CHAP. XIII.
¶ Of the herbe Equisetum: of Nenuphar, Harstrang, Sideritis, and many more effectuall [unspec B] to stanch bloud. Of Stephanomelis and Erisithale. Also remedies against wormes and vermine.
HOrse-taile, named in Latine Equisetum, and by the Greeks Hippuris, an herb which here∣tofore I disallowed to grow in any medows (and it is esteemed the very haire, proceeding out of the earth, like for all the world to the haire of an Horse-taile) if it bee boiled in a new earthen pot neuer occupied before, so as the pot be brim full when it is set on the fire and so to continue seething, vntill a third part be consumed, doth wast the spleen of lackies & foot∣men, if for 3 daies together they drink one hemine of the decoction at a time: and besides, this charge they ought to haue in any wise, to forbeare all fat and oily meats for 24 houres before [unspec C] they begin this diet drink. In describing of this herb, the Greeks do not agree, but are of diuers opinions: some giue that name to a certain herb with blackish leaues resembling those of the Pine tree: and they report a wonderfull vertue thereof; and namely, that if it doe but touch a man, it wil stanch any issue of bloud. And as some name it Hippuris, so others called it * Ephe∣dros, * 1.1 and there be again who giue it the name Anabasis: because forsooth, as they say, it climes vpon trees, and hangeth down from thence, with many blackish slender haires in manner of ri∣shes, resembling horse tailes. Small branches it hath ful of joints, and few leaues, which be also fine and small. The * seed that it beareth is round, like vnto Coriander; and the root of a wood∣dy * 1.2 substance: this kind, say they, groweth principally in thickets and groues. An astringent and binding power it hath. The juice if it be conueighed vp into the nosthrils, stenteth bleeding at [unspec D] nose, though it gushed out from thence: it knitteth also the belly, and stoppeth a lask. Taken in * 1.3 sweet wine to the quantity of 3 cyaths, it helpeth the bloudy flix. Vrine it prouoketh, the cough it staieth, and cureth straitnesse of winde when the patient is forced to sit vpright for to draw his breath. It healeth ruptures, and represseth those sores that loue to spread and run ouer the body. The leaues are good to be drunk for the infirmities that offend guts & bladder: a spe∣ciall vertue it hath to cure those that be bursten bellied and haue their guts slipping downe in the bag of their cods. The said Greek writers describe also another Horse-taile, by the name of Hippuris, with shorter, softer, and whiter haires than the former; and they commend it as a soue∣raigne herb for the sciatica and for wounds, to be applied vnto the place with vineger; & name∣ly [unspec E] for to stanch bloud: in which case the root of Nenuphar serueth very well, if it be stamped and laid vpon a green wound. If a man or woman void bloud at the mouth, which doth rise from the parts below, there is not a better thing than Harstrang taken in drinke with the seed or ber∣ries of the Cypresse tree. And as for Sideritis the herb, it is so powerfull that way, that it stan∣cheth bloud out of hand, if it be applied & kept fast to the wounds of these sword fencers that fight at sharp, bleed they neuer so fresh: the which effect we may see in the ashes and coles of Fennell-geant: but the toad stoles or Mushrums growing about the root of the said plant, doth the feat more surely: in case the nose gush out with bloud, Hemlock seed also beaten to pouder, tempered with water and so put vp, is counted very effectuall to stay the bleeding: in like maner * Stephanomelis, if it be applied with water. The pouder of Betonie dried and drunk in Goats [unspec F] milk, stancheth bloud issuing out of womens brests by the nepples. The same doth Plantaine * 1.4 bruised and laid too in a pultesse. The juice of Plantaine is good to be giuen them that vomite bloud. For a bloud that runneth vp and downe, breaking out one while here and another while there, a liniment made of a Burre root and a little swines grease, is commended to be excellent.