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.

Roses.

I Hold it altogether needless to trouble the Reader with a Description of any of these, sith both the Garden Roses, and the Wild Ro∣ses of the Bryars are well enough known; Take therefore the Vertues of them as follo∣weth:

And first I shal begin with the Garden kinds.

Vertues and Use.

The White and the Red Roses are cooling and drying, yet the White is taken to exceed the Red in both those properties, but is seldom used inwardly in any Medicine. The bitter∣ness in the Roses when they are fresh, especial∣ly the Juyce purgeth Choller, and watery Hu∣mors,* 1.1 but being dried and that heat which caused the bitterness being consumed, they have then a binding and astringent quality; Those also that are not ful blown do both cool and bind more than those that are full blown, and the White Roses more than the Red. The Decoction of Red Roses made with Wine and used, is very good for the Headach, and pains in the Eyes, Ears, Throat, and Gums, as also for the Fundament, the lower Bowels, and the Matrix, being bathed, or put into them. The same Decoction with the Roses remai∣ning in it is profitably applyed to the Regi∣on of the Heart to eas the Inflamation therin; as also St. Anthonies fire, and other Diseases of the Stomach. Being dried and beaten to Pouder, and taken in steeled Wine or Water, it helpeth to stay Womens Courses. The yel∣low threds in the middle of the red Roses (W^ch are erroniously called the Rose Seeds) being poudered and drunk in the distilled water of Quinces, stayeth the overflowing of Womens Courses, and doth wonderfully stay the Deflu∣xions of Rhewm upon the Gums and Teeth, preserving them from corruption, and fast∣ning them if they be loose, being washed and gargled therewith, and some Vinegar of Squils added thereto. The Heads with Seed being u∣sed in Pouder or in a decoction, stayeth the Lask, and spitting of Blood. Red Roses do strengthen the Heart, the Stomack, and the Li∣ver, and the retentive Faculties, they mitigate the pains that arise from Heat, asswage Infla∣mations, procure rest and sleep, stay both Whites and Reds in Women, the Gonorrhea, running of the Reins, and the Fluxes of the Belly; The Juyce of them doth purge and clens the Body from Choller and Flegm: The Husks of the Roses with the Beards and Nails of the Roses are binding and cooling, and the Distilled Water of either of them is good for the Heat and redness in the Eyes, and to stay and dry up the Rhewms and watering of them. Of the Red Roses are usually made many Compositions all serving to sundry good uses; Viz. Electuary of Roses; Conserve both moist and dry, which is more usually called Su∣gar of Roses; Syrup of dryed Roses, and Ho∣ney of Roses; The Cordial Pouder called Diarhodon Abhatis', and Aromatica Rosa∣rum; The Distilled Water of Roses, Vine∣gar of Roses, Oyntment and Oyl of Roses, and the Rose Leavs dried, which although no Composition, yet of very great use and effect.

To write at large of every one of these would make my Book swel too big, it being suffici∣ent for a Volum by it self to speak fully of them: But briefly; The Electuary is pur∣ging, whereof two or three Drams taken by it self in some convenient Liquor is a Purge sufficient for a weak Constitution; but may be encreased to six drams according to the strength of the Patient. It purgeth Choller* 1.2 without trouble, and is good in hot Feavers, and pains of the Head arising from hot Chol∣lerick Humors, and heat in the Eyes, the Jaundice also, and Joynt Aches proceeding of hot Humors. The moist Conserve is of much use, both binding and Cordial, for until it be about two years old it is more binding than Cordial, and after that, more Cordial than Binding: Some of the yonger Conserve taken with Methridatum mixed together, is good for those that are troubled with Distillations of Rhewm from the Brain to the Nose, and Defluxions of Rhewm into the Eyes, as also for Fluxes, end Lasks of the Belly; and being mixed with the Pouder of Mastick is very good for the Running of the Reins, and for o∣ther loosness of Humors in the Body. The old Conserve mixed with Aromaticum Rosarum is a very good Cordial against Faintings, Swounings, Weakness, and Tremblings of the Heart, strengthning both it, and a weak Sto∣mach, helpeth digestion, stayeth casting, and is a very good Preservative in the time of In∣fection. The dry Conserve which is called Sugar of Roses, is a very good Cordial to strenthen the Heart and Spirits; as also to stay Defluxions. The Syrup of dried Red Roses strengthneth a Stomack given to casting, coo∣leth an overheated Liver and the Blood in Agues, comforreth the Heart and resisteth pu∣tresaction and infection, and helpeth to stay Lasks and Fluxes. Honey of Roses is much used in Gargles and Lotions to wash Sores ei∣ther in the Mouth, Throat, or other parts, both to clens and heal them, and to stay the Fluxes of Humors falling upon them; it is also used in Clisters both to cool and clens. The Cordial Pouders called Diarhodon Abba∣tis and Aromaticum Rosarum do comfort and strengthen the Heart and Stomach, procure an Appetite, help Digestion, stayeth Vomi∣ting; and is very good for those that have slip∣pery Bowels to strengthen them, and to dry up their moisture. Red Rose Water is of well known and familiar use in all occasions (and better than Damask Rose Water) being coo∣ling and Cordial, refreshing and quickning the weak and faint Spirits, used either in meats or broths, to wash the Temples, or to smel to at the Nose, or to smel the sweet vapors ther∣of out of a perfuming Pot or cast on a hot Fire-shovel: It is also of much good use a∣gainst the redness and Inflamations in the eyes to bath them therwith, and the Temples of

