| 释义 |
contrayerva|kɒntrəˈjɜːvə|
Also -jerva.
[Sp.; = ‘counter-herb’, i.e. one used as an antidote, f. contra- 3 + yerva (now yerba) herb.]
A name given, in general use, to the root-stock and scaly rhizome of species of Dorstenia (D. Contrayerva and D. braziliensis, family Urticaceæ) native to tropical America, used as a stimulant and tonic, and formerly as an antidote to snake-bites. In Jamaica, the name is given to a species of Birthwort (Aristolochia odoratissima), still held in repute as an alexipharmic.
a1656Bp. Hall in Select Thoughts §51 No Indian is so savage but that he knows the use of his tobacco and contrayerva. 1731Houstoun in Phil. Trans. XXXVII. 196 A short Account of that Plant whose Root is called Contrayerva here in England. 1736Bailey (folio), Contrayerva, a plant in the West Indies much used with others in counter-poisons, and which distillers with us use in strong waters. 1755Miller (in Johnson), A species of birthwort growing in Jamaica, where it is much used as an alexipharmick. 1757A. Cooper Distiller iii. xv. (1760) 171. 1782 E. Gray in Med. Commun. I. 30 Stimulating diaphoretics, such as contrayerva. 1814Lunan Hort. Jamaic. I. 232 (Aristolochia) This is called Contrayerva in Jamaica, from its great efficacy against poisons, but is in no respect like the Spanish contrayerva. 1876Harley Mat. Med. 432 Contrajerva root. 1887D. Morris in Kew Bulletin No. 12. 7 In Jamaica, this term is invariably applied to a species of Aristolochia, while roots of Dorstenia are there called Spanish Contrayerva. |