Ewe: Ritualistic and Medicinal Use of

Plants in Afro Cuban Culture

Contents:
Plants: Religious Use
Medicinal Use.

Afro Cuban Belief Systems.

Plants: Ritualistic Use

Afro Cuban belief systems comes from two main and distinct regions in Africa:
From Yorubaland came what is called Regla Osha, internationally known as
Santeria
From Bantu-Speaking Central Africa, mostly Congo, came what is known as
Reglas Congas, and also Palo Monte
African slaves from many different areas contributed to these two traditions as
well.
Run away slaves established communities in the hills where all these traditions
blended.
Reglas Congas are the oldest (since the first slaves arrived in the island) while
Osha (and its IFA component) were well established around the 19th century.
During the Cuban revolution these traditions continued, but were not entirely
accepted. Cuba was then a Marxist state. In 1991 the constitution was
amended and religious practices were entirely accepted.

Regla Osha

Main belief is the power of the Orishas (Deities emanated from Olofin)
Santeros are priests, curanderos and shamans specialized in the sacred. The
tradition is mostly oral, but has recently being written.
IFA it is a more mystical and secret aspect of Osha, emanated from Orula,
Deity of wisdom. Babalawos (Father of secrets) are its practitioners.
Anthropological study suggest IFA was an addition to Osha in Yorubaland
whose origin may be Northern Africa. IFA has a long corpus of stories
traditionally in the oral tradition, and more recently written too.
The use of plants is crucial in initiation rites, as well as in the remedies
prescribed by Santeros and Babalawos.
Plants are called EWE and have the Ache (Divine energy that creates and
maintains the world)
The religion sees everything created as part of the sacred ecosystem
Ozain is the Deity of medicine: every rite uses invocations to him (example
provided: Ozain Song that started this presentation).
Most sacred plant in Cuba for Santeros: The Ceiba Tree

Osha Continued
The Ceiba tree (called Aragba, and Iroko in Lucumi language) represents the
creation, and all the divine Ache.
Several rites are conducted under the Ceiba. A Ceiba represents the
foundation of the city of Havana. Cubans walk around this sacred tree on the
November 16s eve (Havana foundations anniversary) and make a wish.

Osha Continued
Some of the most significant plants in these rites are:
Peonia, Atiponla, Bleo Blanco, Curujey, Espanta Muerto, Artemisa, Peregun, and
Prodigiosa
These plants, as well as many others are used in spiritual baths to purify the
client, and also in despojos or limpias (spiritual cleansings), and Ebbos
(procedure that involves incantations).
They are used as well in secret initiation rituals both for Santeros and Babalawos.
The plants represent the Ashe or power given to the new initiate by the supreme
God, the Orishas, and Ozain.

Artemisa
/
Obbatal/Ozain

Atiponla
/ gg
Obbatal/Eleggua

Bleo Blanco
Obbatal

Curujey
Shango

Osha Continued
In the initiation rituals these plants and numerous others play an active role in the
purification process.
Numerous stories or Patakies from the oral tradition explain the power and
significance of these plants.
Omiero is prepared in the ceremony. Omiero preparation involves a complex
process with incantations.

Espanta Muerto
Ozain / Orula

Peonia
Ochosi / Shango

Peregun
Obbatal / Ozain

Prodigiosa
Obbatal / Ozain
Yemay

Plants before the ceremony

Plants offered to Deities

Omiero Preparation

Reglas Congas

In Palo Monte there are four levels of existence: Inzambi (highest level),
Mpungos (forces that rule nature, second level), Ndokis (ancient entities, third
level), Nfumbi (deceased) and incarnated people (fourth level)
Each part of plants has specific power: roots, flowers, etc. For this system all
there is in the world is energy.
The stems or Palos from plants are used in magic. This magic can be both for
good and for evil purposes. It is the individual responsibility to use this
knowledge for the good of his/her community.
Cuban Paleros have a saying lo que sirve para bien sirve para mal, como el
aire que es bueno pero convertido en tormenta es malo. Paleros are aware
that everything in nature have both creative and destructive powers.
Paleros believe the sacred is in everything. Inzambi arriba, Inzambi abajo,
Inzambi pa los cuatro costaos (Inzambi above, Inzambi below, Inzambi in the
four directions)
Paleros consider the Ceiba tree the most sacred. The most difficult magic is
done under a Ceiba tree. The Ceiba is believed to contain all aspects of
creation, and all the deceased. Seers believe the Ceiba is a micro universe that
contains the macro universe.

