 In Jamaica the word contrayerva refers to the roots of species of Birthwort or Dutchman's Pipe ("Aristolochia") that are considered to have antidotal and other properties similar to "Dorstenia".“Spanish Contrayerva” instead is the name given to the roots of "Dorstenia"..

Chambers’ "Cyclopedia" mentions another kind of contrayerva brought from Virginia called “Viperìne”, with the same success against poisons and venoms as the “Contaryerva of Peru”.This refers to "Viperina virginiana" or "Contrayerva virginiana", which are old names for "Asarum virginicum" or Virginia wild ginger.