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What Is Search Mi Heart In Jamaica?

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what_is_search_mi_heart_in_jamaicawhat is search mi heart in Jamaica?

Search Mi Heart is one of those Jamaican herbs whose name alone is enough to make you stop and ask a question. 

Search my heart? What is Search Mi Heart In Jamaica? What kind of name is that for a plant?

Well, here in Jamaica we have quite a few plants with colourful names, and Search Mi Heart is certainly one of them. But this isn't just an interestingly named bush.

It is a traditional Jamaican herb that has been used for generations as a bush tea, general tonic and ingredient in some Jamaican roots drinks. And I can tell you from personal experience that I absolutely love it!

In fact, of the many Jamaican herbs I have tried over the years, Search Mi Heart has a taste that I find almost irresistible; give me a cup of it sweetended with milk — or even better, some LASCO — and I'm quite happy! 

But there is much more to this plant than the taste. So, what is Search Mi Heart in Jamaica? Let's take a closer look.

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What Plant Is Search Mi Heart?

what_plant_is_search_mi_heart_herbwhat Plant Is Search Mi Heart In Jamaica?

The scientific name for Jamaican Search Mi Heart is Rhytidophyllum tomentosum. It belongs to the Gesneriaceae family.

The Natural History Museum of Jamaica records “Search-me-heart” as the Jamaican common name for Rhytidophyllum tomentosum, while Kew's Plants of the World Online identifies the species as native to Jamaica.

The United States Department of Agriculture's plant database also records search-me-heart as the common name and Jamaica as its native distribution.

So this really is one of our Jamaican plants! And that is something I find particularly fascinating.

What Does Search Mi Heart Look Like?

dried_search_mi_heart_plantDried Search Mi Heart Plant

Search Mi Heart grows as a shrub and can reach several feet in height; I've seen it up to 7 ft!

Its leaves are elongated and taper towards the ends, with toothed edges, it also has a soft, velvety feel. The plant also produces unusual greenish-yellow, bell-shaped flowers that may have purplish-red colouring inside. Researchers from Jamaica's Scientific Research Council describe it as an aromatic shrub that grows wild on open banks and in pastures in Jamaica.

I currently have one growing right here in my yard; I got the younger plant from up in the hills of Kempshot, here in St. James.

And perhaps because I work with so many different Jamaican herbs, I notice little characteristics about them that someone else might overlook. One thing I can tell you about Search Mi Heart is this:

It dries remarkably fast.

Of all the herbs I prepare and dry for my e-store, this is one of the fastest-drying ones I have come across. We use mainly the leaves and stems. Once harvested and properly prepared, they dry down quite readily for later use as bush tea.

Why Is It Called Search Mi Heart?

why_is_it_called_search_mi_heartWhy Is It Called Search Mi Heart?

Now we get to that wonderful name!

Growing up, the explanation I always heard was connected with the traditional belief that the herb was good for the heart, hence: Search Mi Heart. You may also hear it referred to as Heart Bush.

Traditional Jamaican literature has indeed associated Search Mi Heart with folk remedies concerning the heart, although these traditional beliefs should not be confused with proven medical treatment. The Jamaican Scientific Research Council noted heart conditions among several traditional uses reported for the plant while also pointing out that many such claims are anecdotal and require considerably more scientific study.

So the old Jamaican explanation for the name isn't something that appeared yesterday on the Internet; there is a genuine tradition surrounding the herb and the heart.

But there is another traditional use that I remember very well - and strangely enough, I don't hear people talking about it nearly as much today...

The Search Mi Heart Use My Grandparents Talked About

My grandparents used to say that Search Mi Heart opens the appetite.That was one of the things I grew up hearing about this herb.

And I hadn't thought much about that particular traditional use until I started using Search Mi Heart myself, I noticed the same thing.

Then something happened that really made me smile; a friend of mine accompanied me to pull some Search Mi Heart. She took some home, had it as tea - and later came back to me asking whether it was known for making you want to eat.

I told her:  “Yes!”

Because that was precisely what I remembered the older folks saying.

Now, I want to be careful here. I have not yet found reliable scientific research proving that Search Mi Heart is an appetite stimulant, so I wouldn't present that as a medically established effect; but as part of Jamaican folk knowledge?

