Lemon balm, Melissa officinalis, is a perennial herb in the mint family. Lemon balm, known as melis in Haitian Kreyol, grows best above 70 degrees. It has a fresh, floral, sweet lemon scent, making it a popular essential oil in aromatherapy.

Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum), coming from the Latin word for 'nail' clovus, are the dried, immature, and unopened aromatic flower buds of a tropical tree, native to Eastern Asia. Cloves are cultivated mostly in Brazil, the West Indies (including Haiti), Tanzania, Madagscar and India.

Calabash or Kalbas (in Haitian Kreyol), Lagenaria siceraria, is a member of the gourd family. It is a small evergreen tropical tree with simple leaves and a rough bark. Its fruits are light green, with white flesh and smooth skin.

Senna is a large genus of flowering plants native to the tropics. Senna is a low-branching shrub with oval-shaped dark green leaves and lovely yellow flowers which bloom in the spring and summer.

Cultivated and respected all over the world, aloe vera treats everything from minor burns and skin irritations, to inflammation and arthritis, to diabetes, herpes and constipation. Each part of the aloe vera plant actually has its own distinct use.

Catnip or catmint, Nepata cataria, is a mint plant native to Asia and Europe, but is found all over the world.

In Haiti, there is a plant called fey lougawou (Kalanchoe pinnata), which is celebrated for its curing capabilities. This plant is known as Miracle Leaf, Life Plant and Wonder of the World in English

Cinnamon, cinnamomum zeylanicum, is a spice obtained from the inner bark of the cinnamon tree. It is native only to the island of Sri Lanka, but is now naturalized in many other countries.

What is it good for? Nutrition Nutrition Nutrition! Moringa is extremely high in protein, vitamins A and C, calcium, potassium, and iron. It also contains all essential amino acids.

Asowosi is known as bitter melon in English and Ku gua in Chinese. I'm really excited to write about this herb because it is one that I use in both the Naturopathic and the East Asian Medicine clinic very often.