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Capsicum annuum 'Masquerade' Distribution: Central and South America. This ‘domesticated species’ originated from Mexico (although the centre of Capsicum evolution was much earlier and from Bolivia) and includes the bland salad peppers and the hot chilli peppers, of which capsaicin (sometimes called capsicain), from the lining of the inside of the chilli, is the main active ingredient. Chilli comes from the Aztec language of the Nahuatl people. It was reputedly introduced to Europe by Columbus in the mid-15th century, but was cultivated in Mexico since 4,000 BCE and used in cooking since 7,200 BCE. After its introduction to Europe, its cultivation very rapidly became world-wide. It appears first as a description (Bock, 1539) with the name teutschem Pfeffer. The first illustration, as Siliquastrum, appears in Historia Stirpes commentarii insignis (Fuchs, 1542). Fuchs did not realise it came from the Americas, as he identified it as a plant described by Pliny, Dioscorides and Avicenna and gave their uses of it. It appear in Dodoen's Cruydeboeck (1551) and Lyte's translation (1557) with the note that it is 'hot and drie in the third degree.' He recommended it for dressing meat, and noted that it 'warmeth the stomach' and was good for a sore throat, scrofula, and topically got rid of spots. Fuch's had reported these properties as being described by Avicenna, but what that plant was is unknown. Lindley (1838) wrote: 'It is employed in medicine, in combination with Cinchona in intermittent and lethargic affections, and also in atonic gout, dyspepsia accompanied by flatulence, tympanitis, paralysis etc. Its most valuable application appears however to be in cynanche maligna [=severe sore throat, with impending suffocation] and scarlatina maligna [=severe scarlet fever], used either as a gargle or administered internally.' However, its principal use medically has been in pain relief, applied locally for pain from muscle injury to post herpetic neuralgia. Capsaicin acts on the pain and heat sensing neurones to make them trigger the sensation of pain at body temperature. Repeated exposure to capsaicin depletes the neurotransmitter substance P that is used to perceive pain, so the relevant nerves no longer transmit the sensation of pain/heat from any cause. It is a banned substance in the equestrian events at the Olympics because of its ability to stop perception of pain. Capsaicin has been shown, experimentally, to kill cancer cells by attacking their mitochondria. Particular interest has concentrated on its ability to reduce the size of tumours of the pancreas and prostate. Various cultivars are used in cooking, and the strength (i.e. how hot they are) is measured in Scoville units. A standard chilli pepper used in England would be around 5,000 Scovilles, the hottest peppers are rated over one million Scoville units. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
Dr Henry Oakeley- Books
Libellus de medicinalibus indorum herbis: según traducción latina de Juan Badiano.
Date: 2022- Pictures
- Online
Childbirth, midwifery and care of the new born infant. Lithograph by G. Lopéz (?) after Fray B. de Sahagún.
Bernardino, de Sahagún, 1499-1590.Date: 1892-1916Reference: 21500i- Books
Health and disease in human history : a Journal of interdisciplinary history reader / edited by Robert I. Rotberg.
Date: [2000], ©2000- Books
Advertencias para los confessores de los naturales / Compvestas por el padre fray Ioan Baptista, de la Orden del seraphico padre sanct Francisco, lector de theologia, y guardian del Conuento de Sanctiago Tlatilulco: dela Prouincia del sancto euangelio. Primera- [segunda] parte. Con priuilegio.
Juan Bautista de la Concepción, Saint, 1561-1613.Date: Año 1600-[1601]- Books
- Online
A Central American ceremony which suggests the snake dance of the Tusayan villagers / [Jesse Walter Fewkes].
Fewkes, Jesse Walter, 1850-1930.Date: 1893- Books
Medizinische Bücher (tici-amatl) der alten Azteken aus der ersten Zeit der Conquista / August Freiherr von Gall.
Gall, August, Freiherr von, 1872-Date: 1997- Books
- Online
Historia general de las cosas de Nueva España / por Fr. Bernardino de Sahagún, de la Orden de los frayles menores de la observancia.
Bernardino, de Sahagún, 1499-1590.Date: 1938- Books
General history of the things of New Spain : Florentine codex / Bernardino de Sahagún.
Bernardino, de Sahagún, 1499-1590.Date: 1950-1982- Books
Einige Fragmente mexikanischer Bilderhandschriften / von Walter Lehmann.
Lehmann, Walter, 1878-1939.Date: [1906]- Books
Medizinische Bücher (tici-amatl) der alten Azteken aus der ersten Zeit der Conquista / herausgegeben, übersetzt und erklärt von Professor d. Dr. August Freiherr von Gall.
Bernardino, de Sahagún, 1499-1590.Date: 1940- Books
Codex Mendoza : Aztec manuscript / commentaries by Kurt Ross.
Date: [1978], ©1978- Books
Cuerpo humano e ideología : las concepciones de los antiguos nahuas / Alfredo López Austin.
López Austin, Alfredo.Date: 1980- Books
Libellus de medicinalibus indorum herbis : manuscrito azteca de 1552 / ségun traducción latina de Juan Badiano ; versión española [por Ángel María Garibay Kintana] ; con estudios y comentarios por diversos autores.
Cruz, Martín de la, active 16th century.Date: 1964- Books
Treatise on the heathen superstitions that today live among the Indians native to this New Spain, 1629 / by Hernando Ruiz de Alarcón ; translated and edited by J. Richard Andrews and Ross Hassig.
Ruiz de Alarcón, Hernando, active 17th century.Date: [1984], ©1984