10-3

M. SANCHO, Cal Poly, Long Beach, CA 90853

The herbal/botanical traditions of Latin America are very rich and varied. Many of the ancient cultures relied on herbs as their primary form of healing. This presentation will outline the history of herbal usage in Latin American countries and trace the history to modern times where herbs are used as foods and beverages. Many herbs and spices used in modern Latin American cooking, such as chili peppers, epazote, garlic, and ginger, were used as traditional medicines in ancient as well as more modern Central and South American cultures. In addition, many herbs were used in beverages and teas, such as guarana, yerba mate, and hibiscus. Some food crops of Latin America are also being studied for their medicinal properties, such as maca, used by the Peruvian Indians. This presentation will outline much of the traditional usage and modern research regarding these herbs and botanicals.