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.

Woodbind, or Honey∣suckles.

THe Plant is so common that every one that hath Eyes knows them, and he that hath none cannot reade a Description if I should write it.

Time.

They Flower in June, and the Fruit is ripe in August.

Vertues and Use.

Doctor Tradition, that grand Introducer of Errors, that Hater of Truth, that Lover of Folly, and that mortal Foe to Doctor Reason, hath taught the common People to use the Leaves and Flowers of this Plant in Mouth Waters, and by long continuance of time hath so grounded it in the Brains of the Vulgar that you cannot beat it out with a Beetle: All Mouth Waters ought to be cooling and dry∣ing, but Honeysuckles are clensing, consuming, and digesting, and therefore no waies fit for Inflamations, Thus Doctor Reason. Again, If you please we will leave Dr. Reason a while and come to Dr. Experience, a learned Gentle∣man, and his Brother; Take a Leaf and chew it in your Mouth, and you will quickly find it likelier to cause a sore Mouth or Throat than to cure it. Well then, if it be not good for this, What is it good for? 'Tis good for somthing: For God and Nature made no∣thing in vain: It is an Herb of Jupiter and apropriated to the Lungs,* 1.1 the Coelestial Crab claims Dominion over it; neither is it a Foe to the Lyon: If the Lungs be afflicted by Mercury, this is your Cure: It is fitting a Conserve made of the Flowers of it were kept in every Gentlewomans House; I know no better cure for an Asthma than this; Besides, It takes away the evil of the Spleen, provokes Urine, procures speedy Delivery to Women in Travail, helps Cramps, Convulsions and Palseys, and whatsoever griefs comes of cold or stopping: If you please to make use of it in an Oyntment, it will cleer your Skin of Mor∣phew,

Freckles, and Sun∣burning,* 1.2 or whatsoever else discolours it, and then the Maids will love it. I have done, when I have told you what Authors say, and cavelled a little with them, They say the Flowers are of more effect than the Leaves, and that's true; but they say, The Seeds are of least effect of all: But Dr. Reason told me, That there was a Vital Spirit in every Seed to beget its like; and Dr. Ex∣periense told me, That there was a greater heat in a Seed than there was in any other part of a Plant, and withal, That Heat was the Mo∣ther of action, and then judg if old Dr. Tra∣dition (who may well be honor'd for his Age, but not for his Goodness) have not so poyso∣ned the World with his Errors before I was born, that it was never well in its wits since, and there is great fear it will die mad.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lungs af∣flicted Asthma Spleen provokes Urine & speedy De∣livery in Childbirth Cramps Convulsi∣ons & Palseys••
• * 1.2

  Freckles, and Sunburning,