Professor Cheo Torres guest lecture to our ENGL 320 Writing About Food & Culture class on Wednesday, September 19, 2018. He offered us this glossary of medicinal herbs, many of which are growing at the UNM Lobo Gardens.
A brief glossary on herbs
Compiled by
Eliseo “Cheo” Torres, University of New Mexico
1.
Aloe Vera Zabila,
Sabila – It is possible to buy the
extracted gel in bottles for use on cuts, burns rashes, insect bites, acne, or
as wrinkle-preventative. Mexican-Americans mix the gel with water and drink it
to treat arthritis, rheumatism and stomach disorders.
2.
Arnica
– As a tincture, rubbed for inflammation, bruising, sprains and arthritis.
3.
Basil (Sweet Basil) Albahaca - Basil tea can
be used as a gargle for sore throat or to heal sores in the mouth. The same tea
can also be used externally on insect stings. A decoction of Basil, Honey, and
Nutmeg is supposedly good to give to a mother immediately after childbirth to
aid in expelling the afterbirth.
4.
Cat’s claw Uña
de gato (Peruvian type) - Helps
the immune and digestive systems and aids with viral infections and
inflammations.
5.
Chamomile Manzanilla - Its flowers as well as its leaves are used to make a
tea which is taken to calm the nerves and to aid digestion. A stronger tea is
consumed when fever is present. It is said, too, that those who wish to break
the nicotine habit should chew fresh or dried Chamomile flowers when the urge
for a cigarette strikes.
6.
Chaya (Spanish
Tree) - The leaves are rich in iron,
calcium, and vitamins. Used for type 2 diabetes and as diuretic.
7.
Cinnamon Canela – Strips of Cinnamon bark can be grated or bruised
and then used to make a tea which is taken to aid digestion or stimulate the
appetite.
8.
Citron Flowers Flor
de azahar – The flowers
from the orange or lemon tree can be picked
fresh and brewed as a tea to cure insomnia.
9.
Cloves Clavos – One can chew a clove to kill the pain of a
toothache or wrap it in cotton and place it in the ear to treat an earache. A
few drops of oil of cloves in water can be taken to stop vomiting.
10. Cornsilk Barbas de elote – The Cornsilk strands should be boiled and the
resulting liquid drunk to treat bladder and kidney ailments. Cornsilk is said
to relieve water retention and thus is given in the morning to children who wet
the bed.
11. Creosote Bush
Gobernadora - Taken as a tea made from the leaves of the plant,
Creosote Bush is thought to relieve kidney problems.
12. Eucalyptus Eucalipto – The leaves are used as a tea to promote digestion,
but more often they are boiled and the steam inhaled to relieve congestion and
cough.
13. Linden
Flower Flor de tila - Tea made from this flower is used as a tranquilizer.
14. Mint Yerbabuena – A tea made of any of these is said to provide relief
from stomach and nausea, but can also be taken to aid digestion.
15. Osha Chuchapete – The root is used for sore throat, coughs, colds and
congestion and a skin wash for infections.
16. Rosemary Romero – Used as
skin wash, for baldness, delayed menstruation, and to increase memory.
17. Rue Ruda – Rue tea, taken in small amounts, will stimulate menstruation.
18. Tepezcohuite
- Helps with wounds, burns, scars, wrinkles and acne.
Common Ailments (Folk
beliefs) Treated by Curanderos (Folk healers)
Mal de ojo –The evil
eye comes through excessive admiration, of those too weak to absorb it; babies
are usually the victims. Treated by sweeping the person three times with an egg
and forming little crosses with the egg while praying three times. Afterwards,
the person is given a hot herbal tea.
Susto
- Translated as loss of spirit or soul;
could be considered shock; also known as “magical fright”; usually caused by
bad news or a bad scare. Treated by praying three times while sweeping the body
with a broom or special herbs (rue, rosemary, cedar, basil, pirul). Afterwards,
the person is given a hot herbal tea.
Caída de Mollera – Known as
“fallen fontanelle” and afflicts only babies; can be brought on by a fall or
rough handling. Treated by pushing with the thumb up against the roof of baby’s
mouth while the fontanelle area is packed with moist salt, soap, or egg white.
Empacho – Thought
to be produced by something stuck in the stomach or a blocking of the
intestines. Caused by eating something raw, eating too quickly, or not chewing
food completely. Treated by rubbing the stomach with an egg followed by a
castor oil laxative. In some cases, the back behind the stomach is rubbed with
warm olive oil and the skin is pulled making a snapping sound, thus loosening
what is stuck.
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Reference: Healing
with Herbs and Rituals and Curandero: A life in Mexican Folk Healing.
University of New Mexico Press, www.unmpress.com, 505-272-7777.
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