contrayerva

noun
con·​tra·​yer·​va | \ ˌkän‧trəˈyərvə, ˌkōn‧-, -yer-\
variants: or contrahierba \ -​trəˈyerbə , -​yervə \
plural -s

Definition of contrayerva

: a tropical American herb (Dorstenia contrayerva) the aromatic root of which was formerly used as a stimulant, tonic, and diaphoretic also : any West Indian species of Aristolochia similarly used

History and Etymology for contrayerva

Spanish contrayerba, contrahierba, from contra- + yerba, hierba herb, grass, poison, from Latin herba herb; from the belief that it was a poison antidote

Keep scrolling for more