With the aim of showing that science is also done with medicinal plants, the group of self-employed "Flora, the old grandma's pharmacy" opened a point of sale in an emblematic space of Old Havana: the Unión pharmacy ( old Sarra).

Bionatural products also have their place in Havana for the 500th Anniversary, the doctor and leader of the group, Rodolfo Arencibia, specialist in Natural and Traditional Medicine, reported on the website Havana 500. It is about the use of plants with proven scientific evidence, with a knowledge of its active effect for a given health problem.

In Teniente Rey Street No. 261 between Compostela and Havana, in the premises of what was the largest drug store in Cuba at the time of the colony, this Point of Sale of medicinal plants (for infusions) was located, which opened its doors to the popular marketing since this Saturday.

Doctor Arencibia recalled that Flora, the Grand Botica de la Abuela, arose from an idea of ​​the insistence of a significant number of medicinal plant farms in Cuba that had no total commercialization of what they were capable of producing, that is, farms of the Ministry of Agriculture where there is a stable production, where for 30 years there is guaranteed a quality raw material.

We proposed, explained Arencibia, to make a Cooperative of Natural Products, cooperative that is in process its approval by the Ministry of Internal Trade. Meanwhile it was proposed to open a laboratory that is in Punta Brava, and another in the Lisa, and Union de Reyes, in Matanzas.

"Mixtures of these plants are made and sold in a pharmacological dose, a certain amount for one liter of water, the activity on medicinal plants has as a fundamental basis scientific evidence, popular knowledge and its use in cooking and infusions is very safe".

Among the bionatural products that are sold in the pharmacy are; Bionatural, Anticatarral, Circulatory, Digestive, Vital Stimulant, Curcuma Rizoma, Sedative, Passionflower, Chamomile, Jamaica Flower, Quality of Life, Rizoma Ginger, Oregano, Rosemary, Copal, Plantain, and Hyperglycemic.

It is another space for the community of Havana, in the heritage city, facing the celebration of the 500 years of the Villa de San Cristobal de La Habana, returning to a custom of our grandmothers and that today comes alive in the old pharmacy as a Community Project with a high social impact.

By: Maria Salomé Campanioni
Digital Writing Havana 500