THE PLANTS OF SANTERÍA AND THE REGLA DE PALO MONTE€¦ · 2 ABROJO ACEBUCHE Tibulus terretri Owner: Oggún Odu de Ifá: iwori bofun and oshe oyekun Does not go to Osain It is used

José Carlos Díaz Olufandey

THE PLANTS OF SANTERÍA

AND THE REGLA DE PALO MONTEUSES AND PROPERTIES

From ancient times to the present, plants and herbs, as well as their fruits and flowers, have played an outstanding role in the development of humankind. They have served as nourishment and for the preparation of essences, perfumes, incenses, baths and an extensive range of natural remedies that produce physical and spiritual welfare.

When reviewing the different religions one finds an indisputable common point where the practitioners employ plants to worship their symbols and invoke their virtues. They also use them as offerings to attract the favors of a saint, deity or spiritual entity.

In the practice of the Regla de Ocha and the Regla de Palo Monte, the plants represent the energy and the spirit where all forces originate. The owner of the vegetation is Osain, who was born from the entrails of the earth. To be like Osain requires continuous study and skill in cutting, praying to, and manipulating the plants. Since the majority of the foundations that rule these religious practices are transmitted orally, it is common that the information sometimes gets lost or is omitted. The Yoruba religion is made up by a group of deities associated to a power, specific attributes, certain forces of nature and parts of the body. In the practice of Yoruba medicine, each orisha requires herbs and specific foods to strengthen or restore the energy, and thus show their balance. The startinwg point is the relation between the affected organ and the orisha that rules it, and herbs and treatments are indicated based on the plants that belong to them. This work summarizes my experience regarding the mystic properties of herbs and plants, the research of Osain followers, plant sellers, and peasants.

“We are sons of the forest because life began there, the Saints are born in the Forest and our religion is also born in the Forest.

Everything is in the Forest.”Lydia Cabrera

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HOW TO USE THIS BOOK?

TEXT

Tree Water plant

Parasite plant

Herbaceous plant

Creeping plant

Bush

Vine or climbing plant

Palm tree

Plant

For the practitioners of Santería and Regla de Palo Monte, the use of herbs and plants is intimately related with the resemblance between their qualities and attributes and the respective owner. They will find a reference of the orisha owner and of Odu of Ifá.

The photographic register and careful classification will guide the Santeros, Paleros and people interested in the subject. It contains more than 300 plants in alphabetical order.

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ABRECAMINO DE JARDÍN

Eupatorium villosumOwners: Elegguá, Ochún and AsojuanoOdu de Ifá: otura bara and otura otruponGoes to Osain

It is used in cleansings to open the road to people when they are spiritually backward, and to destroy all obstacles and impediments. Mixed with water, it is used to polish bathrooms and to clean houses and people. When Elegguá is not active he covers himself with this plant, Yerba Fina, and Maravilla. You blow liquor with Guinea pepper and cigar smoke on him, and the orisha will rapidly energize and fulfill the request.

ABRECAMINO DE MONTE

Eupatorium perfoliatumOwner: ElegguáOdu de Ifá: otura bara and otruponGoes to Osain

It is used to eliminate the spirits leaning on the person or disturbing the houses. Abrecamino de Monte is used for strong cleansings together with Paraíso or Alelí, Altamisa or Artemisa and Rompe Saragüey or Cruceta. They are tied together with a red ribbon, and liquor and cigar smoke are blown on them. With a tiny branch of this plant and Cruceta in the shoes you destroy all obstacles that may stand on somebody’s way. Mixed with water it is used for baths of luck and prosperity.The infusion is used for the treatment of fevers and grippe; if the dose is increased it is used as purgative. It is also applied as a poultice to alleviate muscular spasms and rheumatic pains.

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ABROJO

ACEBUCHE

Tibulus terretriOwner: OggúnOdu de Ifá: iwori bofun and oshe oyekunDoes not go to Osain

It is used to embellish Oggun’s throne. When this orisha descends to the head of a son, he asks for some branches of this plant and places them under the armpits to dance and show his presence on Earth. The water of the boiled plant is used in baths for spiritual purification and for soreness of the body.The infusion of this plant is popularly known internally as a moderate analgesic, diuretic and spasmodic, and externally as an astringent. In some zones of Cuba it is said to have hypotensor properties, ie., blood pressure reducer.

