 In 1561 Jean Nicot, the French ambassador in Lisbon, Portugal, who described tobacco's medicinal properties as a panacea in his writings, is credited with introducing ground tobacco snuff to the Royal Court of Catherine de' Medici to treat her persistent headaches.Catherine de' Medici was so impressed with its curative relieving properties, she promptly declared the tobacco would henceforth be termed "Herba Regina" (Queen Herb).Catherine's royal seal of approval would help popularise snuff among the French nobility.