In Europe finding a sea
heart has always been an exciting event that has
evoked interest and speculation. Once called Stones
by the Vikings, Seahearts were used as a purgative,
cattle medicine and given as a pain reliever for
women during childbirth. Some believed the seaheart
originated from plants growing under the ocean,
while others touted the seaheart as proof of uncharted
passages leading to exotic lands.
The Sea Heart gained a "Lucky" reputation
among fishermen, medicine men, explorers, and storytellers
too! A symbolic messenger or a crude navigational
tool, it is said that Sea Hearts washed ashore in
the Azores, provided inspiration to Christopher
Columbus to set sail to The West in search of their
origin. In fact, The Islanders of Porto Santos,
Azores, still call the Sea Heart seeds, Favas de
Columb or Columbus' beans.
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