To celebrate the Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust's 45th anniversary this year, the Trust, supported by Phoenix Park Gas Processors Ltd has reprinted a much in demand book entitled Medicinal Plants of Trinidad & Tobago and the Caribbean.Various medicines of natural origin, especially those obtained from plants, have been in use by different cultures in our country, for many years.
The leaves, roots and bark of many shrubs, plants and trees, gave valuable service to both the native peoples of the Caribbean and the early settlers. Through the years many important medicinal facts about the usage of these local herbs and plants have been lost and, there has been a great lack of documentation.
Throughout the world prescriptions from plants alone have an estimated market value of about US$5billion annually, and 80 major pharmaceutical components are obtained from plants.The publication addresses the need for a level of awareness of the value of our medicinal plants, and gives a working knowledge of our plants, trees and the functional and fascinating uses, which are an important part of our heritage.