Anatomia sambuci, or, The anatomy of the elder cutting out of it plain, approved, and specific remedies for most and chiefest maladies : confirmed and cleared by reason, experience, and history / collected in Latine by Dr. Martin Blochwich ...

CAP. XI.

Of the blemishes of Face and Head.

IF you wash the face oft with the distilled water of the leaves and flowers of the Elder, it cleanseth and drieth up all pimples and pustles of the face.

Dispensatories affirm, that the oyl of the infusion of the flowers mundi∣fieth and makes clear the skin.

In Lentiginibus, commonly called Freckles, by signature, a decoction of the flowers in water is commended; for the flowers of the Elder are spot∣ted, Oswald Croll. de signaturis. Diosco∣rides teacheth, that the juice anointed, makes the hair black. This will be a profitable experiment to those that endeavour to make their red hair black; albeit the colour be more comely in many, than ill favour∣ed. What we must allow to those old Ruffins that are ashamed of their white locks, Galen hath taught

hath taught us, l. 1. de Compos. Medi∣cament. secund. Loc. c. 3. and this trans∣cursorily occasioned by Dioscorides his words.

Take Elder roots cut very small, ad∣ding a little of the seed of Staphis a∣griae made in a Lixive, wherein wash the head that is full of scales & lice. The same decoction heals the Tineam or Favum in children, if it be over strong and painful, dilute it with the decoction of the flowers and leaves. The pain is likewise mitigated by the anointing of the oyl of the infusion of the flowers, if after washing it be an∣ointed.

The oyl expressed out of the ber∣ries and kernels, and mixt by stirring, with a third part of Turpentine, and anointed, doth cure by drying and cleansing, all ulcers of the head, the whole Elder leaf after being applyed. Oleum Saccharo sambucinum is like∣wise commodious.