Cocillana

/ˌkoʊsɪˈlænə/ noun

Definition

A tree native to South America whose bark was traditionally used in herbal medicine as a laxative and for treating respiratory conditions.

Etymology

From Spanish 'cocillana,' derived from indigenous South American languages, referring to a tree known to local peoples for medicinal properties.

Kelly Says

Cocillana bark became so popular as a Victorian-era remedy that it was shipped worldwide and sold in pharmaceutical form—it's one of hundreds of Amazon plants whose medicinal secrets Europeans 'discovered' that indigenous peoples had known for millennia.

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