Popular pharmacopeia and traditional folk remedies

The diversity and widespread use of popular pharmacopeia, particularly in the Dominican Republic, serve as a palliative or consolation for families across various socioeconomic levels. These traditional remedies include a heterogeneous mix of plants, roots, mixtures, ointments, and liquids, often rooted in long-standing customs and beliefs.

Historical texts, such as Luis Gil’s book ‘Therapeia, la medicina popular en el mundo clásico’, document unusual ancient remedies. These include the use of donkey genital ashes for baldness and tying a fox penis to the head to treat headaches.