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.

Poppy.

OF this I shal describe three kinds,Viz. The Whites and Black, of the Garden, and the Erratick, wild Poppy, or Corn Rose.

Discription.

The white Poppy hasth at first four or five whitish green Leavs lying upon the ground, which rise with the Stalk, compassing it at the bottom of them, and are very large, much cut or torn in on the edges, and dented also be∣sides: The Stalk which is usually four or five foot high, hath somtimes no Branches at the top, & usually but two or three at most bearing every one but one Head, wrapped in a thin Skin, which boweth down before it be ready to blow, and then rising and being broken, the Flower within it spreadeth it self open, and consisteth of four very large White round Leavs, with many whitish round threds in the middle, set about a small round green Head, having a Crown, or Star-like cover at the Head thereof, which growing ripe becometh as large as a great Apple. wherein are contai∣ned a great number of smal round Seed, in se∣veral partitions or devisions next unto the shell, the middle thereof remaining hollow and empty. All the whol Plant, both Leavs, Stalks and Heads, while they are fresh, yong, and green, yield a Milk when they are broken, of an unpleasant bitter tast, almost ready to provoke casting, and of a strong, heady smel, which being condensate is called Opium. The Root is white, and woody, perishing as soon as it hath given ripe Seed.

The Black Poppy little differeth from the former, until it beareth his Flower, which is somwhat less, and of a black Purplish colour, but without any purple spots in the bottom of the Leaf. The Head of Seed is much less than the former, and openeth it self a little round about the top under the Crown, so that the Seed which is very black will fall out if one turn the Head thereof downwards.

The wild Poppy, or Corn Rose, hath long and narrow Leavs very much cut in on the ed∣ges into many devisions, of a light green co∣lour, and somtimes hairy withal; The Stalk is blackish and hairy also, but not so tall as the Garden kinds, having some such like Leavs thereon as grow below, parted into three or four Branches somtimes, whereon grow smal hairy Heads bowing down before the Skin break, wherein the Flower is inclosed, which when it is ful blown open, is of a fair yellowish red or crimson colour, and in some much paler, without any spot in the bottom of the Leavs, having many black soft threds in the middle compassing a smal green Head, which when it

is ripe, is not bigger than ones little finger end, wherin is contained much black Seed, smaller by half than that of the Garden.The Root pe∣risheth every yeer, and springeth again of its own sowing. Of this kind there is one lesser in all the parts thereof, and differeth in no∣thing els.

Places.

The Garden kinds do not naturally grow wild in any place, but are all sown in Gardens where they grow.

The Wild Poppy, or Corn Rose is plentiful enough, and many times too much in the Corn Fields of all Countries through this Land, and also upon Ditch Banks, and by Hedg sides: The smaller wild kind is also found in Corn Fields, and also in some other place, but not so plentiful as the former.

Time.

The Garden kinds are usually sown in the Spring, which then Flower about the end of May, and somwhat earlier, if they spring of their own sowing.

The Wild Kinds Flower usually from May until July, and the Seed of them is ripe soon after the Flowring.

Vertues and use.

The Garden Poppy Heads with Seeds made into a Syrup, is frequently and to good effect used to procure rest and sleep in the sick and weak, and to stay Catarrh's and Defluxions of hot thin Rhewms from the Head into the Stomach, and upon the Lungs, causing a con∣tinual Cough, the Fore-runner of a Consump∣tion. It helpeth also Hoarsness of the Throat, and when one hath lost their voice, which the Oyl of the Seed doth likewise. The black Seed boyled in Wine and drunk; is said also to stay the Flux of the Belly and Womens Courses. The empty thels of the Poppy Heads are usu∣ally boyled in water and given to procure rest and sleep; so do the Leavs in the same man∣ner; as also if the Head and Temples be ba∣thed with the Decoction warm, or with the Oyl of Poppies, the green Leaves or Heads bruised and applied with a little Vinegar, or made into a Pultis with Barley Meal, or Hogs Greas, it cooleth and tempereth al Inflamati∣ons, as also the Diseas called St. Anthonies Fire. It is generally used in Treacle and Me∣thridate, and in all other Medicines that are made to procure rest and sleep,* 1.1 and to eas pains in the Head as well as in other parts; It is also used to cool Inflamations, Agues, or Phrensies, and to stay Defluxions which caus a Cough or Consumption: and also other Flu∣xes of the Belly, or Womens Courses; It is also put into hollow Teeth to eas the pain, and hath been found by experience to eas the pain of the Gout.

The Wild Poppy, or Corn Rose (as Ma∣thiolus saith) is good to prevent the Falling∣sickness.* 1.2 The Syrup made with the Flowers is with good effect given to those that have the Pluresie; and the dried Flowers also, ei∣ther boyled in water, or made into Pouder and drunk either in the Distilled Water of them, or in some other Drink worketh the like effect. The Distilled Water of the Flowers, is held to be of much good use against Surfets, being drunk evening and morning; It is also more cooling than any of the other Poppies, and therefore cannot but be as effectual in hot Agues, Phrensies, and other Inflamations ei∣ther inward or outward, the Syrup or Water to be used therein, or the green Leavs used out∣wardly, either in an Oyntment, as it is in Populeon, a cooling Oyntment, or any other wales applied. Galen saith the Seed is dange∣rous to be used inwardly.

The Herb is Lunar, and of the Juyce of it is made Opium, only for lucre of Money they cheat you, and tell you 'tis a kind of Tear, or some such like thing that drops from Poppies when they weep, and that is some where be∣yond the Sea, I know not where, beyond the Moon.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Procure∣sleep, Catarrhs, and deflu∣xions of Rhewm¦stayeth, Hoarsness, Flux of the Belly and womens courses, Inflamati∣ons and St. Anthonies Fire, paints in the Head, Phrensies, Toothach,
• * 1.2

  Falling Sickness, Plurisie, Surfets Agues and Inflama∣tions.