Absolutely!

It's one of those old uses I remember hearing from my grandparents, and my own experience — as well as my friend's — certainly brought that memory right back.

And this is one of the reasons I think it is so important that we document some of this traditional Jamaican knowledge before it disappears.

how_do_jamaicans_use_search_mi_heartDrinking Search Mi Heart Tea | What Is Search Mi Heart In Jamaica

So How Do Jamaicans Use Search Mi Heart?

One of the most traditional ways is as a bush tea. The leaves and stems can be dried and then infused in hot water.

Search Mi Heart has also traditionally been consumed as a general tonic and is sometimes included among the many herbs used to prepare Jamaican roots drinks.

In fact, the Scientific Research Council describes Search Mi Heart as an aromatic Jamaican herb traditionally consumed as a general tonic and herbal tea. Researchers also noted an informal trade in the plant for use as an ingredient in roots drinks.

And that's very much in keeping with what we still see here, some people drink it by itself, while others combine it with additional herbs. And then you have people like me who simply enjoy the tea because it tastes good!

What Does Search Mi Heart Tea Taste Like?

This is actually one of my favourite things about Search Mi Heart.

Unlike some Jamaican bush teas that can be quite bitter, I find Search Mi Heart pleasant and distinctive  -  so much so that I genuinely look forward to drinking it.

My favourite way is with a little milk, or sometimes LASCO, a popular powdered milk-based drink here in Jamaica.

Interestingly, Jamaican researchers also carried out a sensory study of Search Mi Heart tea and found that it showed potential for a wider consumer acceptance - that probably explained why a doctoral student in the US reached out to me wanting to get local knowledge and uses of it. If I recall, she also mentioned the possibility of getting it commercial in the USA!

I certainly didn't need a taste panel to convince me though. I was already sold!

What Has Science Found In Search Mi Heart?

You will find this exciting! Researchers at Jamaica's Scientific Research Council studied Search Mi Heart collected from several locations across the island.

They found compounds including polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins, and the tea infusions showed antioxidant activity in laboratory testing.

But it is still early days, so the researchers themselves recommended further studies, including work on safety, toxicity and possible interactions with medications.

They also found that samples collected from different areas varied in composition, reinforcing something worth remembering with any wild Jamaican herb, and it that where it is harvested matters.

Is Search Mi Heart Only Found In Jamaica?

Now this is a big deal for us! Search Mi Heart is considered native to Jamaica, and Jamaican researchers have described Rhytidophyllum tomentosum as a Jamaican endemic.

Kew Science also lists Jamaica as its native range and notes that it has also been introduced into Trinidad and Tobago.

For me, that makes the plant even more special.

How Do You Make Search Mi Heart Tea?

Preparation is quite simple; using dried leaves and stems, simply:

  1. Place a small amount of the herb in a cup or teapot.
  2. Pour boiling water over it.
  3. Cover and allow it to steep for several minutes.
  4. Strain and enjoy. 

Of course, you can sweeten with your favourite sweetener (like me) if you prefer. And, as you already know, my own preference is to add LASCO!

And by the way, if you are interested in getting some for yourself, feel free to get it out on my e-store here -  it's while stocks last though, as it is quite rare here.

Regards,
Wellesley

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References & Works Cited for What Is Search Mi Heart In Jamaica

  1. Bailey-Shaw, Yvonne A., et al. “Evaluation of the Nutraceutical Potential of Rhytidophyllum tomentosum (L.) Mart.: HPTLC Fingerprinting, Elemental Composition, Phenolic Content, and in vitro Antioxidant Activity.” Pharmaceutical Crops, vol. 3, 2012, pp. 47–63. Scientific Research Council, Jamaica.
  2. Natural History Museum of Jamaica. “Common Name Database: Search-me-heart — Rhytidophyllum tomentosum.” Institute of Jamaica.
  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. “Rhytidophyllum tomentosum (L.) Mart.” Plants of the World Online.
  4. United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. “Rhytidophyllum tomentosum (L.) Mart. ex DC.” GRIN-Global Taxonomy.
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