The English physitian, or An astrologo-physical discourse of the vulgar herbs of this nation being a compleat method of physick, whereby a man may preserve his body in health, or cure himself being sick for three pence charge, with such things only as grow in England ... / by Nich. Culpeper.

Loos-Strife, with Spiked Heads of Flowers.

☽ ♋ Description.

THis groweth with many woody square stalkes, full of Joynts about three foot high at least, at everyone wherof stand two long Leaves, shorter, narrower, and of a deeper green colour than the former; and some brownish. The stalkes are branched into many long stemmes of spiked Flowers, half a foot long, growing in Rundles one above another, out of smal husks very like the Spiked heads of Laven∣der, each of which Flowers have five round pointed Leaves of a Purple Violet Colour, or somwhat inclining to redness, in w^ch husks stand small round heads, after the Flowers are fallen, wherein is contained small seed: The Root creepeth under ground like unto the yellow, but is greater than it; and so is the heads of the Leaves when they first appear out of the ground and more brown than the other.

Place.

It groweth usually by Rivers, and Ditches sides in wet grounds, as about the Ditches at and neer Lambeth: and in many other places of this Land.

Time.

It Flowreth in the months of June and July.

Vertues and Use.

This Herb is no whit inferior unto the former; it having not only all the vertues which the former hath, but some particular vertues of its own found out by experience, as namely.

The distilled water is a present remedy for hurts and blows on the eyes and for blindness,* 1.1 so as the Christaline humor be not perished or hurt; and this hath been sufficiently proved true by the experience of a man of judgment, who kept it long to himself as a great sccret. It also cleareth the Eyes of dust or any other thing gotten into them, and preserveth the Sight: It is also very much available against Wounds* 1.2 and Thrusts, being made into an Oyntment on this manner; To every ounce of the Water, ad two drams of May Butter without Salt, and of Sugar and Wax of each as much also, let them boyl gently all toge∣ther: Let Tents be dipped in the Liquor that remaineth after it is cold, and put into the Wounds, and the place covered with a Lin∣nen cloth doubled and anointed with the Oyntment, and this is also an approved Me∣dicine. It likewise clenseth and healeth all foul Ulcers and Sores wheresoever, and stai∣eth their Inflamations* 1.3 by washing them with the Water, and laying on them a green Leaf or two in the Summer, or dry Leaves in the Winter. This Water gargled warm in the Mouth, and somtimes drunk also doth cure the Quinsie,* 1.4 or Kings Evil in the Throat. The said Water applied warm taketh away all Spots, Marks, and Scars in the Skin: And a little of it drunk quencheth thirst when it is extraordinary.

The Herb is an Herb of the Moon, and under the Sign. Cancer, neither do I know a better Preserver of the Sight when 'tis well, nor a better Curer of sore Eyes than Eye∣bright taken inwardly, and this used outward∣ly, 'tis cold in quality.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eyes, Blindness,
• * 1.2

  Wounds,
• * 1.3

  Ulcers, Inflama∣tions,
• * 1.4

  Quinsie, Kings E∣vil, Spots, Marks, Scars.