A timely study on alternative medicine

Aug 02, 2015 Book Review…, Features / Columnists

Book: Medicinal Plants of Barbados
Author: Damian H. Cohall
Reviewer: Dr Glenville Ashby

Conventional medicine has been slow to wholly embrace an alternative protocol in the field of wellness. For good reason, some might argue. Despite accusations over its ethical practices, the pharmaceutical industry rakes in billions of dollars annually and is a hawkishly protected enterprise.
Over many millennia, though, the medicinal properties of plants have been sought and ably used by shamans and healers. Interestingly, by the turn of the 20th century, and more so today, the need to revisit indigenous cultures have taken root. The fight against cancer, in particular, has been catalytic in reframing the dietary and nutritional debate.
One can argue that Jethro Gross’ perennial work, ‘Back to Eden’ and the growing acceptance of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Western societies have legitimized the curative properties of plants the world over. The rapidly growing trend toward organic consumption and the significance of traditional and indigenous cultures have begun to challenge the magnetic hold of conventional medicine. That natural treatments to communicable and non-communicable diseases are becoming mainstream is hardly deniable.
Indeed ‘Back to Eden’ seems more than a title of a seminal undertaking. In fact, it may well describe as a ground swell of consciousness toward natural living and healing, after a long period toward modernisation had eclipsed folk culture
In light of this new reality, Damien H. Cohall’s ‘Medicinal Plants of Barbados’ couldn’t be more timely and relevant.
The statistics therein are revelatory as they pertain to the island’s life expectancy and the demographics surrounding the use of alternative medicine. Of marked interest are the social factors that influence the reliance on medicinal plants. Cohall cites the Christian identity of the island as a key contributory factor. The biblical references to herbs as healing agents sanctioned by God are crucial in understanding the Barbadian optics on this matter.
And in identifying the plants’ phytochemical properties (antioxidant and antibacterial agents that are the chemical components used to establish drug compounds), Cohall’s work validates the long-standing folk beliefs on the efficacy of herbs.
“Sixty-six percent of the medicinal plant entries identified by Barbadians as being used medicinally contain pharmacological active phytochemicals,” and more importantly, fifty-one percent contain the said ingredient consistent with their reported use.
‘Medicinal Plants of Barbados’ is replete with tables that identify the scientific and ‘common’ name of plants, their local preparation, and their drug compound and efficacy in the treatment of chronic ailments, such as hypertension, cancer, diabetes, bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Colour photos make for easy identification, especially for the untrained eye. Appendices, inclusive of a glossary and Study/Questionnaire, serve to reinforce Cohall’s thesis.
The ability of the public health sector to efficiently respond to challenges, and its readiness to interface with natural medical therapies, demand impartial and qualified personnel. Unquestionably, Cohall’s undertaking promotes this endeavour.
Yet, it scratches the surface of this complex study, as Cohall himself concedes with the following: “The nature of the work emphasized the phytochemical analysis more than the holistic application of the whole extract and, hence, crude extract were not reported in the review. Additional chemical and pharmacological investigations need to be done on these plants to identify the bioactive constituents that are related to the indications for the specific illnesses. As expected, some studies reported the chemical profile of the plants but did not associate any of the chemicals constituents with folklore use.”
It follows that further study is needed in a field that also requires oversight and standardization. As Cohall notes, “In the region it can be speculated that polypharmacy (the use of multiple drugs to alleviate an ailment) has a higher frequency than reported in adverse drug reaction,” and “possible drug-herb interaction can cause synergistic or potential effects leading to toxicity.”
Cohall’s offering is a step toward cooperation among competing interests, while fostering research on the development of a holistic paradigm toward health. The potential for a viable biomedical industry in the Caribbean region cannot be overstated. Lastly, in an intimate and transpersonal level, ‘Medicinal Plants of Barbados’ vindicates our ancestors and elders who have long placed their faith in nature.
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Medicinal Plants of Barbados for treatment of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases by Damian H. Cohall 2014
Publisher: University Press, Jamaica, WI
ISBN: 978-976-640-499-4
Available: amazon.com
Ratings: recommended