It is one of the common names given to a plant of medicinal uses and to which magical powers are granted. Esoteric use plant. It is used as a counter in supposed spells. It is also known as contra, rompezaragüey, albahaquilla. It is endemic to Cuba. It is used for purification and cleaning baths. Its scientific name is Chromolaena odorata, which means colored odorous mantle. It belongs to the Asteraceae family.
Chromolaena odorata plant is used to prepare a purification bath, a bath of offal and to clean houses that require removing evil and spells. To prepare the purification for people, the rompezaragüey is cooked with rue, parsley, apasote, pine nut, paradise and scorpion. Mixed with victor, it serves to ward off evil and find the spiritual path. It is also used in the African-American religion palo mayombe, to prepare the seven purification baths of the future initiate. The albahaquilla of Cuba? or saragüey breaker, is a shrub of the sunflower family native to North America, from Florida and Texas to Mexico and the West Indies. It measures 30 to 35 cms. 2 . Hector Lavoe Song (1975)
