[Aztlan] achiote

[Karen Bassie]

In Paul Standley's Trees and Shrubs of Mexic, he noted the indigenous 
custom of painting the face and body red before going to war or 
participating in feasts and dances. A large number of deities and humans 
on Classic Period polychromes have red body paint which is likely 
achiote. Standley also refers to the frequent use of achiote as an 
astringent, febrifuge, antidysenteric, diuretic and aphrodisiac. He also 
states that in Madagascar, they take an infusion of the leaves to make 
themselves bold and courageous when they have to speak or dance in 
public. In Brazil, the pulp of the seeds is given to bulls to make them 
more lively and dangerous in the bull fighting arena. So it seems to 
have a stimulating effect rather than a purging effect.