Category: CULTURAL HISTORY & HERITAGE
Tiger cults: How local beliefs and practices shape human-wildlife coexistence in rural India The sacred and dangerous Tiger is deeply rooted in… read more
Tiger, Tiger! Tigers are deeply embedded in the cultural and natural heritage of India. They feature prominently in Mughal history and Hindu,… read more
Scientifically known as Panthera leo persica, the Asiatic lion is a symbol of power and royalty, deeply embedded in the cultural and… read more
Discover the use of lion parts and products in the history and heritage of medical practices of ethnic groups of India and… read more
Discover the use of tiger parts and products in history and heritage of medical practices of Ayurveda, ethnic groups of India and… read more
Guggal. A fragrance known to the west since Biblical times, with medicinal properties known to Indians for long before that. Shivam Tiwari… read more
Discover a short history of the domestication of the cow and bull in India, from the Aurochs to the Zebu. Aurochs Archaeologists… read more
Discover the use of cow products in history and heritage of traditional Indian medicine, Ayurveda and daily life. ETHNOMEDICINE: The use of… read more
Discover cacao in Chichen Itza, the most important archaeological vestige of the Maya-Toltec civilization in Yucatan, Mexico. I am a historian and… read more
The “hoja sagrada” or sacred leaf has enormous significance to Aymara and Quechua people in the Andes. Discover the coca leaf in… read more
Discover the curative use of cocoa among the Maya & Mexica/Aztec of pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica, based on reports from the colonial era to… read more
Southamericans chew coca leaves to eradicate hunger, thirst, improve muscle stamina, to counter altitude sickness and oxygen deprivation. The leaf is also… read more
Potatoes are stem tubers and considered a starchy vegetable. There are many health benefits to potatoes, they are rich in starch, fiber,… read more
Every part of the palm is useful in one way or another. Coconut’s historical, cultural, and health significance in India, includes its… read more
All parts of the Sacred Fig are used as a medicine for their cooling and healing properties, as part of the Indian… read more
Paraguayans and North Argentinians drink Tereré – cold mate with iced water or fruit juice (orange or lemonade) and herbs such as… read more
Frankincense is the fragrant gum resin obtained from balsam trees (Boswellia), most commonly the tree resin is put on a heat source… read more
Ancient Meso-Americans consumed chocolate in a variety of ways. It could be everything from a ritual potion, to a healing elixir and… read more
Piero Fornasetti Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988) was a prolific designer, painter, sculptor, interior decorator and engraver, creating more than 11.000 items: from trays,… read more
The journey of coffee’s aroma is a sensory adventure that spans continents and cultures, from the fertile soils of the plantations to… read more
For the Incas, as well as for today’s Aymara and Quechua farmers of the Andes, the potato is more then sustenance, it… read more
