11 More Miracle Remedies From Belize
[Editor’s Note: Norbert Figueroa is the third writer-in-residence to participate in the Road Warrior program, a partnership between MatadorU and the Belize Tourism Board. Norbert is spending the fall exploring Belize’s architecture and Mayan culture in anticipation of Maya 2012. Each week, he reports on his experiences for Matador, his personal blog, and for other outlets.]
NATURAL HERBS AND PLANTS have been used as remedies for thousands of years, especially by the Mayas, who mastered the use of the jungle’s resources to treat and cure both common and serious illnesses.
To this day many of Belize inhabitants – mostly modern day Mayas and Garifunas – practice “bush medicine,” creating natural remedies they consider even more effective than modern medicine.
For the past month I’ve gone around the country – from the highlands in the Maya Mountains to the lowlands in the Garifuna settlements – looking for natural remedies beyond those documented in the article of previous Road Warrior, Lily Girma.
Here are 11 more of the commonly used remedies found in Belizeans’ backyards.