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.

Parsley.

THis is so well known to be an In∣habitant in every Garden, that it is needless to write any Description of it. The vertues of it being ma∣ny are as followeth.

Vertues and use.

It is very comfortable to the Stomach,* 1.1 and helpeth to provoke Urine and Womens Cour∣ses, and to break wind both in the Stomach and Bowels, and doth a little open the Body, but the Root much more, and openeth Ob∣structions both of the Liver and Spleen, and is therfore accounted one of the five opening Roots; Galen commendeth it against the Falling-sickness, and to provoke Urine migh∣tily, especially if the Roots be boyled and ea∣ten like Parsnips. The Seed is effectual to provoke Urine and Womens Courses, to ex∣pel wind, to break the Stone, and eas the pains and torments thereof, or of any other part in the Body occasioned by Wind. It is also effe∣ctual against the Venom of any poysonfull Creature, and the danger that cometh to them that have taken Litharge, and is good against the Cough. The distilled water of Parsley is a familiar Medicine with Nurses to give their Children when they are troubled with wind in the Stomach or Belly, which they call the frets, and is also much available to them that are of greater yeers. The Leavs of Parsley laid to the Eyes that are inflamed with heat or swoln, doth much help them, if it be used with Bread or Meal; and being fryed with Butter and ap∣plied to Womens Breasts that are hard through the curdling of their Milk, it abateth the hardness quickly, and also it taketh away black and blue marks coming of Bruises or Falls. The Juyce thereof dropped into the Ears with a little Wine easeth the pains. Tragus setteth down an excellent Medicine to help the Jaun∣dice and Falling-sickness, the Dropsie, and Stone in the Kidneys, in this manner: Take of the Seeds of Parsley, Fennel, Annis, and Ca∣raways of each an ounce; of the Roots of Parsley, Burnet, Saxifrage, and Carawaies, of each one ounce and an half, let the Seeds be bruised, and the Roots washed and cut smal: Let them lie all night in sleep in a pottle of

white Wine, and in the morning be boyled in a close earthen Vessel until a third part or more be wasted, which being strained and clea∣red: take four ounces thereof morning and e∣vening first and last, abstaining from drink after it for three hours: This openeth Ob∣structions* 1.2 of the Liver and Spleen, and expel∣leth the Dropsie and Jaundice by Urine.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Stomach, Disury, Terms provokes, Liver, Spleen, Falling∣sickness, Stone, Wind, Venemous Beasts, Cough, Sucking Children, Eyes, Womens Breasts, Curdled Milk, Black and blue marks Jaundice, Falling∣sickness, Dropsie,
• * 1.2

  Obstructi∣ons of the Liver & Spleen.