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.

Vertues and Use.

The Juyce of Plantane clarified and drunk for divers daies together, either of it self or in other drink prevaileth wonderfully against all torments or Excoriations in the Guts* 1.1 or Bo∣wels, helpeth the distillations of Rhewm from the Head, ond staieth all manner of Fluxes even Womens Courses when they flow too abundantly; It is good to stay spitting of

Blood, and all other Bleedings at the Mouth, or the making of foul or bloody water by rea∣son of any Ulcer in the Reins or Bladder, and also staveth the too free bleeding of Wounds.* 1.2 It is held an especial Remedy for those that are troubled with the Phtisick, or Consumption of the Lungs, or Ulcers in the Lungs, or Coughs that come of heat. The Decoction or Pouder of the Roots or Seed, is much more binding for all the purposes aforesaid than the Leavs. Dioscorides saith, That three Roots boyled in Wine and taken helpeth the Tertian Ague, and four the Quartan Ague: But (let∣ting pass the number as Fabulous) I conceive the Decoction of divers Roots may be effectu∣al. The Herb (but especially the Seed) is held to be profitable: against the Dropsie, the Falling-sickness, the yellow Jaundice, and stop∣pings of the Liver and Reins. The Roots of Plantane and Pellitory of Spain beaten to Pouder and put into hollow Teeth, taketh a∣way the pains of them: The clarified Juyce or distilled Water dropped into the Eyes cooleth the Inflamations in them, and taketh away the Pin and Web; and dropped into the Ears easeth pains in them, and helpeth and resto∣reth the Hearing: The same also with Juyce of Housleek is profitable against all In∣flamations and breakings out in the skin, and against Burnings or Scaldings by fire or Wa∣ter. The Juyce or Decoction made either of it self or other things of like nature is of much use and good effect for old and hollow Ulcers that are hard to be cured, and for Cankers and Sores in the Mouth or privy parts of Man or Woman; and helpeth also the pains of the Piles in the Fundament. The Juyce mixed with Oyl of Roses, and the Temples and For∣head anointed therewith, easeth the pains of the Head proceeding from heat, and helpeth Lunatick, and Phrenetick persons very much; as also the bitings of Serpents or a Mad Dog: The same also is profitably applied to all hot Gouts in the Feet or Hands, especially in the beginning. It is also good to be applied where any Bone is out of Joynt to hinder Inflamati∣ons, Swellings and Pains that presently rise thereupon. The Pouder of the dried Leavs taken in drink, killeth Worms of the Belly, and boyled in Wine killeth Worms that breed in old and foul Ulcers. One part of Plantane Water, and two parts of the brine of pouder'd Beef boyled together and clarified, is a most sure Remedy to heal all spreading Scabs and Itch in the Head or Body, all manner of Tet∣ters, Ringworms, the Shingles, and all other running and fretting Sores. Briefly the Plan∣tanes are singular good Wound Herbs to heal fresh, or old Wounds and Sores either inward or outward.

Its true Myzaldus and others yea almost all Astrologo-Physitians hold this to be an Herb of Mars, and they give a verisimile of a truth for it too, Viz. becaus it cures diseases of the Head and privities which are under the Houses of Mars, Aries, and Scorpio: All Diseases of the Head comming of heat are caused by Mars, for Venus is made of no such hot met∣tle, or at least deals in inferior parts. The truth is, it is under the command of Venus, and cures the Head by Antipathy to Mars, and the Privities by Sympathy to Venus, neither is there hardly a Martial Diseas but it cures, If I were to fortisie my Body against a Martial Diseas I would do it by this Herb as soon as by any,and may do it (it may be) when time shal serve.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pains in the Guts, Distiilat∣ion of Rhewm, Fluxes, & Women, Courses,
• * 1.2

  spitting Blood or Bleeding at Mouth, or Nose or of Wounds, phtisick, Consumption or Ul∣cers in the Lungs, Tertian Ague, Dropsie, & Falling∣sickness, Toothach, pin and web in the ••yes, pains in the Ears, Instamati∣ons, Burning or Scalding, Hollow Ulcers, Cankers, and sore Mouth, or privy parts, Piles, pains of the Head, Lunacy & phrensie, Biting of Serpents, or Mad Dogs, HotGouts Bones out of Joynt, Worms in the Belly, or in Ul∣cers, Scabs and Itch, Tetters, Ring∣worms, shingles, & fretting sores, Wounds.