Subscribe for all my updates and don't miss a thing! Sign me up!

Culantro (Spirit Weed) 
Jamaica's Powerful Healing Herb

Sharing Is Caring! Share this awesome content with your friends now.

start_here_if_new_image_link

see_jamaica_in_videos_banner_july_2024_large
spirit_weed_culantro_fitsweed_jamaicaSpirit Weed (Culantro aka FitzWeed)

Have you ever stopped to think that one of Jamaica’s most powerful healing herbs might be growing quietly in your own backyard?

Here in Jamaica, we call it Spirit Weed. Some say Fitweed. But across the Caribbean and beyond, it’s known as culantro, shado beni, recao, or long coriander. Its scientific name is Eryngium foetidum.

New! Take a piece of Jamaica with you💃!

Savour the memories!  Now you can get your authentic Jamaican souvenir items, as well as traditional Jamaican herbs, spices and housewares on our popular e-store. Click Here to learn more.

And, if you ever need a trustworthy and knowledgeable local guide, consider booking a private tour with us!

Most people recognize it for its bold flavor in soups and stews. But long before it became popular in kitchens worldwide, Jamaicans were already using this herb for something deeper - supporting the chest, calming the stomach, easing inflammation, and helping the body recover naturally.

And that’s what makes it special.
It isn’t trendy. It isn’t new. It’s simply trusted.

🌿 Did You Know🤔?

Did you know that culantro (Spirit Weed) is often mistaken for cilantro — yet they’re completely different plants?

Cilantro has soft, delicate leaves and a mild flavor. Culantro has long, serrated leaves and a much stronger aroma. It also holds up better under heat. While cilantro tends to lose flavor when cooked, culantro deepens in flavor during slow simmering.

That strength in the kitchen mirrors its strength in traditional herbal use.

What Is Culantro (Eryngium foetidum)?

Culantro grows easily here in Jamaica, especially in moist soil and partial shade. It’s a hardy plant - not flashy, not rare - but deeply woven into Caribbean food and herbal traditions.

Because it’s both a culinary herb and a medicinal plant, it sits at that beautiful intersection where food and healing meet.

And that’s something our ancestors understood well.

Culantro (Spirit Weed) Health Benefits

But let’s talk about what people are really searching for - its health benefits.

🌿 Respiratory Support
Traditionally, Spirit Weed tea has been used for:

  • Coughs
  • Colds
  • Chest congestion
  • Mild flu symptoms

A warm infusion is believed to help loosen mucus and soothe the respiratory tract. Scientific reviews of Eryngium foetidum show it contains bioactive compounds that may support immune and respiratory function (Paul et al.). It doesn’t replace medical care - but it explains why it earned trust.

🌿 Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Research shows culantro contains flavonoids, tannins, and essential oils with anti-inflammatory potential (Paul et al.). That aligns with how it has traditionally been used for:

  • Body aches
  • Joint discomfort
  • General inflammation

Sometimes modern science confirms what tradition already practiced.

🌿 Digestive Support
Here in Jamaica, Spirit Weed tea is often used for mild digestive discomfort. Because it’s already part of our cooking, it makes sense. Many medicinal herbs first entered daily life through food.  Food and medicine aren’t always separate.

🌿 The “Fitweed” Story
The name Fitweed comes from historical use in cases of convulsions or “fits.” While modern neurological conditions require proper medical supervision, the traditional use gave the herb its Jamaican name.

Our ancestors named plants based on observation. That cultural story is part of its identity.

🌿 Antimicrobial & Antioxidant Potential
Studies exploring the essential oil of Eryngium foetidum suggest antimicrobial and antioxidant activity (Pino et al.). That may help explain its traditional use in immune-supporting herbal preparations.

How Jamaicans Use Spirit Weed Today

One thing I appreciate about culantro is how accessible it is.

You can:

  • Brew it as herbal tea
  • Add it fresh to soups and stews
  • Use it in tonics
  • Grow it easily in your backyard

How to Make Spirit Weed (Culantro) Tea

If you’d like to try it the traditional way:

You’ll need:

  • 4–6 fresh leaves (or dried equivalent)
  • 2 cups of water

Bring the water to a boil. Add the leaves. Let it simmer for 10–15 minutes. Strain and drink warm. Some people like to add ginger or honey.

A Word of Wisdom

As with all medicinal herbs, culantro should be used wisely. It supports the body - but it does not replace professional medical care. If you’re pregnant, on medication, or managing a health condition, always consult a qualified healthcare provider first. Natural doesn’t mean careless.

Get More

If you’re interested in discovering more powerful plants like this, take a look at my article on 101 Medicinal Herbs of Jamaica, where I explore many of the herbs that grow right here on the island.

And if you’d like to experience authentic Jamaican herbs yourself, you can browse many of them - available in multiple formats - in my estore here, where we bring traditional Jamaican herbal wisdom straight to your home.

You might like these

Sharing IS Caring! Please help me get the message out by sharing this article with your friends on social media (links below). Thnx ;-)


If you found this page useful, please consider subscribing to my weekly newsletter, to get even more. 

It tells you each week about the new information that I have added, including new developments and great stories from lovers of Jamaica! 

Return to Medicinal Herbs Of Jamaica from Benefits Of Spirt Weed (Culantro) 
Return to My Island Jamaica Homepage from Benefits Of Spirit Weed (Culantro) 

References & Sources For Spirit Weed (Culantro aka FitsWeed)

  1. Paul, J. H. A., et al. “Eryngium foetidum L.: A Review.” Fitoterapia, vol. 82, no. 3, 2011, pp. 302–308. Elsevier, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2010.11.010.
  2. Pino, Jorge A., et al. “Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Eryngium foetidum Essential Oil.” Journal of Essential Oil Research, vol. 20, no. 1, 2008, pp. 60–63.
  3. “Eryngium foetidum.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eryngium_foetidum. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.
Back To The Top Of This Page

New! Get My Latest Book👇🏿

JAMAICA_ON_A_BUDGET_EBOOK_COVER_LEAN

You asked, I've answered! You no longer need to save for months or years, to enjoy paradise!

JAMAICA On A Budget is your passport to experiencing what I call 'The Real Jamaica' on a budget!

I spilled the beans! sharing my top tips on finding cozy accommodations and secret gems, only the way a native could! Click Here to pick it up on my e-store and start saving now!

See The Best Of Jamaica - In Videos!

my_island_jamaica_channel_tv

My channel reaches over 140,000 subscribers worldwide and has leveraged over 11 million views, sharing, what I call 'The Real Jamaica'. Subscribe today and join our family of viewers.

Jamaica_subscribe_button

Read More ...

New! Experience The REAL Jamaica!
Book Your Private Tour here and experience Jamaica the way we (locals) do!

P.S. Didn't find what you were looking for? 
Still need help?

Click Here to try our dependable and effective Site Search tool. It works!

Or, simply click here and here, to browse my library of over 500 questions and answers! Chances are someone already asked (and got an answer to) your question.

copyscape
Back To The Top Of This Page

Like My Site? Please Click Here To Share It With Your Friends

Home   |   JOIN US   |   Site Search   |   Have Your Say   |   Archives   |   Old Archives   |   Contact   |   Disclaimer   |   TIP ME!   |   Link To Us


Do like I did! Share your passion
(about your city, hobby or experience) and make a living from it. Click Here to see how.

By Wellesley Gayle   |   Copyright © 2007-2026 My-Island-Jamaica.com   |   All rights Reserved.   |   Privacy Policy