Mexican inventions and discoveries are objects, processes or techniques invented or discovered, partially or entirely, by a person from Mexico. These also include concepts or practices introduced by Mexican people and their indigenous ancestors. Some of the objects, processes or techniques developed in the Pre-Columbian era were also invented or discovered independently in other cultures. This list shows only inventions and discoveries first introduced in present-day Mexican territory, or those that vary significantly in concept, figure, or use.
The Olmec may have developed compasses for navigation and astronomical study that were made out of lodestones.
Botanical name | Nahuatl name | Uses |
---|---|---|
Artemisia mexicana | Itztuahyatl | Weakness, colic, reduce fever; coughing |
Bocconia frutescens | Cococxihuitl | Constipation, abscesses, swelling |
Bromelia pinguin | Mexocotl | heat blisters in the mouth |
Carica papaya | Chichihualxo-chitl | Latex unripe fruit for rash ulcer; ripe fruit digestive |
Casimiroa edulis | Cochitzapotl | sedative |
Cassia occidentalis or Cassia alata | Totoncaxihuitl | Astringent, purgative, anthelmintic, relieves fever, inflammation of rashes |
Chenopodium graveolens | Epazotl | Against dysentery, anthelmintic, helps asthmatics breathe |
Euphorbia calyculata | Cuauhtepatli; chupiri | Purgative, skin ailments, mange, skin sores |
Helianthus annuus | Chilamacatl | fever |
Liquidambar styraciflua | Ocotzotl; xochiocotzotl quanhxihuitl | Rashes, toothache, tonic for stomach |
Montanoa tomentosa | Cihuapatli | Diuretic, oxytocic, cures hydropesia |
Passiflora jorullensis | Coanenepilli | Causes sweating, Diuretic, pain reliever, poisons and snake bites |
Perezia adnata | Pipitzahuac | Purgative, cathartic, coughing, sore throat |
Persea americana | Auacatl; ahuaca quahuitl | Astringent, treat sores, remove scars |
Pithecolobium dulce | Quamochitl | Astringent, causes sneezing, cures ulcers and sores |
Plantago mexicana | Acaxilotic | Vomit and cathartic |
Plumbago pulchella | Tlepatli; tletlematil; itzcuinpatli | Diuretic, colic, gangrene |
Psidium guajava | Xalxocotl | Digestion, dysentery, mange |
Rhamnus serrata | Tlalcapulin | Dysentery, bloody bowels |
Salix lasiopelis | Quetzalhuexotl | Stops blood from rectum, cures fever |
Schoenocaulon coulteri; Veratrum frigidum | Zoyoyatic | Causes sneezing, kills mice/lice/flies |
Smilax atristolochiaefolia | Mecapatli | Causes sweating, diuretic, relieves joint pain |
Tagetes erecta | Cempohualxochitl | Causes sweating, cathartic, cures dropsy |
Talauma mexicana | yolloxochitl | Comforts heart, used against sterility |
Theobroma cacao | Cacahuaquahuitl | Excess diarrhea, can cause dizziness |