Allspice
pimenta dioica
pimento officinalis (LINDL.)
Myrtaceae

AKA
clove pepper
Jamaica Pepper
Pimento

Adulterations
Although ground Pimento is sometimes used
to adulterate powdered cloves, it is itself little subject
to adulteration in the entire condition, though
the ground article for household consumption
as a spice is subject to the same adulteration as other
similar substances, it is sometimes adulterated
with the larger and less aromatic berries
of the Mexican Myrtus Tobasco,
Mocino called Pimienta de Tabasco.

At one time the fruit of the common American Spice Bush,
'Benzoin ' was used for this purpose.

Powdered berries of this American plant, a member
of the natural order Lauracece, Lindera Benzoin,
occurring in damp woods throughout
the Eastern and Central States, were used during
the War of Independence by the Americans as a substitute
for Allspice and its leaves as a substitute for tea,
hence the plant was often called 'Wild Allspice.
'All parts of the shrub have a spicy, agreeable flavour,
which is strongest in the bark and berries.

Leaves and berries are used in decoction in domestic
practice as a febrifuge and are considered to have
tonic and anthelmintic properties.

A tincture prepared from the fresh young twigs
before the buds have burst in the spring, is still used
in homoeopathy, but no preparation is employed officially.

'Carolina Allspice,' or Sweet Bush calycanthis foridus, Lindl,
is a shrub 6 to 8 feet high, which inhabits the low,
shady woods along the mountains of Georgia,
North Carolina and in Tennessee.

The whole plant is aromatic, having
the odor of strawberries when crushed.

It is asserted that the shrub is important as a source
of poisoning to cattle and sheep.

The alkaloid it contains exercises
a powerfully depressant action upon the heart.

It has been used as an antiperiodic, in fluid extract.


ACTIONS
CONSTITUENTS
DESCRIPTION
HABITAT
MAGICAL PROPERTIES


SOURCE
"A modern Herbal"


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