Chenopodium ambrosioides is known by a variety of names Epazote, Wormseed, and Mexican Tea. It is a small, herbal plant indigenous to Central America, South America, and Mexico.
Epazote is used as a medicinal plant for diarrhea, stomach pain, skin ulcers, and intestinal parasites. For diarrhea, stomach pain, and intestinal parasites the plant is made into a simple decoction and taken orally ranging from 1-2 drops for mild, 3-4 drops for moderate, and 5-13 drops for extreme cases.
Epazote is chemically broken down into the following: protein: 3.8%; fat: 0.7%, carbohydrates: 7.6%, fiber 1.3%, ash: 2.4%, calcium: 340 mg, phosphorus: 52 mg, iron 5.2 mg; carotene: 2420 mg, Thiamine: 0.06 mg, Riboflavin: 0.28 mg, Niacin: 0.60 mg, ascorbic acid: 11 mg.
Studies have indicated that the leaf extract of the plant administered 25 mg orally to rats with chemically grown ulcers reduced the number of gastric ulcers without changing the gastric fluid volume and stomach acid.
Now Epazote is a characteristically Spanish herb and its traces to the Caribbean go back to colonization as the herb is not native to the land so perhaps it was brought over and cultivated. While it was being cultivated it is obvious that people such as Macandal were responsible for experiment and research while working the land, discovering the plants uses, “One vine produced a rash, another made the head of anyone resting in its shade swell up” (18).
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