 It was a pleasure to run into this fellow on the island of St Vincent. He was an enthusiastic spokesman for the healing therapies of his elders--the Caribs--the earliest known native residents of the Caribbean chain of islands.
He is showing me trumpet leaf, a local broad leafed plant that is used for coughs, colds, flu, nasal blockages, head congestion, asthmatic conditions and more. A tea is made with the dried, ground up leaf, brewed to a certain strength for at least 20 minutes, then sipped all day long. The steam from the tea is most beneficial. Wrapping a towel around one’s head and inhaling the aroma is a sure fix for clearing up clogged nasal passages. I’ve not had much luck in convincing companies to strike a fair trade deal with the Caribs, in order to cultivate, harvest, and market their local cold and cough remedy--but I haven’t given up yet. I hope to give my friend some good news soon. His island was hard hit in recent hurricanes. It seems only right that his society should benefit from conscious global trade, now that they are swept up in the dire consequences of more frequent and harsher storms, possibly due to climate change. Comments are closed.
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