Three hospitals in Santiago, Cuba, began to administer a medication made from the anamú (Petiveria alliacea) plant, also known as guinea henweed, to fight cellular immunodeficiency among patients with cancer and other illnesses. The medication comes in the form of 400-milligram pills made from powdered leaves and stalks of young anamú plants. The Santiago cancer hospital began using it in January, and more recently in two other health centers in this eastern region of Cuba.

Zoe Lemus, a researcher at the Eastern Pharmaceutical Laboratory, told Tierramérica that the product is registered as a natural-based medication, and by the end of the year it is hoped there will be enough for sales in pharmacies across the country.

Guinea henweed grows wild in the tropical areas of Central and South America, the Caribbean and Africa.