Skin & Wounds, M–R
Plants whose traditional record touches on skin & wounds. 57 plants, M–R.
- Mabi (Mabi)
Colubrina arborescens
Traditionally turned to for fever, digestion and inflammation.
- Madeira vine (viy vyèj)
Anredera leptostachys
Traditionally turned to for inflammation, wounds and fever.
- Mahogany (pye kajou)
Swietenia mahagoni
Traditionally turned to for fever, inflammation and skin conditions.
- Maidenhair fern (kapilè)
Adiantum capillus-veneris
Traditionally turned to for cough, hair loss and skin conditions.
- Mallow (mauve)
Malva rotundifolia
Traditionally turned to for cough, sore throat and digestive inflammation.
- Mammee apple (Abriko)
Mammea americana
Traditionally turned to for skin parasites, chiggers and lice.
- Mango (pye mango)
Mangifera indica
Traditionally turned to for digestion, skin and immunity.
- Masterwort
Peucedanum ostruthium
Traditionally turned to for digestion, the skin and aches.
- Mastic / Lentisk · Trstika / Mirta (vernacular varies) — lentisk
Pistacia lentiscus
⚠ No major contraindications established.
- Meadowsweet (Reyn-nan-prè)
Filipendula ulmaria
Traditionally turned to for immunity, digestion and the skin.
- Mexican poppy (Chadwon beni)
Argemone mexicana
⚠ Toxic — the seeds and their oil cause serious poisoning (epidemic dropsy) and must never be eaten or mixed into food oils.
- Mexican primrose-willow
Ludwigia octovalvis
Traditionally turned to for the skin.
- Milk vetch (Zèb maleng)
Anthyllis vulneraria
Traditionally turned to for the skin and coughs.
- Minniroot (flè peta)
Ruellia tuberosa
Traditionally turned to for urinary tract, fever and inflammation.
- Monkshood / Aconite
Aconitum napellus
⚠ Deadly poison — documented for recognition and caution, never for use.
- Moses-in-the-cradle (boul dimas)
Rhoeo spathacea
Traditionally turned to for fever, inflammation and skin conditions.
- Mullein (molenn)
Verbascum thapsus
Traditionally turned to for the skin and coughs.
- Musk mallow (kalalou)
Abelmoschus moschatus
Traditionally turned to for skin conditions, inflammation and urinary complaints.
- Mutamba (bwa dòm)
Guazuma ulmifolia
Traditionally turned to for fever, diarrhea and inflammation.
- Myrtle (Mirta)
Myrtus communis
⚠ Essential oil: avoid in small children (respiratory spasm risk).
- Noni (fèy doulè)
Morinda citrifolia
Traditionally turned to for immunity, digestion and liver.
- Norway spruce (Smrča)
Picea abies
⚠ The turpentine oil is a strong skin irritant; internal use belongs to guided care.
- Oat (Avwàn)
Avena sativa
Traditionally turned to for digestion, the skin and the heart.
- Olive (Oliv)
Olea europaea
Traditionally turned to for immunity, the skin and cleansing.
- Onion (zonyon)
Allium cepa
Traditionally turned to for immunity, digestion and skin.
- Orchid tree (ti kanson)
Bauhinia divaricata
Traditionally turned to for fever, inflammation and skin conditions.
- Paradise tree (frenn)
Simaruba glauca
Traditionally turned to for fever, inflammation and skin conditions.
- Pasqueflower
Pulsatilla vulgaris
⚠ Toxic when fresh — the fresh plant carries protoanemonin, a caustic that blisters skin and, taken internally, can cause severe digestive injury, seizures, and kidney damage; large doses are fatal.
- Passion fruit (grenadya)
Passiflora edulis
Traditionally turned to for anxiety, sleep and inflammation.
- Peacock flower (fransiyad)
Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Traditionally turned to for fever, inflammation and skin conditions.
- Peanut (pistach)
Arachis hypogaea
Traditionally turned to for nutrition, energy and digestion.
- Pedunculate oak
Quercus robur
Traditionally turned to for the skin.
- Pepper grass (kreson danwa)
Lepidium virginicum
Traditionally turned to for digestion, skin conditions and fever.
- Periwinkle (san sès)
Catharanthus roseus
Traditionally turned to for cancer support, diabetes and fever.
- Phyllanthus (dèyè do)
Phyllanthus niruri
Traditionally turned to for liver, kidney and hepatitis.
- Physic nut (medsiyen beni)
Jatropha curcas
⚠ Never swallow any part — the seed holds curcin, a ricin-like cell poison, and most poisonings are in children.
- Pigeon pea (pwa kongo)
Cajanus cajan
Traditionally turned to for nutrition, digestion and anemia.
- Pigweed (Kase zo)
Boerhaavia diffusa
Traditionally turned to for nutrition, digestion and inflammation.
- Pineapple (anana)
Ananas comosus
Traditionally turned to for digestion, immunity and skin.
- Pomegranate (pye grenad)
Punica granatum
Traditionally turned to for heart health, immunity and digestion.
- Portia tree (fèy tansyon)
Thespesia populnea
Traditionally turned to for fever, skin conditions and inflammation.
- Possum grape (lyann mòl)
Cissus sicyoides
Traditionally turned to for fever, inflammation and skin conditions.
- Potato (ponm tè)
Solanum tuberosum
Traditionally turned to for digestion, skin and inflammation.
- Prickly pear (rakèt)
Opuntia ficus-indica
Traditionally turned to for diabetes, blood sugar and cholesterol.
- Purple loosestrife (Salicaire)
Lythrum salicaria
Traditionally turned to for digestion and the skin.
- Purple mombin (siwèl)
Spondias purpurea
Traditionally turned to for digestion, fever and skin conditions.
- Purslane (koupye)
Portulaca oleracea
Traditionally turned to for nutrition, digestion and wounds.
- Quickstick (Piyon)
Gliricidia sepium
Traditionally turned to for skin parasites, scabies and mange.
- Quince (Kwen)
Cydonia oblonga
Traditionally turned to for digestion, the skin and energy.
- Ramgoat dashalong (zonbi nan bwa)
Turnera ulmifolia
Traditionally turned to for libido, urinary tract and inflammation.
- Raspberry (Malina)
Rubus idaeus
Traditionally turned to for the skin, energy and aches.
- Rattlebox (pètpèt)
Crotalaria retusa
⚠ Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that accumulate and damage the liver — not for internal use, and never in pregnancy.
- Red bean (pwa rouj)
Phaseolus vulgaris
Traditionally turned to for nutrition, digestion and inflammation.
- Red mangrove (manglye wouj)
Rhizophora mangle
Traditionally turned to for fever, inflammation and skin conditions.
- Ribwort plantain (Plantan)
Plantago lanceolata
Traditionally turned to for the nerves, the skin and coughs.
- Ringworm senna (dat)
Cassia alata
Traditionally turned to for ringworm, fungal infections and skin diseases.
- Rose hip (Grenn wozo sovaj)
Rosa canina
Traditionally turned to for immunity, the skin and energy.