Cubeb << KYOO behb >> is the dried, unripe berry of a climbing vine belonging to the pepper family. It grows in Penang, Sumatra, New Guinea, and neighboring islands. It resembles black pepper. Cubebs are used as spices in Asia, and as medicine in Europe and America. Drugs prepared from cubebs are used as kidney stimulants, urinary antiseptics, and expectorants. Cubebs, in the form of cigarettes, were formerly used to treat hay fever, asthma, and pharyngitis.
