The Resurgence of Guinea Hen Weed
(Petiveria alliacea)
From Wellness Trend Back to Bush Wisdom

Traditional Jamaican Uses (Explore the Herbal Trail Map)

In Jamaica’s rural communities, Guinea Hen Weed—also known as “garlic weed,” “gully root,” or “Obeah bush”—is deeply respected as a natural remedy. Indigenous healers, bush doctors, and midwives have long turned to its pungent leaves, preparing teas and infused oils to treat a wide range of health concerns. It’s a go-to for everyday ailments like headaches, fevers, and colds. People chew or inhale the crushed leaves, apply the juice to the forehead, or drink a leaf decoction to “break” a fever and clear congestion. Beyond these uses, it’s valued as a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory for earaches and muscle aches. Many herbalists also praise it as a “strengthening” tonic, believed to boost the immune system during illness.

Jamaican women’s healers and midwives have especially valued Guinea Hen Weed for women’s health. Traditionally, it’s used as an emmenagogue (to stimulate menstrual flow) and as a labor aid. Macerated leaves are applied to the abdomen to encourage contractions, and the plant is also known for its use as an abortifacient (a substance that can induce abortion).

Guinea Hen Weed also plays a central role in spiritual and cleansing rituals. Its strong garlic-like aroma is believed to ward off “duppies” (evil spirits) when the leaves are scattered or burned around the home. This spiritual role is why it’s often called "Obeah Bush."

Common Jamaican Uses (Summarized):

• Headache
• Fever
• Cold relief
• Pain and inflammation
• Gynecological aid (labor, contraception)
• Spiritual cleansing (duppies/Obeah)

Botanical Description and Habitat

Guinea Hen Weed is an evergreen perennial shrub (Family Phytolaccaceae) reaching about 18 inches to 3ft (0.5-1m) tall. It has an erect, woody stem and alternate, narrow, lance-shaped leaves up to ~6 inches (15cm) long that emit a strong garlic-like odor when crushed (due to sulfur compounds). Tiny white to greenish-white flowers grow along slender, threadlike spikes arising from leaf axils―the points where the leaves join the stem. The fruit is a small hooked burr that clings to animals and clothing for dispersal.

This plant thrives in Jamaica’s warm, humid climate and is essentially ubiquitous as a weed. It tolerates many soils (from sandy to clayey) and usually prefers moist, well-drained ground. It is often found in semi-shaded spots or open sun: garden edges, shrub borders, pastures and roadsides. In Jamaica it occurs at low to mid elevations island-wide, from coastal dry areas into foothill forests.

Historical and Cultural Significance

The plant has deep roots in Jamaican history. Early Caribbean botanists noted that the Arawak and Taino peoples likely first used it, and that enslaved Africans recognized its power. Oral histories emphasize its role in resistance and survival. For example, one account describes the known abortifacient used by Jamaican women, used previously by those enslaved, highlighting how it served both as medicine and as covert birth control. In Jamaican folklore, it is said informants would rub its leaves over the body or scatter them in rooms specifically to repel duppies and cure fevers.

Over time, Guinea Hen Weed became a symbol of traditional knowledge: a plant revered not just for its physical effects, but for its spiritual potency. Often called a “strong man’s weed,” it is used in spiritual cleansings, protective baths, and bitter teas meant to purge the body of lingering illness or bad energy. In these communities, where bush wisdom is passed from elder to child, Guinea Hen Weed holds a place of honor. Grandmothers and bush doctors still share stories of its “hot” cleansing power—steeping it to break fevers, chase colds, or restore balance to the body and spirit.

Ethnographers note similar beliefs across the Caribbean. One account of Antillean herbalists describes how Indigenous Jamaicans^* used Guinea Hen Weed as a general tonic. By contrast, in Grenada and Dominica it is often called "Cudjoe Root" or "Kojourouk," traditionally used for colds, sinusitis, and intestinal cleansing. These parallels reflect how the plant’s pungent aroma and potent effects gave it spiritual weight: in many Afro-Caribbean rituals, including Jamaica, its smoke is used to cleanse the body or home of negative energies. Even in the Bahamas, where it is known as "Obeah Bush," it was valued for treating headaches and warding off sorcery.

^* Some historical sources use the term “Caribs” to describe Indigenous or traditional healers throughout the Caribbean, including Jamaica. However, the Carib (Kalinago) people were not native to Jamaica; this label was often applied broadly—and sometimes inaccurately—to various Indigenous groups and herbalists across the region. In this article, “Jamaican herbalist” is used for clarity and accuracy.

Medicinal Uses and Pharmacology

Phytochemical Studies:

Modern science has begun to validate many of the traditional uses of Petiveria alliacea (Guinea Hen Weed). Phytochemical research reveals that the plant is rich in sulfur-containing compounds—similar to those found in garlic. Among the most studied are dibenzyl disulfide and dibenzyl trisulfide (DTS), along with flavonoids (natural plant compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties) such as astilbin. These constituents are believed to drive much of the plant’s bioactivity. DTS and other thiols—sulfur-based compounds with potential antimicrobial properties—have demonstrated both anticancer and antimicrobial effects. In vitro studies show that water and alcohol extracts of Petiveria alliacea can kill various cancer cells, including leukemia, breast, and prostate, while also stimulating immune response. One key study found that a standardized extract caused apoptosis (cell death) in breast cancer cells and significantly reduced tumor size in mice. DTS also appears to disrupt cancer cells’ ability to divide, interfering with their growth and spread.

