Rattlesnake Master

Description:

Resembling something out of the Southwestern United States in both name and appearance, Rattlesnake master has an arid, heated look about it. Perhaps it's the yucca-like foliage, resembling its desert counterparts. Or perhaps the stiffness of the plant, reminiscent of evolutionary wonders that stand erect in even the most blinding heat. Or perhaps it's the flowers, miniscule and nestled deep within a hardened carapace.

Notes:

Although there is currently no scientific evidence to support older claims of medicinal properties by native Americans, Rattlesnake Master was a popular herb in the 18th and 19th centuries. James Adair, an 18th-century Indian trader, was one of the first to document medicinal uses of Rattlesnake Master. He recounted tales in which Indians chewed the root, blew it on their hands, and then handled rattlesnakes without any damage. Despite these stories, this use was not widespread the root was more often used in bitter teas as an antidote for various maladies. These included venereal disease, snakebites, impotence, expelling worms, and to induce vomiting.