Contrayerva

Contrayerva

In botany, the contrayerva, or contrajerva, is the root and scaly rhizome of various tropical American species of Dorstenia in the family Moraceae (D. contrayerva and D. braziliensis[1]), a South American plant, the aromatic root of which is sometimes used in medicine as a gentle stimulant and tonic.[2] It was previously used as an antidote to snake bites.[3]

The name is used in Jamaica to refer to a species of Birthwort (Aristolochia odoratissima) still believed to have antidotal properties.[1]

The root is smaller than that of the iris, reddish outside and white inside, knotty, and fibrous. To be of use, it must be new, heavy, and of a dusky red color. Its odor resembles that of fig leaves. Its taste is aromatic, accompanied with some acrimony.[3]

The contrayerva root was formerly considered by many writers to be one of the best anti-epidemics known. Dr. Nathaniel Hodges (1629–1688), in his treatise of the Great Plague of London (Loimologia; published in 1672), had a recipe which he said was very successful, and of which this root was one of the chief ingredients.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "Contrayerva". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. 2nd ed. 1989.
  2. ^  This article incorporates text from the public domain 1913 Webster's Dictionary.
  3. ^ a b c  This article incorporates content from the 1728 Cyclopaedia, a publication in the public domain.

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Contrayerva — Con tra*yer va, n. [Sp. contrayerba, literally, a counter herb, hence, an antidote for poison, fr. l. contra + herba herb.] (Bot.) A species of {Dorstenia} ({Dorstenia Contrayerva}), a South American plant, the aromatic root of which is sometimes …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • contrayerva — (kon tra ièr va) s. m. Terme de pharmacie. Racine d un brun rougeâtre en dehors, blanche en dedans (dorstenia brasiliensis, Lamark), d une odeur aromatique, qui est excitante et diaphorétique. ÉTYMOLOGIE    Espagn. contrayerva, de contra, contre …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • contrayerva — /kon treuh yerr veuh/, n. the root of certain tropical American plants of the genus Dorstenia, of the mulberry family, esp. D. contrajerva, used as a stimulant, diaphoretic, etc. [1650 60; < Sp contrayerba, contrahierba < L contra CONTRA 1 +… …   Universalium

  • contrayerva — con·tra·yer·va …   English syllables

  • contrayerva — /kɒntrəˈjɜvə/ (say kontruh yervuh) noun the root of certain plants of the tropical American genus Dorstenia, especially D. brasiliensis, used as a stimulant, tonic, and diaphoretic. {Spanish: counter herb, antidote, from Latin contra contra +… …  

  • contrayerva — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Dorstenia Contrayerva — Contrayerva Con tra*yer va, n. [Sp. contrayerba, literally, a counter herb, hence, an antidote for poison, fr. l. contra + herba herb.] (Bot.) A species of {Dorstenia} ({Dorstenia Contrayerva}), a South American plant, the aromatic root of which… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hans Georg von Arnheim — Porträt von Hans Georg von Arnim als Heliogravüre um 1900, nach dem Kupferstich von P. Aubry um 1650 Hans Georg von Arnim Boitzenburg (auch Arnheim; * 1583 in Boitzenburg; † 28. April 1641 in Dresden), oft auch als Johann Georg von Arnim, war ein …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Hans Georg von Arnim — Porträt von Hans Georg von Arnim als Heliogravüre um 1900, nach dem Kupferstich von P. Aubry um 1650 Hans Georg von Arnim Boitzenburg (auch Arnheim; * 1583 in Boitzenburg; † 28. April 1641 in Dresden), oft auch als Johann Georg von Arnim, war ein …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Hans Georg von Arnim-Boitzenburg — Porträt von Hans Georg von Arnim als Heliogravüre um 1900, nach dem Kupferstich von P. Aubry um 1650 Hans Georg von Arnim Boitzenburg (* 1583 in Boitzenburg; † 28. April 1641 in Dresden), oft auch als Johann Georg von Arnim, war ein bedeutender… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”