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.

Vervain is hot and dry, bitter, opening Ob∣structions, clensing, and healing,* 1.1 It helpeth the yellow Jaundice, the Dropsie, and the Gout, the defects of the Reins and Lungs, and gene∣rally, all inward pains and torments of the Bo∣dy, the Leaves being boyled and drunk; The same is held to be good against the bitings of Serpents, and other Venemous Beasts; and against the Plague, and both Tertian and Quartane Agues, killeth and expelleth Worms in the Belly, and causeth a good colour in the Face and Body, strengthneth as well as corre∣cteth the Diseases of the Liver and Spleen, is very effectual in all Diseases of the Stomach and Lungs, as Coughs, shortness of Breath and Wheesings, and is singular good against the Dropsie, to be drunk with some Peony Seeds, bruised and put thereto; and is no less prevalent for the defects of the Reins and Bladder, to clense them of those Humors that ingender the Stone, and helpeth to break the Stone and to expel Gravel: It consolidateth and healeth also all Wounds both inward and

outward, and stayeth bleedings, and used with some Honey healeth all old Ulcers and Fistulaes in the Legs or other parts of the Bo∣dy, as also those Ulcers that happen in the Mouth,; or used with old Hogs grease it hel∣peth the Swellings and pains of the secret parts in man or Woman, as also for the Piles and Hemorrhoids••: Applied with some Oyl of Roses and Vinegar unto the Forehead and Temples, it easeth the inveterate pains and ach of the Head, and is good for those that are Frenetick.* 1.2 The Leaves bruised, or the Juyce of them mixed with some Vinegar doth wonderfully clense the Skin, and taketh away Morphew, Freckles, Pustulaes, and other such like Inflamations and deformities of the Skin in any part of the Body. The distilled water of the Herb when it is in his full strength, dropped into the Eyes, clenseth them from Films, Clouds, or mists that darken the sight, and wonderfully strengtheneth the Optick Nerves; The said Water is very powerful in all the Diseases aforesaid either inward or out∣ward, whether they be old corroding Sores, or green Wounds.

This also is an Herb of Venus, and an ex∣cellent Herb for the Womb, to strengthen it and remedy all the cold griefs of it, as Plan∣tane doth the hot, the Herb bruised and hung about the Neck helps the Headach.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Obstructi∣ons Clensing Healing Yellow Jaundice, Venemous Beasts, Pestilence Agues Worms Cough shortness of Breath Wheesing Stone Gravel Reins Bladder
• * 1.2

  Womb, Dropsie, Bleeding, Wounds, Ulcers, Fistulaes, Headach, Frenzie, Morphew, Freckles, Eyes.