We would like to announce our new collaboration with Dr. Lizbeth Mendoza, who is featuring a wide range of herbs and other natural healing products at our EcoShop. She presents the following article as an introduction to locally available traditional remedies:

Medicinal Trees Around Akumal

Profound understanding of nature and the knowledge of the curative properties of plants and animals were the basic elements of the Pre-Hispanic curative practices. Nearly 4,000 species of medicinal plants have been identified and registered in México. Three examples of commonly available plants are:

Ceiba (Ceiba pentandra)
The Sacred Tree of the Mayans, the Great Kapok tree, reaches up to 230 feet high and 9 feet around. A gray-greenish bark covers its thorny trunk; branches spread out widely almost horizontally. Different parts of the Ceiba are used for anti-inflammatory effects and experiments have demonstrated its antibiotic properties. Baths with a decoction of leaves and/or branches are used for skin conditions, wounds, burns and rash. Leaves, which contain camphor, calm abdominal cramps (cataplasm) and combat pimples (bath), while decoction of the tree’s flowers serves as an emollient. It is also used for rheumatism, intestinal diseases, and toothaches.

Chakah or Red Gumbolimbo Bark (Bursera simaruba)
This Mayan source of resin is generally 16–66 feet tall and 16–32 inches thick; its trunk and branches are covered by a smooth, coppery, peeling bark. The Chakah leaves are green and oval shaped. It is known as the antidote to skin burns produced by another tree—the Chechen (Metopium brownei). A bath is made out of Chakah leaves and bark or just the resin may be directly applied to the affected skin. Experimental studies have demonstrated the tree’s anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Its flowers and fruits are remedies for snake bite and diarrhea, while the branches and leaves help treat skin fungus, cold, fever and diarrhea. Its leaves are used for ulcers, measles, infected gums, asthma, bloody stools and pain (head, stomach, toothaches). The Chakah bark is used for cleaning wounds, spider bites, fever, nose bleeding, and muscle pain and an infusion of the wood decoction is said to help lose weight.

Ramon or Mayan breadnut (Brosimum alicastrum)
Easy to find around Mayan ruins, the Ramon is 66–132 feet tall and up to 30–40 inches in diameter, with a straight trunk, grayish bark and smooth, oval leaves, green on one side and white-gray-greenish the other. Its exudate is used to prepare a beverage that stimulates milk production in nursing women and, when diluted in water it helps to control asthma. Leaves, bark and exudates are remedies for diabetes, cough, tuberculosis and bronchitis. The Ramon’s seeds are highly nutritious and it is believed that they were the main alternative component of the Mayan diet when corn was scarce.