Healing plants

On Tuesday the class went for a walk in Paies. Photos were not attempted and rain shut down photos at the bridge. Construction rerouted the class first up to road to see Hibiscus tiliaceus, Glochidion ramiflorum, Cordyline fruticosa, and Macaranga carolinensis. Then we headed up into Paies. We were dry until rain caught us at the bridge. 

Support for this walk consisted of an online handout and, new this term, a presentation. In the past the handout was sufficient. Students might not remember the name of a plant, but once they saw the local name on the list, they recalled which plant that was. This is no longer the case. The loss in knowledge is nothing short of staggering. The presentation includes images of the plants along with the local names. Perhaps this needs to be built out into a complete flora. 

On Thursday the students presented. This term I opted not to photograph each presenter. I only took a few photos of perhaps more uncommon presentations. Multiple students brought Morinda citrifolia and the leaf of Piper methysticum. There were multiple staunching of bleeding presentations. The loss of knowledge is fairly extreme at this point.

Andretti Abello brought in weipwul. Used for noni juice. Used to treat diseases such as cancer. Ripe fruit. Rinse, blend. Strain. Juice with water and drink it. 

Mary May Alten. Banana stem core. Pwurien uht. Cut into four pieces. Boil. Cool. Drink to treat cough. 

Vincent Chaem. Microsorum scolopendria. Yap. Gob. Used to cure fever or flu. Pot with water. Add two, four, or six fronds. Pairs. Boil it and steam bath (lagar). 

Rodson David. Kupwuden kolou. Staunches bleeding/stops bleeding of a cut. The newly formed leaf of kolou.

Sharla Edwin brought in koramahd, Coleus scutellaroides. Treats wounds and skin ailments. Apply the sap to wounds for medicinal purposes.

Berkarihna Hadley presented on Centella asiatica, locally known as liwadawad marer for the treatment of startle in babies, pwuriamwei. The crushed leaves yield a juice that the baby drinks to treat this culturally contextual condition.

Thespesia populnea

Cassandra Hagiltaw presented using portia tree flower buds. The tree is called "piri" in her language (outer islands of Yap). The unopened bud is used for "burn" illness in a  baby. Not burn in western sense. A baby is said to sometimes overheat and lose appetite as a result of that overheating. This is not necessarily a clinical fever but just a baby that because hot for some reason. The result is a loss of appetite. Cook the unopened flower buds in coconut milk, feed to the baby to restore appetite. 

Maygan Inos spoke about the use of sakau leaves to staunch bleeding. Used to cut wounds helps to stop bleeding. Rub it in hands then put on wound.

Ivan Iriarte also spoke about the use of sakau leaves to shut down bleeding. If you accidentally cut your finger. Crush, or pound, squeeze juice on cut, wrap to treat cut.

Joanalynn Johnny spoke on small weedy plant that I know only as mother with babies on her back.  Heal kidney.  Clean roots. Boil and drink.

Clayton Jonathan spoke about weipwul, which is used to make many kinds of medicine. Roots make yellow dye and it was said to be the the first food on Pohnpei.

Drewnida Mack (Kapinga) Spoke about noni is the plant, huanoni is the fruit. Can treat high blood pressure. Juice from the fruit is dark brown. Drink twice a day. Baby fruit is used for toothache. Pound and apply to toothache.

Ashli Manuel brought in key lime tree leaves, tehn karer.  They treat headaches, fevers, runny noses. Boil. Put leaves in. Steam bath under sheet with the infused leaves. (umwulap).

Reenomilyn Merma Mori

Scaevola taccada (Chuukese: ned). White fruit for pink eye. Leaves for ladies. Pound and squeeze with water and drink to clean out female parts.

A.J. Pelep. Sakau. Cut hand, rub together and stop bleeding.

Ferny "Daman" Perman presented on Crinum asiaticum bulb and its use in treating centipede bites.

White part of bulb is ground and applied to centipede bite to treat centipede bite.

Mesenda Phillip of Chuuk spoke on Morinda citrifolia, nen. To treat diabetes: eat ripe fruit.

Jordan Saimon brought in weipwul. Leaf is a pain reliever. Boil and drink. Young fruit can be chwed for stomach ache. 

Kenygie Sigrah of Kosrae also brought in Morinda citrifolia (ii). He covered the use of new leaves that have not grown out yet to bring a boil to a head. Young leaf is applied to the boil with oil. The leaves are called sra ii. 

Devron Sosar brought in kadiring. Infected ear treatment. 3 to 5 leaves, rub in hands, squeeze juice into your ear .