Advancing Caribbean herbs in the 21st century

ABSTRACT

Just as elsewhere in the tropics, most plants used in traditional medicine in the Caribbean region have never been evaluated systematically for their theraputic qualities. It is recognized that some of them can become the raw materials for a future Caribbean herbal industry; and these are issues, which concern the Caribbean Association of Researchers and Herbal Practitioners (CARAPA). These were among the issues considered under the theme "Advancing Caribbean herbs in the 21st century" at the Sixth International conference of CARAPA on "Herbal medicine in the Caribbean". Over the three-day period, about one hundred and fifty registered participants attended the conference, including eight residents coming from Tobago, and twenty-six persons from fourteen countries outside the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Their valuable contributions are reflected in this document, which contains over thirty papers distributed across the following sections Science and the Commercialization of Herbs; Scientific evaluation of medicinal plant extracts; Issues for a Caribbean herbal industry and Continuing education in herbal medicine .... (AU)