For the first time I am growing Helenium autumnale, common name Sneezeweed. I see in Wikipedia and other places on the web that its name is "based on the former use of their dried leaves in making snuff. It was inhaled to cause sneezing that would supposedly rid the body of evil spirits."

Back about two years ago I started this thread wondering if there's someplace one can go to for more info and stories about the common names of plants, and I still would like to see something like that. Does anyone know the history of Helenium being used as snuff for this purpose (when, where, how?) Presumably it was in the mid-18th century, around the time many of our plants were being first named? I'd like to read something about it.