Plants of both shores
Plants kept in both the Haitian and the Adriatic & Balkan traditions, or paired by the house across the two. 46 plants.
- American elder (sureau)
Sambucus canadensis
Traditionally turned to for immunity and digestion.
- Basil (bazilik)
Ocimum basilicum
Traditionally turned to for digestion, nausea and immunity.
- Black elderberry (crna zova)
Sambucus nigra
⚠ Raw berries, leaves, and bark are toxic — only cooked berries or dried flowers are safe.
- Calendula / Pot marigold · Sowsi jaden (Kalandila)
Calendula officinalis
Traditionally turned to for abrasions, minor burns and sunburn.
- Chamomile (Kamomiy)
Matricaria chamomilla
Traditionally turned to for digestion, the nerves and the skin.
- Chinese rhubarb (Rubarb Lachin)
Rheum officinale
⚠ A strong laxative — short-term use only; long-term use can harm the liver and deplete potassium.
- Christmas bush (langchat)
Chromolaena odorata
Traditionally turned to for the skin.
- Dandelion · Pisan (Dandelyon)
Taraxacum officinale
Traditionally turned to for digestion and cleansing.
- European mistletoe
Viscum album
⚠ Mistletoe is toxic and its true cardiac and anticancer preparations are injectable and physician-only; the poisonous fraction is not taken up through digestion, so any real effect requires parenteral use.
- Fennel (Fenouy)
Foeniculum vulgare
Traditionally turned to for flatulence and intestinal spasms.
- Field horsetail (Prèl chan)
Equisetum arvense
⚠ Be sure of the species — a toxic look-alike (marsh horsetail) can be mistaken for it.
- Fig (Fig)
Ficus carica
Traditionally turned to for digestion, the skin and energy.
- Giant horsetail (prèl)
Equisetum giganteum
Traditionally turned to for the skin, energy and cleansing.
- Gulfweed (sargas)
Sargassum vulgare
Traditionally turned to for energy.
- Hawthorn (Obepin)
Crataegus monogyna
Traditionally turned to for the nerves, energy and the heart.
- Hemp agrimony
Eupatorium cannabinum
Kept with caution — no safe internal preparation.
- Houseleek
Sempervivum tectorum
Traditionally turned to for the skin.
- Juniper (Jenepye)
Juniperus communis
Traditionally turned to for digestion, energy and aches.
- Lavender (lavann)
Lavandula angustifolia
Traditionally turned to for digestion, the nerves and the skin.
- Lemon balm · Melís (Sitron bòm)
Melissa officinalis
Traditionally turned to for nervousness and anxiety.
- Marjoram (majolènn)
Origanum majorana
Traditionally turned to for digestion, gas and bloating.
- Marshmallow · Gimov (Guimauve)
Althaea officinalis
Traditionally turned to for digestion and coughs.
- Mugwort (Amwaz)
Artemisia vulgaris
⚠ Avoid in pregnancy — a uterine stimulant (emmenagogue) containing thujone, not for prolonged or high-dose use.
- Olive (Oliv)
Olea europaea
Traditionally turned to for immunity, the skin and cleansing.
- Pomegranate (pye grenad)
Punica granatum
Traditionally turned to for heart health, immunity and digestion.
- Ribwort plantain (Plantan)
Plantago lanceolata
Traditionally turned to for the nerves, the skin and coughs.
- Rose hip (Grenn wozo sovaj)
Rosa canina
Traditionally turned to for immunity, the skin and energy.
- Rosemary (womaren)
Rosmarinus officinalis
Traditionally turned to for immunity, digestion and energy.
- Saffron
Crocus sativus
⚠ Safe as a pinch of culinary spice, but never as a dosed medicine.
- Sage (Saj)
Salvia officinalis
Traditionally turned to for digestion and women's health.
- Scots pine
Pinus sylvestris
⚠ The turpentine is strongly irritant and toxic in excess; handle it with great care.
- Scratchbush (zòti pikan)
Urera baccifera
Traditionally turned to for aches and cleansing.
- Seaweed (bladderwrack, kelp) · Alg marin (Fucus, Laminè, Varèch)
Fucus vesiculosus
⚠ Very high in iodine — don't self-treat a thyroid condition with it, and choose tested sources (heavy-metal risk).
- Spanish thyme (diten)
Lippia micromera
Traditionally turned to for digestion and coughs.
- St. John's Wort (Milpèti)
Hypericum perforatum
⚠ Major drug interactions — reduces the effect of antiretrovirals, the contraceptive pill, blood thinners, and antidepressants.
- Stinging nettle · Zòtye (pikan)
Urtica dioica
Traditionally turned to for leaves, gout adjunct) and nutritive (iron.
- Thyme (ten)
Thymus vulgaris
Traditionally turned to for bronchitis and pharyngitis.
- Vervain
Verbena officinalis
Traditionally turned to for the skin, aches and coughs.
- Water mint
Mentha aquatica
Traditionally turned to for digestion, the nerves and aches.
- Wild garlic (Lay sovaj)
Allium ursinum
Traditionally turned to for immunity, digestion and cleansing.
- Wild oregano (Oregan sovaj)
Origanum vulgare
Traditionally turned to for immunity, digestion and aches.
- Wild thyme (Ti ten)
Thymus serpyllum
Traditionally turned to for immunity, digestion and coughs.
- Wormwood (Absen)
Artemisia absinthium
⚠ Contains thujone — toxic if taken internally in more than small amounts.
- Yarrow (Milfèy)
Achillea millefolium
Traditionally turned to for immunity, digestion and the skin.
- Yellow gentian (Jantyàn jòn)
Gentiana lutea
Traditionally turned to for digestion and energy.
- Yellow leafbract (mòv)
Malachra alceifolia
Traditionally turned to for the skin and coughs.