Olea cerasiformisOwners: Oggún and ChangóOdu de Ifá: odi meyi, irosoka, Oggúnda ojuani, osakana and otrupon sheDoes not go to Osain

This plant is only used in the works of the Regla de Palo Monte, and it is very good to subdue or calm down both the enemy and any other person. With a stick from this tree, Vencedor, Amansa Guapo and two leaves of Pendejera Hembra for men and Pendejera Macho for the women, an inner sole of our left foot is made of parchment, and the name of the person one wishes to dominate is written on it with pencil and our name on top of it. Then everything is tied up with red thread and the wish is fulfilled. This work must be performed in the nganga and then placed on top of it; liquor and cigar smoke are blown on it, and left there for as long as the dead person indicates.

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ACHICORIA

Leptilon pusillumOwner: ObataláOdu de Ifá: baba eyiogbeGoes to Osain

It is used in baths for good luck and love; sunflowers are added to increase effectiveness. This plant is excellent for persons who wish to activate stagnant energies and later harmonize them. It has much energy; like the sunflower, it follows the energetic and rhythmic movements of the sun. That is why it is so healthy for our internal sun: the heart.It favors the absorption of calcium, iron and magnesium in the body. It stimulates appetite and favors digestion. It may be eaten raw or boiled.

AGUACATE (AVOCADO)

Persea gratissimaOwners: Elegguá, Oggún, Changó and OyáOdu de Ifá: ofunojuaniGoes to Osain

When the avocado is purple it belongs to Oyá. In the Cuban province of Matanzas there is an almost forgotten tradition: the person – daughter or son of Oyá – is initiated under a purple avocado tree.The water of the boiled tree bark is rich in vitamins and minerals. It regenerates energies and improves blood circulation. The infusion of the shoots is used to expel gas, for cough, and for vaginal douching. It is used to induce the menstruation because of its abortive properties. The fruit pulp is used for skin treatments. It prevents hair loss.

THE MUSIC OF THE AVOCADO

This famous plant is well known for its delicious fruit and not so much for the valuable musical contribution it makes to Afro-Cuban culture. In a recent visit to my friend Carlos’ home, he told me that he had felled the avocado tree in his garden because, in addition to hindering his home renovation project, some people had indicated that the plant was sick because its trunk was hollow.

This anecdote reminded me of people’s ignorance; it is precisely because of its hollow trunk that avocado wood is used to make the famous yuca drums. These drums, as well as the batá drums, are usually a collection of three music instruments used in the toques of different Afro-Cuban cultures.

The question then arises: If the drums come from the avocado and not from the yuca, why do they bear this name? According to anthropologist Don Fernando Ortiz, the word “yuca” is of Bantu origin and means hitting or tapping. It should also be added, as Carlos said at the time, that if a tree bears fruit it cannot be sick, and if you do not want to injure yourself, do not climb an avocado tree, because its fragile trunk will guarantee you will.

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgments How to use this book?

Abrecamino de jardínAbrecamino de monte

AbrojoAcebuche

AchicoriaAguacate

The music of the Avocado

AgueditaAguinaldo blanco

Aguinaldo moradoAlacrancillo

Alambrillo or alambrillaÁlamo

Albahaca blanca Albahaca morada de monte

AlgarroboAlgodón blanco

Algodón morado Almácigo

Almendra or almendrón Altamisa or artemisa

Amansa guapo Amor seco

Anamú or mapurite Anís estrellado

Anón or riñón Añil or indigo

Apasote or pasote Arabo

Aroma amarillaAroma blanca

ArrigánAteje or tere tere

Atipola hembra and machoAyúa

Bagá or palo boboBaría or varía

Bayoneta or pereggún Bayúa

Bejuco berracoBejuco canasta

Bejuco de Changó Bejuco jimagua or cochinero

Bejuco lechero or lechoso Bejuco leñatero

Bejuco parra Bejuco uvi

Belladona Bijagua or bijaguara

Bledo blanco or piraBledo morado or pira

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Botón blanco Botón de oro hembra and macho

Cabo de hachaCacao

Cadillo de perroCaimitillo

CaimitoCaisimón de anís

Calabaza or auyamaCambia voz

CampanaCampanita

The spirituality of Cedar

CanistelCanutillo blanco

Canutillo moradoCaña brava or bambú

Caña de azúcarCaña santa, malojillo or limonaria

CaobaCaobilla

CapulíCardo santo

CardónCedro

CeibaCerraja

Chaya or Don ChayoChayota

ChichicateChirimoya

CiruelaCiruelón

Clavellina de OchúnCobalonga or cobadonga

CocoColonia

Contra guao de costaContra guao or dominador

CopalCopey

Coralillo blancoCoralillo rosado

Corazón de palomaCordobán or zapatón

Corojo or corosoCorona del señor or de cristo

CrotoCuabilla

CuajaníCucaracha blanca

Cucaracha moradaCucaracha rallada

Culantrillo de pozoCundeamor

CurujeyDama de Gran Canaria

Dama de nocheDiente de leon

DoradillaDoradilla (a different sort)

Dormidera, sensitiva or vergonzosaEmbeleso

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EsclaviosaEscoba amarga

Espanta justiciaEspanta muerto

Espárrago or ilusión Espuela de caballero

Ceiba or Iroko?

