Dominica: Examining Culture through Medicinal Plant Use

This paper focuses on medicinal plant use in the Commonwealth of Dominica, a Caribbean island in the Lesser Antilles. The purpose of this research was to understand cultural and environmental factors associated with medicinal plant use. Qualitative methods in the form of semi-structured interviews were used to ascertain knowledge surrounding medicinal plants. From these interviews plant lists were generated to compare and analyze species importance, spatial distribution, and use. This research found that many species used for medicinal purposes are pan-tropical weedy species that thrive in disturbed landscapes. In addition, it highlights the similarities of adaptations between plants and cultures to thrive and overcome the disruptions of ecosystems as well as human disruption (i.e. migration, slavery, indentured labor) in non-native environments. Furthermore, the overall cultural importance of these plants as medicine and their continued use throughout Dominica’s history signal to their establishment within Dominican culture.