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Traditional remedy or use: Contains
caffeine and has been used for centuries
to make various 'teas'. Native Americans
throughout the southeast prepared a
"black drink" made from Ilex and used it
during ceremonies, meetings and rituals.
Roughly translated, Seminole war chief
Osceola's name means black drink singer.
Early American colonists used it as a
coffee or tea substitute.
Modern remedy or use: Ilex has
also been used to treat asthma, fever,
jaundice, rheumatism and as a diuretic
and
febrifuge. The name vomitoria
reputedly comes from its
emetic properties, though it was
typically consumed in large quantities
which probably contributed to this
effect.
Comments:
I. paraguariense is used today to make
Yerba Mate (yair-ba mah-tay), prized in
South America for its rejuvenating,
nutritional and medicinal qualities. |
