TRAMIL Editorial

by Sonia Lagos-Witte

The end of a millenium and the beginning of another arise new thoughts and strengthen the work carried out during many years by universities, research centers and civil organizations, for the SCIENTIFIC VALIDATION AND APPROPRIATE USE OF MEDICAL HERBS.

In the Central America and Caribbean regions, it has been shown that medical herbs are not only part of cultural heritage but also that their use represents an important tool and support in primary health cares when scientifically validated. The Ministries of Health and universities of the region have shown their interest to carry out joint efforts in order to obtain regional agreements, to obtain benefits from scientifically validated medical herbs and to promote health care policies able to integrate this resource.

During 15 years TRAMIL (Research Programme of Applied Science and Common Use of Medical Herbs in the Caribbean) has been combining efforts of researchers and institutions working in the field of Central America and Caribbean medical herbs, in a multidisciplinary way. Ethnobotany studies, identification of species, chemical, pharmacological and toxicological studies of medical herbs used and broadcasting of information to communities are all part of this effort. This program integrates collaborators and specialists from different fields. They come from Antigua, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, France, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, French Guiana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.

Since its beginning in 1982 TRAMIL has been incessantly working aeith its collaborators around a common objective. Medical herb use under scientific criteria of security and efficacity is the strongest point of this program which allows its contributors to reach the year 2000 with a united vision of work and with the new combined initiatives.