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
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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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    chiedy nourished up in gardens. The nar- row leafed Bistort grows in the north, in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cumberland. Time.~\ They flower about the end of May, and the seed is ripe about the begin- ning of July. Government and virtues.'] It belongs to Saturn, and is in operation cold and dry; both the leaves and roots have a powerful faculty to resist all poison. The root in powder taken in drink expels the venom of the plague, the small-pox, measels, pur- ples, or any other infectious disease, driv- ing it out by sweating. The root in powder, the decoction thereof in wine being drank, stays ail manner of inward bleeding, or spitting of blood, and any fluxes in the body of either man or woman, or vomiting. It is also very available against ruptures, or burstings, or all bruises from falls, dissolv- ing the congealed blood, and easing the pains that happen thereupon ; it also helps the jaundice. The water distilled from both leaves and roots, is a singular remedy to wash any place bitten or stung by any venomous creature; as also for any of the pur|X)ses before spoken of, and is very good to wash any running sores or ulcei's. The decoction of the root in wine being drank, hinders abortion or miscarriage in child-bearing. The leaves also kill the worms in children, and is a great help to them that cannot keep their water; if the juice of plaintain be added thereto, and outwardly applied, much helpeth the ghonorrhea, or running of the reins. A dram of the powder of the root taken in water thereof, Avherein some red hot iron or steel hath been quenched, is also an admirable help thereto, so as the body be first prepared and purged from the of- fensive humours. The leaves, seed, or roots are all very good in decoctions, drinks or lotions, for inward or outward wounds, or other sores. And the powder strewed upon any cut or wound in a vein, stays the immoderate bleeding thereof. The decoc- tion of the root in water, where unto some pomegranate peels and flowers are added, injected into the matrix, stays the immo- derate flux of the courses. The root there- of with pelitory of Spain, and burnt allum, of each a little quantity, beaten small and into paste with some honey, and a little piece thereof put into an hollow tooth, or held between the teeth, if there be no hol- lowness in them, stays the deduction of rheum upon them which causes pains, and helps to cleanse the head, and void much offensive water. The distilled water is very efi'ectual to wash sores or cankers in the nose, or any other part; if the powder of the root be applied thereunto afterwards. It is good also to fasten the gums, and to take away the heat and inflaiUmations that happen in the jaws, almonds of the throat, or mouth, if the decoction of the leaves, roots, or seeds bruised, or the juice of them be applied ; but the roots are most eflcctual to the purposes aforesaid. ONE-BLADE. Desclipt.] Tins small plant never bears more than one leaf, but only when it rises up with its stalk, which thereon bears another, and seldom more, which arc of a blueish green colour, broad at the bottom, and pointed with many ribs or veins like plaintain ; at the top of the stalk grow many small flowers star-fashion, smelling somewhat sweet; after which comes small reddish berries when they are ripe. The root small of the bigness of a rush, lying and creeping under the upper crust of the earth, shooting forth in divers places. Place.] It grows in moist, shadowyj grassy places of woods, in many places of this realm. Time.] It flowers about May, and the berries are ripe in June, and then quickly perishes, until the next year it springs from the same again.