Castoreum

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Castoreum is the glandular secretion of the beaver. Today, it is used in trapping, some perfumes, and as a flavoring in chewing gum. Although modern medical use of castoreum is rare, it was a commonplace 'cure' in archaic times. Until the 1700s, castoreum was used to treat many different ailments, including headache, fever, and hysteria. The Romans believed the fumes produced by burning castoreum could induce an abortion; Paracelsus thought it could be used in the treatment of epilepsy^[1]; and medieval beekeepers used it to increase honey production. It contains salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin.^[2]

Castoreum and anal gland secretion^[3] appear to be used by beavers to mark their territory.^[4]

[edit] References

1. ^ http://www.iras.ucalgary.ca/~volk/sylvia/Mummy.htm
2. ^ Müller-Schwarze, Dietland, & Sun, Lixing (2003). The Beaver: Natural History of a Wetlands Engineer, Cornell University Press, 43. ISBN 0-8014-4098-X.
3. ^ Johnston, Robert E.; Sorenson, Peter W.; and Müller-Schwarze, Dietland (1999). Advances in Chemical Signals in Vertebrates, Springer, 1, 282. ISBN 0-306-46114-5.
4. ^ Müller-Schwarze, Dietland (1992). "Castoreum of beaver (Castor canadensis): function, chemistry and biological activity of its components," Chemical Signals in Vertebrates IV, 457–464, Plenum Press.

[edit] External links

• The International Perfume Museum: Castoreum