Dr. Weil Travels to Cuba

1 min

Dr. Weil traveled to Havana, Cuba in December 2012 to visit the Carlos J. Finlay Institute. While there, Dr. Weil and faculty from the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine (AzCIM) discussed research and uses of natural and traditional medicine in Cuba. Photos by Genevieve H. Gutierrez.

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University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine faculty and AzCIM Fellowship graduates were invited to visit with the president and staff of the Carlos J. Finlay Institute. While there, we engaged staff on research and uses of natural and traditional medicine (NTM) in Cuba, as well as on recent changes in the political landscape that affect the NTM business.
I spoke with American medical students studying at the Medical University of Havana. Cuba is known for its exceptional health care, which makes use of both high-tech therapies and natural and traditional medicine, and achieves good outcomes despite little limited resources.
Dr. David Kiefer and I visit the Juan Tomas Roig experimental station in San Antonio de los Banos to learn about the medicinal herbs grown onsite and national research on NTM.
Checking the herbs in the herb garden at the Juan Tomas Roig experimental station.
Walking through the organic herb gardens at Alamar Zona 8 urban garden - one of many gardens within the city of Havana where citizens can actively grow and purchase vegetables and herbs for culinary, medicinal and ceremonial purposes.
A view of the urban garden where citizens come together to grow food for the community.
Preparing lunch with a variety of produce and food gathered from the local garden.
After meeting at the University of Havana, a group of faculty and graduates of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and I prepare a colorful organic lunch at Espacios paladar (home-based restaurant) in Havana.
Fresh produce is never hard to find in Cuba.