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1
1638 |
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The first Europeans to encounter cacao were Christopher Columbus and his crew in 1502, when they captured a canoe at Guanaja that contained a quantity of mysterious-looking “almonds.” The first real European knowledge about chocolate came in the form of a beverage which was first introduced to the Spanish at their meeting with Moctezuma in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan in 1519. Cortez and others noted the vast quantities of this beverage that the Aztec emperor consumed, and how it was carefu |
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2
3665 |
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The ancient Romans used holly in their winter Saturnalia festivals. When early Christians celebrated the birth of Jesus in December, they too "decked the halls with boughs of holly" to avoid attracting unwanted attention. As the population of Christians grew, holly lost its pagan association and became a symbol of the Christmas season and has even been featured on United States postage stamps. Medicinal Uses: Holly leaves were formerly used as a diaphoretic and an infusion of them was |
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3
3225 |
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Silk tree was introduced to the U.S. in 1745. Silk tree continues to be a popular ornamental because of its fragrant and showy flowers. Medicinal Uses: Extracts of the plant have been shown in scientific trials to be a moderate diuretic, depress duodenal contractions similar to atropine sulphone, promote regeneration of nerves, and reduce menorrhagia (Modern-natural 2001). Antidepressant activity has been demonstrated in humans (Martínez and others 1996). Root extracts are reported to b |
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4
1231 |
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Early settlers made a soap substitute from its gummy roots, and they made home remedies from its bitter bark. Native American Indians used crushed branches from this tree and other buckeyes to drug fish in order to make them easier to catch. Medicinal Uses: The powdered bark is hypnotic and odontalgic. It is used in the treatment of ulcers. A poultice of the powdered seeds has been used in the treatment of cancer tumors and infections, and as a salve for sores. An infusion of the roots has been |
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5
1878 |
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It was cultivated as early as 1735 as a honey plant. A decoction of the inner bark was used by Native Americans as an emetic. The bark was also used as a substitute for quinine. The Choctaw and Seminole peoples used decoctions of buttonbush bark for treating several internal maladies including diarrhea and stomach aches. Medicinal Uses: Buttonbush was often employed medicinally by native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a range of ailments. It is little used in modern Herbalism. |
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6
1452 |
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This plant is considered an invasive species in most of North America, it will take over and eliminate native honeysuckles. The entire plant has been used as an alternative medicine for thousands of years in Asia. An ointment made from the leaves of honeysuckles was used to remove freckles, whereas a bouquet of flowers was used to relieve asthma. It is alterative, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antispasmodic, depurative, diuretic, febrifuge, and is also used to reduce blood pressure. The stem |
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