The second edition of Medicinal Plants of Barbados for the Treatment of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases delivers the most comprehensive account yet of the island's enduring traditions of plant-based medicine. Building on the pioneering first edition, this volume expands the historical, sociocultural and scientific perspectives on herbal remedies, reaffirming Barbados as a focal point of folklore botanical knowledge in the Eastern Caribbean. Featuring an updated formulary of 157 herbal entries, the book documents plants used in the treatment of chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as communicable illnesses affecting the skin, respiratory system and other areas. Blending history, folklore and science, the book draws on archival research, oral traditions and recent studies to trace the development of herbal practices from pre- and post-colonial times to the present. Each entry includes taxonomical classification, chemical characteristics and illustrations, while evaluating the bioactive compounds that lend scientific validity to traditional uses. The legalization of medicinal cannabis in Barbados, the Caribbean and globally has sparked renewed interest in plant-based medicine, positioning this work at the centre of a growing movement to explore locally accessible medicinal plants.
Damian H. Cohall is dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences and senior lecturer in pharmacology at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill. He has published a number of research articles, book chapters and books within the area of ethnopharmacology and pharmacognosy.
PrefaceAcknowledgements 1 Treatment with Medicinal Herbs in Barbados Barbados - Discovery to its Geopolitical Landscape Plant Biodiversity in The Use of Plants as Medicines The Evolution of Medicinal Plant Practices in Barbados Factors Influencing the Use of Medicinal Plants in Barbados 2 Traditional and Currently Used Medicinal Plants in Barbados for Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases Barbadian Medicinal Plants Used in the Treatment of Non-Communicable Diseases / 26 Cancer General Cardiovascular Diseases Diabetes Hypertension Neurodegenerative Disease Barbadian Medicinal Plants Used in the Treatment of Communicable Diseases Bacterial Infections - Skin/Topical Ailments Bacterial Infections - Respiratory Ailments Viral Infections - Cold, Influenza & Chicken Pox Virus Fungal Infections Barbadian Medicinal Plants Used in Treatment Other than Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases GIT Ailments Other Conditions 3 Plant Nomenclature, Chemistry and Appraisal of Practices in Barbados Plant Nomenclature The Chemical Profi ling of the Medicinal Plants Appraisal of the Reported Bioactivity Best Practices Using Plant Based Medicines 4 Development of Medicinal Plants into Drugs and Medicines Drug Development Pipeline Cannabis: Prohibitive Shifts and the Development of a Medicinal Cannabis Industry Considerations Glossary of Terms Bibliography Index
