Vertues and use
A dram of the dried Root of Monks Rubarb,
with a seruple of Ginger made into Pouder and
taken fasting in a draught or mess of warm
Broth, purge•• Choller and Flegm downward
very gently, and safely without danger: The
Seed thereof contrarily doth bind the Belly,
and helpeth to stay any sort of Lask or Bloody
Flux. The distilled water thereof is very pro∣fitably
used to heal Scabs, as also foul Ulcerous
Sores, and to allay the Inflamations of them.
The Juyce of the Leavs or Roots, or the De∣coction
of them in Vinegar is used as a most
effectual Remedy to heal Scabs and running
Sores.
The Bastard Rubarb hath all the properties
of the Monks Rubarb, but more effectual for
both inward and outward Diseases. The De∣coction
thereof with Vinegar dropped into
the Ears, taketh away the pains gargled in
the Mouth, taketh away Toothach, and be∣ing
drunk healeth the Jaundice. The Seed
thereof taken easeth the gnawing and griping
pains of the Stomach, and taketh away the loa∣thing
thereof unto Meat: The Root thereof
helpeth the ruggedness of the Nails, and being
boyled in Wine helpeth the Swellings of the
Throat, commonly called the Kings evil, as
also the Swellings of the Kernels of the Ears:
It helpeth them that are troubled with the
Stone; provoketh Urine, and helpeth the
dimness of the Sight. The Roots of this Ba∣stard
Rubarb are used in opening and purging
Diet Drinks with other things, to open the
Liver, and to clens and cool the Blood.
The poperties of that which is called the
English Rubarb, are the same with the former,
but much more effectual, and hath all the
properties of the true Indian Rubarb, except the
force in purging, wherein it is but of half the
strength thereof, and therfore a double quan∣tity
must be used: it likewise hath not that bit∣terness
and astriction; in other things it wor∣keth
almost ••n an equal quality, which are
these: It purgeth the Body of Choller and
Flegm, being either taken of it self, made in∣to
Pouder and drunk in a draught of white
Wine, or ste••ped therein all night and taken
fasting, or put among other Purgers, as shall
be thought convenient, clensing the Stomach,
Liver, and Blood, opening Obstructions, and
helping those griefs that come thereof; as the
Jaundice, Dropsie, swelling of the Spleen,
Tertian and day Agues, and the pricking pain
of the sides, and also it stayerh spitting of
Blood. The Pouder taken with Cassia dissol∣ved,
and a little wash'd Venice Turpentine,
clenseth the Reins and strengthneth them af∣terwards,
and is very effectual to stay the run∣ning
of the Reins or Gonorrea. It is also gi∣ven
for the pains and swellings in the Head,
for those that are troubled with Melancholly,
and helpeth the Sciatica, the Gout, and the
Cramp. The Pouder of Rubarb taken with a
little Mummia and Madder Roots in some
red Wine, dissolveth clotted Blood in the Bo∣dy,
hapning by any fall or bruise, and healeth
burstings and broken parts as well inward as
outward: The Oyl likewise wherein it hath
been boyled, worketh the like effects, being
anointed. It is used to heal those Ulcers that
happen in the Eyes and Eyelids, being steeped
and strained; as also to asswage the Swellings
and Inflamations; and applied with Honey,
or boyled Wine, it taketh away all black and
blue Spots or Marks that happen therein.
Whey, or white Wine are the best Liquors to
steep it in, and thereby it worketh more effe∣ctually
in opening Obstructions, and purging
the Stomach and Liver. Many do use a little
Indian Spicknard as the best Correcter there∣of.
Mars claims Predominancy over all these
wholsom Herbs, you cry out upon him for an
infortune, when God created him for your
good (only he is angry with Fools) what dis∣honor
is this, not to Mars, but to God Him∣self.