the Head also against pain and ach. for which purpose also Vinegar of Roses is of much good use, and to procure rest and sleep,* 1.3 if some thereof and Rosewater together be used to smel unto, or the Nose and Temples moi∣stned therewith, but more usually to moisten a piece of Red Rose Cake cut fit for the pur∣pose, and heated between a double folded Cloth, with a little beaten Nutmeg and Pop∣py Seed strewed on the side that must lie next to the Forehead & Temples, & so bound therto for al night. The Oyntment of Roses is much used against heat & Inflamations in the Head, to anoint the forhead & temples, & being mix∣ed with Vnguenium Populeon, to procure rest; as also it is used for the heat of the Liver, of the Back and Reins,* 1.4 and to cool and heal Pu∣shes, Wheals and other red Pimples rising in the Face or other parts. Oyl of Roses is not only used by it self to coole any hot Swellings or Inflamations, and to bind and stay Fluxes of Humors unto Sores, but is also put into Oyntments and Plaisters that are cooling and binding, and restraining the Flux of Humors. The dried Leavs of the Red. Roses are used both inward and outwardly, both cooling, binding, and Cordial, for with them are made both Aromaticum Rosarum, Diarhodon Ab∣batis, and Saccharum Rosarum, each of whose Properties are before declared. Rose Leavs and Mints heated and applied outwardly to the Stomach, stayeth castings, and very much strengthneth a weak Stomach;* 1.5 and applyed as a Fomentation to the Region of the Liver and Heart, doth much cool and temper them, and also serveth instead of a Rose Cake (as is said before) to quiet the over hot spirits and cause rest and sleep. The Syrup of Damask Roses is both Simple and Compound, and made with Agrick. The Simple Solutive Syrup, is a familiar, safe, gentle, and easie Medicine, purging Choller,* 1.6 taken from one ounce to three or four; yet this is remarkable herein, That the distilled Water of this Syrup should notably bind the Belly;* 1.7 The Syrup with A∣grick is more strong and effectual, for one ounce thereof by it self will open the Body more than the other, and worketh as much on Flegm as Choller. The Compound Syrup is more forcible in working on Melanchollick Humors, and available against the Lepry, Itch, Tetters,* 1.8 &c. and the French Diseas: Also Honey of Roses Solutive is made of the same infusion that the Syrup is made of, and there∣fore worketh the same effect both in opening and purging, but is ostener given to Flegma∣tick than Chollerick persons, and is more used in Clysters than in Potions, as the Syrup made with Sugar is.* 1.9 The Conserve and Preserved Leavs of these Roses are also operative, in gently opening the Belly. The Simple Water of the Damask Roses is chiefly used for fumes to sweeten things, as the dried Leavs thereof to make sweet Pouders, and fill sweet Bags, and little use they are put to in Physick, al∣though they have some purging quality; The wild Roses also are few or none of them used in Physick, but yet are generally held to come neer the Nature of the Manured Roses. The Fruit of the wild Bryar which are called Heps being throughly ripe and made into a Con∣serve with Sugar besides the pleasantness of the tast doth gently bind the Belly,* 1.10 and stay Defluxions from the Head upon the Stomach, drying up the moisture thereof, and helpeth digestion. The Pulp of the Heps dried unto a hard consistence, like to the Juyce of Liquo∣ris, or so dried that it may be made into Pou∣der and taken in drink stayeth speedily the Whites in Women.* 1.11 The Bryar Ball is often used being made into Pouder and drunk to break the Stone, to provoke Urine when it is stopped, and to eas and help the Chollick; some appoint it to be burnt, and then taken for the same purpose. In the middle of these Balls are often found certain white Worms,* 1.12 which being dried and made into Pouder, and some of it drunk, is found by experience of many to kill and drie forth the Worms of the Belly.

What a quarter have Authors made with Roses, what a racket have they kept? I shall ad, Red Roses are under Jupiter, Damask under Venus, and White under the Moon, and Province under the King of France.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Choller, & Waterish Humors, Headach, Pains in the Ears, Eyes, Throat & Gums, Funda∣ment, Bo∣wels, & Matrix. St Antho∣nies fire, stomach, Womens Courses, Defluxi∣ons, fastneth Teeth, Lask & spitting of Blood, Heat & Inflamati∣ons, Rest & sleep, whites & Reds in Women, Choller & Flegm, Redness & watering of the Eyes,
• * 1.2

  A Purge for Chol∣ler, Hot Fea∣vers, Pains of the Head, Heat of the Eyes, Jaundice, & Joynt Aches, Distillati∣ons, & Defluxi∣ons of Rhewm, Fluxes, & Lasks, running of the Reins, Faintings, swounings & trem∣bling of the Heart, Helpeth Digestion, Stayeth casting, Infection, Cooleth the Liver & Blood, resisteth Putrefa∣ction, & Infection, sore Mouths, Throats, &c. Comfort the Heart & stomach, stay Vomi∣ting, Faint spirits, Redness of Eyes,
• * 1.3

  Procure Sleep,
• * 1.4

  Heat of the Liver, Back & Reir Pushes, Whe••ls & Pimples, Fluxes of Humors,
• * 1.5

  Weak sto∣mach,
• * 1.6

  Purge Choller,
• * 1.7

  Bind the Belly,
• * 1.8

  Melan∣chollick, Humors, Lepry, Itch Tetters, French Pox,
• * 1.9

  Opens the Belly,
• * 1.10

  Bind the Belly, & stay Deflu∣xions,
• * 1.11

  Whites in Women, Stone, provoke urine, Chollick,
• * 1.12

  Worms.