When I had chicken pox, my older sister grated cassava (Yucca) into a fine powder and then she put it out to dry in the sun. She then put this powder inside a small cotton cloth pouch. We would then put this powder on the chicken pox (and on rashes) to stop the itching. 

Pata de gallina,made into a tea,is good for the prostate.

The use of fish as a good part of the Taino diet,kept the levels of Iodine at optimal levels...now,the only safe fish is Wild-caught salmon,or sardines.(I am NOT a doctor,so what I share here is from one friend to another!,always check with your Dr-but,most Doctors are NOT taught this in Medical school!-you'll find top top experts,such as Dr. Flechas,a great Puerto Rican Dr,with super credentials on the net.I,conservatively had my miracles with only 600 mcg-1,200 mcgs per day)..however ,by using kelp a few days per week,amazingly good things can happen!-iodine is used by the whole body,not JUST the thyroid! I reduced fibromyalgia as well as CURED my thyroid disorder with it! It is rather individual as to the dose-I use about 1/2 teaspoon every other day,or I use instead,1 drop of "Atomidine",which gives me 600mcg per drop. Now,it's been discovered that a lot of women's issues,cysts,fibroids in the breasts and ovaries/uterus,can be reversed(prevented,of course!),with iodine-Flouride and potassium bromide,which is present in so many baked goods,BLOCK iodine,so I don't use flouride-it is toxic,and is cumulative. We,of Taino ancestry,may do(I certainly have!)very well to increase our iodine intake. To track any POSSIBLY neg. effects,simply take your pulse before you increase,and take it daily at more or less the same time each day,and take your temperature.....you may have a slight increase in temperature and pulse,which,in your case(per case)may be a very good thing-you will lose weight if that's what's needed...just make sure your temperature is the"normal"range,as well as your pulse-the health benefits may amaze you!

Is this group still active? I was hoping to learn about some indigenous folk remedies. Not finding much on the Internet.

It's active, you're not really going to find a "folk remedy handbook" here, but if you have a specific question, you might get a traditional medicine discussion going on your topic.

Thanks Wanda. I did not have a specific question. Was interested in what was being used in some of the more common ailments/conditions, such as a cold, flu, hypertension, diabetes, anxiety,etc.

well, I have a cold/flu blend that I make that people knock on the door for. It involves inner slippery elm bark, mint, colts foot and gill. It tastes like dirt unless you put a lot of mint in it, but it works, in fact, if you drink it as soon as you start getting the cold, it knocks it right out.

Do you collect your own herbs/bark/root or what reputable stores do people in this group recommend?