Category: Curanderismo

Curanderismo, Herbs, Native Plants

Damiana Turnera diffusa

syn T.aphrodisiaca (although there are claims that these are two different plants) Also called : Hierba del pastor, shepherds herb, Hierba del venado, damiana de California (or Guerrero), mizib-coc (misibcoc, misib-cooc, xmisibcoc, miixcoc)(Maya) This herb is native to Mexico, southern Texas, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. In Mexico it is used to flavour liqueurs for an aphrodisiac effect. In 1699 Father Juan Maria … Continue reading Damiana Turnera diffusa

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Curanderismo, Herbs

Quelite : Plantain

Plantago major also called : lanté (Chiapas), lanten, llantén, rorogochi (Raramuri)Common names : white man’s foot (because everywhere the white man walks it springs up in their footsteps), common plantain, waybread Family : PlantaginaceaeParts used : leaves – aerial parts, seeds Constituents : Leaves – mucilage, glycosides (aucubin), tannins, chlorogenic acid, ursolic acid, silicic acid, mineralsSeeds – mucilage, oils, protein, starch Plantain has been cited … Continue reading Quelite : Plantain

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Curanderismo, Herbs, The Kitchen

Chenopodiums

Chenopod – from Ancient Greek χήν (khḗn, “goose”) + πούς (poús, “foot”) One of the most tenacious, hardy and useful species of wild herb is the Chenopodium. The use of this family of plants has a long history. Archaeological finds suggest that some chenopods, such as fat hen, were not only collected from the wild but may in fact have been cultivated as far back … Continue reading Chenopodiums

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Curanderismo, Herbs, The Kitchen

Cempasuchil

Tagetes erecta (syn Caryophyllus Indicus)Also known as : Flor de muerto, African marigold, Cempoalxόchitl (Nahuatl name “twenty flower”, from cempohualli – twenty and xochitl – flower), cempasuchitl, zempasuchitl, apátsicua (purépecha and tarasco), caxiyhuitz (huasteco), guie’biguá, guie’coba, picoa and quiepi-goa (zapoteco), kalhpu’xa’m (totonaco), Ita-Cuaan (Mixtec), Jondri (Otomí), Genda phool, Genda (Hindi, Bengali), Chenduhoovu, Chendu huva (Kannada), Ghenda (Marathi), Galaghoto (Gujarati), Chendu malli (Malayalam), Banti Puvuu (Telgu), … Continue reading Cempasuchil

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Curanderismo, Herbs, The Kitchen

Cumin

Amongst the spices introduced to Mexico with the Spanish was the seed of an umbelliferous plant in the Apiaceae family (1) known as Cumin (Cuminum cyminum). Cumin was very popular in ancient Rome and containers of it were kept on the dinner table much like pepper is today. Cumin is native to an area of the Eastern Mediterranean known as the Levant. The term Levant originally meant “the … Continue reading Cumin

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Curanderismo, The Kitchen

Medicinal use of Miel de Agave (agave honey)

A type of “honey” can be made from aguamiel. Aguamiel is heated in a pot until most of the moisture has evaporated and the liquid has thickened to the texture of honey and becomes dark amber in colour. For every 9 litres of aguamiel you will produce around only 1 litre of agave honey. According to CINVESTAV (The Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the … Continue reading Medicinal use of Miel de Agave (agave honey)

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Curanderismo, Herbs, The Kitchen

Epazote

Chenopodium ambrosiodes (Synonyms: Teloxys ambrosioides, Dysphania ambrosioides) Also called : Epazōtl (from Nahuatl, epatl – skunk and tzotl – sweat), epasote, pazote, Hierba Olorosa, wormseed, American wormseed, Jesuits tea, Mexican tea, Herba Sancti Mariae, payqu (paico)(Quechua), Jerusalem Oak (although this name usually refers to Chenopodium botrys) This plant is indigenous to Mexico and South America Its leaves (fresh or dried) and young shoots are used … Continue reading Epazote

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