Culpeper's complete herbal ... To which are ... annexed his English physician enlarged, and Key to [Galen's Method of] physic ... to which is also added ... receipts selected from the author's Last legacy / Nicholas Culpeper.

Nicholas Culpeper

Date:: 1814

Credit: Culpeper's complete herbal ... To which are ... annexed his English physician enlarged, and Key to [Galen's Method of] physic ... to which is also added ... receipts selected from the author's Last legacy / Nicholas Culpeper. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$abidetli like a hedge-bush, or a tree spread- ing its branches, the woods of the body being white, and a dark red cole, or heart; the outward bark is of a blackish colour, with many whitish spots therein; but the inner bark next the wood is yellow, which being chewed, will turn the spittle near into a saf-. fron colour. The leaves are somewhat like those of an ordinary Alder-tree, or the Female Cornet, or Dogberry-tree, called in Sussex Dog-Avood, but blacker, and not so long. The floAvers are Avhite, coming forth Avith the leaves at the joints, Avhich turn into small round berries, first green, afterAvards red, but blackish Avhen they are thorough ripe, divided, as it Avere, into two parts, Avdicrein is contained tAVO small round and flat seeds. The root runneth not deep into the ground, but spreads rather under the upper crust of the earth. P/acc.] This tree or shrub may be found plentifully in St. John^s Avood by Hornsey, and the Avoods upon Hampstead-Heath ; as also a Avood called the Old Park in Bar- comb in Essex, near the brooks sides. Time.'\ It floAvers in May, and the berries are ripe in September. Gorcernment and virtues.~\ It is a tree of Venus, and perhaps under the celestial sign Cancer. The inner yelloAV bark hereof purgeth doAvnAvards bothcholer and phlegm, and the Avatery humours of such that have the dropsy, and strengthens the inAvard parts again by binding. If the bark hereof be boiled with Agrimony, W ormAvood, Dodder, Hops and some Fennel, Avdth Smallage, Endh’e, and Succory-roots, and a reason- able draught taken every morning for some time together, it is very effectual against the jaundice, dropsy, and the evil disposition of the body, especially if some suitable purging medicines have been taken before, to void the grosser excrements : It purgeth and strengtheneth the liver and spleen, cleansing them from such evil humours and hardness as they are afflicted Avith. It is (2.) to be understood that these things are per- formed by the dried bark; for the fresh green bark taken inwardly provokes strong vomitings, pains in the stomach, and grip- ings in the belly; yet if the decoction may stand and settle two or three days, until the yellow colour be changed black, it will not work so strongly as before, but Avill strengthen the stomach, and procure an appetite to meat. The outAvard bark contrarhvise doth bind the body, and is helpful for all lasks and fluxes thereof, but this also must be dried first, Avhereby it Avill work the better. The inner bark thereof boiled in vinegar is an approved remedy to kill lice, to cure the itch, and take aAvay scabs, by drying them up in a short time. It is singular good to Avash the teeth, to take aAvay the pains, to fasten those that are loose, to cleanse them, and to keep them sound. The leaves are good fodder for kine, to make them give more milk. If in the Spring-time you use the herbs before-mentioned and aauII take but a hand- ful of each of them, and to them add an handful of Elder buds, and having bruised them all, boil them in a gallon of ordinary beer, Avhen it is new; and having boiled them half an hour, add to this three gallons more, and let them work together, and drink a draught of it every morning, half a pint; or thereabouts; it is an excellent purge for the Spring, to consume the phlegmatic quality the Winter hath left behind it, and Avithal to keep your body in health, and. consume those evil humours which the heat of Summer will readily stir up. Esteem it as a jewel. THE COMMON ALDER-TREE. Descript^ This grows to a reasonable height, and spreads much if it like the place. It is so generally knoAvn to country people, that I conceive it needless to tell that which IS no ncAvs. Dlace and Time^ D It delights to grow in$