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.

47/500 (page 27)

$. Goiermnent and virtues.~\ It is an herb of the Sun, and therefore cordial; half a dram,^ or a dram at most, of the root hereof in powder taken in wine and vinegar, of each a little quantity, and the part}^ presently laid to sweat, is held to be a sovereign femedy for those that are intix^ted with the plague, and have a sore upon tliein, by ex- pelling the poison, and defending the heart and spirits from danger. It is also accounted a singular good wound herb, and therefore used with other herbs in making such balms as are necessary for curing of wounds, either green or old, and especially if the nerves be hurt. THE BE-AMBLE, OR BLACK-BERRY BUSH. It is SO welj known that it needs no description. The virtues thereof are as follows. Government and virtues^ It is a plant of Venus in Aries. If any ask the reason why Venus is so prickly.? Tell them tis because she is in the house of Mars. The buds, leaves, and branches, while they are green, are of a good use in the ulcers and putrid sores of the mouth and throat, and ot the (juiiiseyvmnd likewise to heal other fresh wounds and sores ; but the flowers and fruits unripe are very binding, and so profitable for the bloody dux, lasks, and are a fit remedy for spitting of blood. Eitlicr the decoction of the powder or of the root taken, is good to break or drive forth gravel and the stone in the reins and kidneys. The leaves and brambles, as well green as dry, are exceeding good lotions for sores in the mouth, or secret parts, i The decoction of them, and of the dried branches, do much bind the belly and are ' good for too much flowing of women^s i courses; the berries of the flowers are a ; powerful remedy against the poison of the i most venomous serpents; as well drank as I outwardly applied, helpeth the sores of the | fundament and the piles; the juice of the i (3.) berries mixed with ,the juice of mulberries, do bind more eflectuUlly, and help all fret- ting and eating sores and ulcers wheresoever. The distilled water of the branches, leaves, and flowers, or of the fruit, is very pleasant in taste, aiid very effectual in fevers and hot distempers of the body, head, eyes, and other parts, and for the purposes aforesaid. The leaved boiled in lye, and the head washed therewith, healeth the itch and running soies thereof, and makes the hair black. The powder of the leaves strewed on cankers and running ulcers, wonderfully helps to heal them. Some use to conden- sate the juice of the leaves, and some the juice of the berries, to keep for their use all the year, for the purposes aforesaid. ELITES. Descript.Of these there are two sorts commonly known, viz. White and red. The White has leaves somewhat like to beets, but smaller, rounder and of a whitish green colour, every one standing upon a small long footstalk: the stalk rises up two or three feet high, with such like leaves diereon; the flowers grow at the top in long round tufts or clusters, wherein are con- tained small and round seed; the root is very full of threads or strings. • The Red Blite is in all things like the White, but that his leaves and tufted heads are exceeding red at first, and after turn more purple. There are other kinds of Elites which grow different from the two former sorts but little, but only the wild are smaller in every part. Flace.~] They grow in gardens, and wild in many places in this land. Time.'] They seed in August and Sep- tember. Government and virtues.] They are all of them cooling, drying, and binding, serv- ing to restrain the fluxes of blood in either man or woman, especially the Red; which I$