Estrella dorada, lengua de serrucho...Estropajo

EucaliptoEwe fili

FarolitoFlor de agua

FosforitoFramboyán

FrescuraFruta del pan

Galán de díaGalán de noche

GarañónGarro blanco

GirasolGranada

Granadillo or quiebrahachoGrano de oro

Guacamaya amarillaGuacamaya francesa

GuairajeGuairo santo

GuamáGuanábana

Guanina or bruscaGuao

Guara blancaGuara macho and hembra

GuásimaGuayaba

GuayacánGuená

Güira or taparaGuisaso de caballo

Helecho de río or rizadoHelecho macho

Helecho prietoHicaco

HigueretaHuevo de gallo

Imo de OchúnIncienso

Ítamo realJaboncillo

JagüeycilloJagüey blanco and prieto

Jía blancaJibá

JoboJocuma

Jocuma amarillaJúcaro blanco

Laurel or fiscoLavanda

Lengua de vaca amarillaLengua de vaca de monte

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Malanga, messenger of the gods

Lengua de vaca enana or de elegguáLengua de vaca verde or de jardín

LevizaLimoncillo

LlanténMaíz

MajaguaMalambo

MalangaMalva blanca

Malva cochineraMalva té

Mamey coloradoMamey santo domingo

Mamoncillo or mamónMangle rojo

MangoManto

ManzanillaMarabú

Marañón or mereyMaravilla

MarilopeMarpacífico or cayena

Mastuerzo or sabe lecciónMazorquilla

MejoranaMenta

Mil floresMoruro

Mura muraMuralla or azahar

NacaguitaNevada or copo de nieve

NomeolvidesÑame

OcujeOjo de buey

Orégano cimarrón (eki oyo)Orégano orejón or francés

Orozu silvestreOrozuz

OrtiquillaPalma cana or guano cana

Palma realPalo caja

Palo cocuyoPalo justicia

PanetelaPapito de la reina or zapatico de la reina

ParagüitaParaíso blanco (acacia)

Paraíso morado or alelíParami

ParanáPasiflora

Pine, its whistle and view of the sea

Pata de gallinaPega pollo or pega pega

PegojoPendejera hembra and macho

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Péndola or baracoaPeonía or guereyeye

Pepino cimarrón or meloncilloPica pica

Pico de auraPierde rumbo

Piñón botijaPiñón de pito

Piñón florido or bien vestidoPiscuala

Platanillo carabalíPlatanillo congo

Platanillo de CubaPlatanillo peludo

PlátanoPomarrosa

PonasíProdigiosa or siempreviva blanca

QuimbombóQuita maldición

Quita maldición de ObataláRabo de gato

Raíz de chinaRasca barriga

Raspa lenguaReseda

Roble blancoRoble prieto

Romerillo amarilloRomerillo blanco

RomeroRompe camisa

Rompe saragüey or crucetaRosalillo de Don Juan

RudaSábila

Sacu sacu or malanguillaSalta perico or fulminante

Salva hombreSalvadera or jabillo

SalviaSalvia marina

SargazoSarnilla

SasafrásSauco amarillo

Sauco blancoSeso vegetal

Siempreviva roja or yerba brujaSigua

SiguarayaSiguaraya hembra

Siguaraya, receiver of Shangó’s lightning...

SoplilloStevia

Tabaco cimarrónTamarindo

Tapa caminoTapón

TecaTengue

TibisiTocinillo

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ToronjilTrébol

Tua tua or tuba tubaTulipán africano

TunaUlaga or julaga

Uva caleta or de playaUva gomosa

ValerianaValeriana (a different sort)

Vence batalla or vence guerraVencedor

Verbena cimarronaVerdolaga

Vicaria blancaYaba

Yagruma or yagrumoYaicuage

Yaitío aiteYamao

YanaYao

YarúaYaya cimarrona

Yedra or hiedraYerbabuena

Yerbabuena cimarronaYerba de la niña

Yerba de la sangreYerba de la vieja

Yerba finaYerba luisa

Yerba moraYo puedo más que tú

ZapoteZarza

ZarzaparrillaZarza uña de gato

Vocabulario

Bibliografía