Heliopsis longipes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heliopsis longipes |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Heliopsis
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| Species: |
longipes
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| Synonyms | |
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Philactis longipes A.Gray |
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Heliopsis longipes is a special kind of flowering plant. It is quite rare and belongs to the Asteraceae family, which includes sunflowers. This plant grows only in a few states in north-central Mexico. These states are Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, and Querétaro.
Locally, people call this plant chilcuague. It also has many other names, like Azteca gold root. Long ago, people in Mexico believed it was a very powerful medicine.
What is Chilcuague?
The name "chilcuague" comes from the ancient Nahuatl language. It combines "chil" (meaning spicy) and "coatl" (meaning snake). This is because its root looks a bit like a snake.
In markets, you might hear it called by other names. Some of these are "herb grindstone," "chil cuas," "chilcuan," and "Aztec root." People also call it "gold root" or "chili de palo."
Traditional Uses and Benefits
For a long time, people have used the root of Heliopsis longipes for different purposes. They used it as a medicine and also as a spice in food.
How Chilcuague Helps
When you chew the root, it can make your tongue feel numb. This helps to relieve pain in your teeth and throat. It also has properties that fight germs. This means it was traditionally used against infections. For example, it helped with sore throats, tonsillitis, and gum infections. It was even used for skin infections.
The root is also known to fight fungi. So, it was used for things like athlete's foot or dandruff. It can also help with pain, acting like a natural pain reliever. It was even used to help babies with the pain of new teeth.
Besides its healing uses, chilcuague was a popular condiment. People added it to foods and drinks. It also helps the body clean itself. When you eat it, it makes your body produce more fluids. This includes saliva, sweat, and urine. This happens because it affects a gland in your mouth. The Chichimecas, an ancient group, used it for both medicine and cooking.
When you chew chilcuague, it makes you produce a lot of saliva. This is called a "sialogogous effect." Saliva has special enzymes that help with digestion. It can also help balance the pH in your stomach and mouth. This might help with problems like acid reflux or heartburn. Producing saliva can also make your body release endorphins, which are natural feel-good chemicals.
