The herball or Generall historie of plantes. Gathered by Iohn Gerarde of London Master in Chirurgerie very much enlarged and amended by Thomas Iohnson citizen and apothecarye of London

¶ The Vertues.

The leaues of Iuy fresh and greene boyled in wine, do heale old vlcers, and perfectly cure those [ A] that haue a venomous and malicious quality ioyned with them; and are a remedy likewise against burnings and scaldings.

Moreouer, the leaues boyled with vineger are good for such as haue bad spleens; but the floures [ B] or fruit are of more force, being very finely beaten and tempered with vineger, especially so vsed they are commended against burnings.

The iuyce drawne or snift vp into the nose doth effectually purge the head, stayeth the running [ C] of the eares that hath beene of long continuance, and healeth old vlcers both in the eares and also in the nosthrils: but if it be too sharpe, it is to be mixed with oyle of Roses, or sallad oyle.

The gum that is found vpon the trunke or body of the old stocke of Iuy, killeth nits and lice, [ D] and taketh away haire: it is of so hot a qualitie, as that it doth obscurely burne: it is as it were a

certaine waterish liquor congealed of those gummie drops. Thus farre Galen.

The very same almost hath Dioscorides, but yet also somewhat more: for ouer and besides hee [ E] saith, that fiue of the berries beaten small, and made hot in a Pomegranat rinde, with oyle of roses, and dropped into the contrarie eare, doth ease the tooth-ache; and that the berries make the haire blacke.

Iuy in our time is very seldome vsed, saue that the leaues are layd vpon little vlcers made in the [ F] thighes, legs, or other parts of the body, which are called Issues; for they draw humors and wate∣rish substance to those parts, and keepe them from hot swellings or inflammations, that is to say, the leaues newly gathered, and not as yet withered or dried.

Some likewise affirme that the berries are effectuall to procure vrine; and are giuen vnto those [ G] that be troubled with the stone and diseases of the kidneyes.

The leaues laid in steepe in water for a day and a nights space, helpe sore and smarting wate∣rish [ H] eyes, if they be bathed and washed with the water wherein they haue beene infused.