Laboratory Experiments:

Similarly, laboratory experiments confirm broad antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Extracts inhibit bacteria (e.g. Staphylococcus aureus) and fungi (Candida) at low concentrations. In Jamaica, traditional use of the herb for infections is echoed by these findings: sulfide compounds from the leaves have known antibiotic action. Some research even suggests that DTS can inhibit viral replication—one study showed it blocks HIV reverse transcriptase (the enzyme the virus uses to reproduce). This aligns with folk remedies where Guinea Hen Weed was used for colds and flu. Its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects are also documented: in animal tests, extracts reduced pain and swelling. This helps explain its traditional use for headaches, arthritis, and ear-aches.

Immunomodulation:

Notably, Petiveria alliacea is also an immunomodulator, (a compound that helps regulate immune system activity). Immune cell assays show that extracts increase white-blood-cell activity and cytokine release (immune signaling proteins that help coordinate the body’s defense response). Thus it could plausibly boost resistance to infection, matching the traditional view of it as a general “blood cleanser” or tonic against fever. Other studied effects include mild blood-sugar lowering in diabetic animal models, which may underlie Caribbean uses for diabetes.

Key Bioactive Compounds:

• Dibenzyl trisulfide (DTS) – potent antimicrobial and anticancer agent.
• Dibenzyl disulfide – antimicrobial.
• Flavonoids (astilbin, myricetin) – antioxidant/anti-inflammatory.

Laboratory Evidence (Summarized):

• Cell and animal studies confirm broad activity: anticancer cell killing, infection inhibition, reduced fever and inflammation, and immune stimulation.

Clinical Notes:

A Memorial Sloan Kettering review notes it has anecdotal antiviral and anti-infective use, and highlights DTS’s mechanism as a microtubule disruptor. No large human trials exist, but case reports and small studies of Petiveria alliacea suggest it may improve symptoms in conditions like malaria or cancer when used alongside conventional care.

Uses Beyond Jamaica

While our focus is Jamaica, Petiveria alliacea is globally recognized in tropical folk medicine. In South and Central America (where it is called Anamu or Tipi), it is used for headaches, coughs, childbirth, and to purify the blood. For example, Brazilian herbalists use it as a diuretic, antispasmodic and labor aid, and Guatemalan Caribs inhaled the roots for sinusitis. Cuban tradition values it for diabetes, cancer, and arthritis. In the Dominican Republic it is known as Kojourouk and widely sniffed or brewed for headaches and colds. In Africa, introduced populations (e.g. Nigeria, Ghana) use it for fertility control, hypertension and even sickle-cell disease; one Nigerian study reported anti-sickling activity in vitro, ie., Guinea Hen Weed extracts helped prevent the abnormal red blood cell shapes characteristic of sickle cell disease. Even in Florida and the Bahamas, where it grows as a weed, folklore preserves its respect: on Eleuthera it was called "Obeah Bush" and used to treat headaches and protect against sorcery. Thus, although Jamaican use often emphasizes fevers and spiritual cleansing, many other cultures employ Guinea Hean Weed for similar systemic ailments (colic, infections, menstrual issues) and it is credited with anti-parasitic and anti-cancer potential worldwide.

Safety and Regulation

Guinea Hen Weed is generally considered safe when used in traditional amounts, but caution is still advised. Toxicology studies in animals report a high LD₅₀ (lethal dose for 50% of subjects)—over 2000 mg per kilogram of body weight—indicating it has low acute toxicity and is unlikely to cause harm in small to moderate doses. However, that does not guarantee safety for everyone. Its potency, especially in concentrated forms, means it should never be overused, and vulnerable groups—like pregnant individuals or children—should avoid it altogether.

The plant’s uterotonic (uterus-contracting) effect is well documented – both folklore and modern reviews advise avoiding it in pregnancy or lactation. Overdoses may cause dizziness or nausea in sensitive individuals, though such cases are not well reported. No controlled human trials have revealed serious side effects; the professional consensus is caution rather than prohibition. Pharmacists note potential drug interactions are theoretically possible (in vitro assays show Petiveria alliacea extracts inhibit cytochrome enzymes), so patients on medications should use it under guidance. There are no special legal restrictions on the herb in Jamaica or the U.S.; it is sold as a supplement by herbal companies in Jamaica and abroad. Standard advice applies: consult a qualified herbalist or physician, avoid use in pregnancy, and respect traditional doses.

Herb Trail: A Healer’s Map―Guinea Hen Weed in the Wild

This map highlights confirmed and culturally significant areas where Jamaican Guinea Hen Weed (Petiveria alliacea) grows or was traditionally used. Based on ecological records and oral history, these sites reflect its deep roots in healing practices—especially among midwives, bush doctors, and rural herbalists who turned to the herb for its powerful medicinal and spiritual properties.

Sources

• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) – Integrative Medicine: Petiveria alliacea (Guinea Hen Weed)
• PMC Review: "Ethnomedicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological profile of Petiveria alliacea L."
• Tropical The Ferns Info: Petiveria alliacea
• Plants of the World Online (Kew Gardens)
• "Bush Medicine in Jamaica" by Rosita Arvigo & Michael J. Balick (1994)
• "The Ethnomedicine of Jamaica" by Diane Austin-Broos (1997)
• "Medicinal Plants of the Caribbean" by Julia F. Morton (1981)
• Duarte, M. R., & Lopes, J. F. (2005). "Stem and leaf anatomy of Petiveria alliacea L."
• Luz, N. S. et al. (2016). "Phytochemistry and pharmacology of Petiveria alliacea L."