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Orchids have always appeared mysterious, and
have therefore been the object of intrigue and
curiosity of people for centuries. Ancient
cultures believed magical cures for all sorts of
ills could be made from the roots. |
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Two European types of terrestrial orchids
The Pink Butterfly and The Long Spurred Because
of the appearance of the pseudo bulbs of these
plants and others and their similarity in
appearance to certain part of the human anatomy,
they were considered to be the cure for many
sexual problems, indeed the word orchis is the
Latin name for testicle, and the Ancient Greeks
believed that elixirs made from orchid roots
would have aphrodisiac qualities, and be a cure
to various reproductive problems. |
In Theatrum Botanicum which was first published in 1640,
a r. John Parkinson wrote:-
"if a man ate a large orchid tuber, he would begat many
children"
Culpepper writing in the British Herbal stated:-
"The roots are to be used with discretion... They are
hot and moist in operation, under the dominance of
Venus, and provoke lust exceedingly which the dried and
withered roots do restrain".
The ancient Chinese were one of the first people to use
orchids as medicine, and some of the earliest paintings
of orchids can be found on the oldest of Chinese vases.
In India in the 1800's a nutritious drink made from the
roots of several orchid species was produced and known
by the name of Salep or Saloop.
Today, one of our most popular flavourings Vanilla is
derived from the seed pods of orchids.
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