​The cornerstone of Caribbean Botanical Medicine is tea.  "Bush Tea" and tea represents in many ways a staple in the Caribbean diet.  It's the way to start the day, its something bitter before you eat.  "Drink bitter tea and eat an orange".  It represents something hot before going to school or coming home from work.  It is not known when the integration tea occurred in the Caribbean diet, we are aware however that tea is said to originate in China, but we have no way of knowing when the infusion of bush and water occurred for the African.  We know that many cultures have used leaves, bark, and roots to make many beverages and for the former slave this represented a formula of healing. 
Oral traditions and Oral History practices have diminished in the post-colonial Caribbean culture and many remedies have been lost for more western practices.  Do you believe it is appropriate for the African (anyone of African heritage) to practice cultural appropriation?

originally published 2018

There are a number of people who believe that herbs or botanical medicine do not work.  It is important to note that efficacy of herbs is affected by biological environment, which includes what and how we eat, our sleep patterns, and how the botanical is used.

In our culture our default usage for botanicals is tea, but a handful of herbs in a pot of boiling water is not always the most effective way to get the best result.  Sometimes an alcohol extract is required, and sometimes percolation, other times steam distillation.

Current belief is that frankincense can cure cancer, true there is an ingredient in frankincense that has significant potential to cure specific types of cancer, it is however on of the larger and heavier molecules and is not available in the essential oil, it is more likely to be available in a frankincense extract.

Improper use or application is the cause of ineffective results and not necessarily the botanical itself.

The body needs to be fortified with a healthy diet, stress management, monitoring of personal and environmental health risks.  Your personal health philosophy influences how you approach your personal health.