Palo Monte Continued

In this tradition plants, and palos have a highly ritualized way of being
collected.
They should be collected during daylight hours and preferably right after dawn
when plants have the stronger energy.
Before collecting each plant a ritual should be performed to ask for permission
from the Monte.
During Holy week paleros traditionally collect plants and palos that they would
use during the year (best collection day is on Holy Friday)
Moon phases are important when collecting plants. The healing rituals are
mostly performed during the moons first and last quarter.
Hierberos also collect plants and palos to supply both paleros and santeros.
They are usually trained curanderos.

Palos Commonly Used

Palo Abrecaminos: It is commonly used in Cuba. It is used for spiritual baths.
Palo Ramon: One of the most respected palos in Cuba. It is used for a variety
of medicinal and magical purposes. It should be collected on Good Friday.
Palo Vencedor: It is used in many rituals with other plants. There is a male
and female plant.
Palo Santo: It is considered a protector for the other trees in the sacred forest.

Palo Abrecaminos

Palo Ramon

Palo Santo

Palo Vence Batalla

Cuban Curanderos and Medicinal Plants

Santeros and Paleros are curanderos since they consult, make a diagnosis,
and give spiritual, and medicinal remedies.
The consultation is based in oracle systems: the diloggun (santeros) okpele
(babalawos), and chamalongo and others (paleros). Santeros also make input
from their relation with the sacred (Orishas)
Other practitioners are spiritual mediums (Materia in the Mexican Curandero
tradition).
Hierberos (trained in the art of medicinal plants) sometimes are associated with
Afro Cuban traditions but not necessarily.
In the country side a hierbero and curandero tradition have co existed with Afro
Cuban religions.
These practitioners have traditionally healed illnesses associated with susto,
empacho, mal de ojo and others. They also do massage in the affected areas
and also where energy is concentrated.
The Cuban curandero tradition have many similarities to the ones that have
been discussed in this class.
Curanderos in Cuba use a type of diagnose performed with an egg.

Curanderos Continued

The curandero tradition was already existing during the 19th century
There is still a Cuban saying for difficult situations no lo salva ni el medico
chino (Refers to a famous Chinese curandero in the 1800s in Cuba that
healed using Chinese medical principles.
These curanderos never substitute Allopathic medicine; they are instead
alternative medicine. Both curanderos and religious specialist always support
the use of trained physicians. They try to heal the spiritual areas that
physicians do not include in their treatments.
In 1991, Cuba entered an economic crisis motivated by the Collapse of USSR
and the Eastern bloc. In that moment the use of alternative medicine is
encouraged again.
Today, physicians get some training in medicina verde.
There is a boom in alternative therapies such as massage, polarity, Chinese
Medicine, Ayurveda, and others.
Green pharmacies (farmacias verdes) have been opened in Havana and some
other cities as well. Yerberos sell their herbs in street stands, or in their houses

Plants used by Curanderos

Some of the most commonly used herbs are:
Albahaca: It is used for spiritual baths, against the evil eye. Also for headaches,
Anti-inflammatory, and for stomach illnesses, and to improve digestion. It is widely
used in Cuban cuisine as well.
Apasote: It is used against parasites. Also for good digestion. It is also widely used
In Cuba in spiritual cleansings, and despojos or limpias.
Caisimon: It is used for urinary illnesses. Also used for stomach inflammations.
Mejorana: It is used for susto
Paraiso. One of the most used and appreciated trees in Cuba both for ritualistic
and medicinal purposes. Used in cleansings. Used for respiratory uses.
Pomarrosa. It is used against evil witchcraft, and evil eye. The roots are used to
treat gonorrhea. Some curanderos use the flowers to alleviate Diabetes.

Plants continued
Ruda: Cuban folk beliefs consider this plant a powerful talisman against evil
witchcraft, as well as evil eye. It is used for earaches as well. It is used for a
soar throat as well.
Yerba Buena: It is used for wounds. Used for digestion, and stomach ache.
Internationally known to be one of the ingredients in the Mojito drink.

Albahaca

Apasote

Caisimon

Plants

Plants
Mejorana

Ruda

Paraiso

Yerba Buena

Pomarrosa

Plants are ready: Day before a ceremony

Hierbera

Botnica

Botnica

Plaza de Cuatro Caminos: Havanas Oldest

Existing Market