A lack of medications in Cuba led to a dependence on herbal medicine

Americas Now

“Americas Now” visits a farm in Cuba that produces plants used in medicinal treatments.

A return to natural living has been a growing health and wellness trend across the globe for decades now. In Cuba, it’s not just a trend but a necessity.

With over-the-counter drugs and even aspirin hard to come by, the country has relied on herbal medicine to treat many common ailments.

Correspondent Nitza Soledad Perez travelled to the island nation to report on its natural medicine industry.

Cuba’s Chinese population played a big role in encouraging the use of herbal remedies to help cure ailments. Herbal remedies have been part of Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. Other traditional Chinese treatments include acupuncture, massage and cupping.