Tea
From headaches to gas to serious illnesses, Jamaicans drink tea and never hesitate to recommend it for almost every ailment under the sun. There’s ginger tea for upset stomach, peppermint tea for gas, soursop leaf tea for insomnia, and countless other tea remedies sitting in the backyard. But aside from herbs, many Jamaicans feel that a warm sip of any kind of tea will make you feel better even if its effects have not been proven.
Cerassi
This herb’s reputation for treating gas, upset stomach, and belly aches is so famous that it was immortalized in a Jamaican folk song many decades ago. Growing wild throughout the island, the cerassi bush makes a bitter tea that Jamaicans guarantee will quickly do away with your stomach issues if you can stand the taste. Cerassi is sometimes drank as a detoxifier to cleanse the body of impurities.
Vicks
Known for treating colds and sore throat, it’s one of those items that’s always found in a Jamaican household. They say rubbing it generously over the chest, throat and right under the nose, cures stuffiness and helps with nighttime breathing for a good sleep.
Vaseline
Another common brand in Jamaica, Vaseline is often used to treat minor burns and prevent blistering. The effectiveness of this practice remains questionable, but that hasn’t stopped it from being a fairly popular practice. It’s also used to treat small cuts, acting as a protective coating against germs.
White Rum
Fever and body aches don’t stand a chance against a good ole body rub with Jamaican white overproof rum. This time-tested cure is heavily relied upon for quick and effective relief to lower an elevated body temperature and soothe sore muscles. Aside from it being a really good cure, Jamaicans won’t pass on a chance to use some rum, especially when it will make them feel better. A mixture of white rum with black pepper is also said to relieve sore throat when used to gargle.