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. I.

Of Cephalalgia.

IN mitigating the pain of the head, and removing the distempers thereof in women, we use happily the Cake of the flowers of the Elder, left in the Vesica after the distillation of the water; it must not be burned; which being dedewed with the vine∣gar of the flowers we apply it to the head, and with the besprinkling of frech vineger, renew it. It rarifieth the skin, and by digesting the vapors. dispels them.

Some use rose cakes bedewed with the vinegar of the Elder, which where the heat is more vehement, the brain more sensible, and more offended with the piercing smell is far better.

Or,

• R. Take of recent Elder leaves two handfuls.
• Of Rose and water Lillie flowers, of each one handfull.

Being shorne and pounded, poure on them a like quantity of Elder vinegar, and the water distilled out of the flowers, press out strongly the juice; mix with it expressed two whites of eggs well beat; in which dip a double linen cloth, and apply it to the head oft in the day. The water of the flowers mixt with the white of an egg and a littile vinegar, is most com∣fortable in any Cephalalgia; chiefly in a Feaverish, being applyed to the brows, temples, and crown of the head. The vinegar by it self is fitly used in the pain that proceeds or follows drunkenness.

Or draw out with the vinegar and distilled water of the flowers, from the kernels of the Peach and bitter Almond, amilky Emulsion, wherein dip a linnen cloth, and apply it oft to the brows and crown of the patient.

Pliny saith, That the juice of the Elder helps the collections of the brain, and especailly mitigateth the tunicle wherein it is next inwrapt.

This decoction is excellent to dispel the vapours of the brain, and make one sleep soundly, if the legs and arms be soundly rubbed therewith when you go to sleep. Take six umbels of the Elder flowers when they are full, of Anise umbles, of Roman Camo∣mile flowers one handful, six Poppy∣heads with their seed; being put toge∣ther, beat them in rain water: If the evil hath its fewel from the stomach, matrix, or other parts, they are first to be remedied after that manner as is declared, particularly in each part. 'Tis enough here to have touched this Topick.