Winter Green.
Description.
THis sendeth forth 7. 8. or 9. Leaves from a smal brownish creeping Root, e∣very one standing upon a long Footstalk, which are almost as broad as long, round pointed, of a sad green colour and hard in handling, and like the Leaf of a Pear-tree, from whence ariseth a slender weak Stalk, yet standing upright, bearing at the top many smal, white and sweet smelling Flowers, laid open like a Star, consisting of five round poin∣ted Leavs, with many yellowish threds stan∣ding in the middle, about a green Head, and a long stile with them, which in time groweth to be the Seed Vessel, which being ripe is found five square with a smal point at it, weer∣in is contained Seed as small as dust.
Place.
It groweth seldom in the Fields, but fre∣quently in the Woods Northwards, viz. In Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Scotland.
Time.
It Flowreth about June or July.
Vertues and Vse.
Winter-Green is a singular good Wound Herb and an especial Remedy for to heal green Wounds* 1.1 speedily, the green Leavs being bru∣sed and applied, or the Juyce of them: A Salve made of the green Herbs stamped or the Juyce boyled with Hogs Lard, or with S••llet Oyl and Wax, and some Turpentine added unto it, is a Soveragn Salve, and highly extol∣led by the Germans who much use it to heal all manner of Wounds and Sores. The Herb boyled in Wine and Water and given to drink to them that have any inward Ulcers in their Kidneys or Neck of the Bladder,* 1.2 doth won∣derfully help them: It staieth also all Fluxes whether of Blood or Humors, as the Lask, Bloody Flux, Womens Courses, and bleeding of Wounds, and taketh away any Inflamati∣on rising upon pains of the Heart. It is no less helpful for foul Ulcers hard to be cured, as also for Cankers or Fistulaes. The distil∣led Water of the Herb doth effectually per∣from the same things.