Vertues and use.
The Arabian Physitians have extolled the Vertues hereof to the Skyes, although the Greeks thought it not worth mentioning. Se∣••apio saith, It causeth the Mind and Heart* 1.1 to becom merry, and reviveth the Heart fainting into soundings, especially of such who are over taken in their sleep, and driveth away al trou∣blesom cares and thoughts out of the Mind a∣rising from Melancholly, or black Choller; which Avicen also confirmeth. It is very good to help Digestion, and open Obstructions of the Brain; and hath so much purging quality in it (saith Avicen) as to expel those Melan∣cholly vapors from the Spirits & Blood which are in the Heart and Arteries, although it can∣not do so in other parts of the Body. Diasco∣rides saith, That the Leaves steeped in Wine, and the Wine drunk, and the Leavs externally applied is a remedy against the sting of Scor∣pions, and the bitings of mad Dogs, and com∣mendeth the Decoction therof for Women to bath or sit in to procure their Courses; it is good to was••••aching Teeth therwith, and pro∣fitable for those that have the bloudy-Flux. The Leaves also with a little Nitre taken in Drink, are good against a Surfet of Mush∣romes,* 1.2 helps the griping pains of the Belly, and being made into an Electuary is good for them that cannot fetch their breath: Used with Salt it takes away Wens, Kernels, or hard Swellings in the Flesh or Throat; it clenseth foul Sores, and caseth pains of the Gout: It is good for the Liver and Spleen. A Tansie or Cawdle made with Egs and the Juyce therof while it is yong, putting to it some Sugar and Rosewater is good for Women in Childbed when the Af∣ter-birth is not thronghly avoided, and for their faintings upon, or after their sore travel. The Herb bruised and boyled in a little Wine and Oyl and laid warm on a Boil, will ripen and break it.
It is an Herb of Jupiter and under Cancer, and strengthens Nature much in al its actions; let a Syrup made with the Juyce of it and Su∣gar, (as you shall be taught at the latter end of the Book) be kept in every Gentlewomans house, to releeve the weak stomachs and sick Bodies of their poor sickly Neighbors; as also the Herb kept dry in the Hous that so with o∣ther convenient Simples you may make it into an Electuary with Hony according as the Dis∣eas is, and as you shall be taught at the latter end of the Book.