH = Dalia Quiros-Moran : Guide to Afro-Cuban Herbalism. AuthorHouse, 2009.
"I`P" = "I`ndice de Plantas". Lydia Cabrera : El Monte. pp. 317-606. http://mediastore.cult.cu/imagenes/libros/Libros%20Fisicos/Literatura%20Cubana/subir%20libros/EL%20MONTE%202.pdf
QuM" = "Quiebra Muelas" http://www.medicinatradicionalmexicana.unam.mx/monografia.php?l=3&t=Quiebra_muelas&id=7442
DLCRC = Teodoro Di`az Fabelo : Diccionario de la Lengua Conga Residual en Cuba. Collectio`n de Africani`a, Universidad de Alcala`. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0011/001130/113012so.pdf
"BA" = "Balsam Apple" http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/811/
QD = Heather Valencia & Rolly Kent : Queen of Dreams : the Story of a Yaqui Dreaming Woman. Simon & Schuster, NY, 1991.
TEPM = Marcelo Madan : Tratado Enciclope`dico de Palo Monte. Orunmila Edn Publ. http://books.google.com/books?id=_rP63dgCpjwC&pg=PA103&lpg=PA103&dq=
"O&PH" = "Orisha and Palo Herbs" http://www.wemba-music.org/orisha_and_palo_herbs.htm
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nicholaj de Mattos Frisvold : Palo Mayombe : the garden of blood and bones. Bibliothe`que Rouge (Scarlet Imprint), 2011.