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.

♀ The Dwarf Elder.

Description.

THis is but an Herb every yeer dying with his Stalks to the ground, and rising again afresh every Spring; and is like unto the El∣ders both in form and quality, rising up with a four square rough hairy Stalk four foot high or more somtimes. The winged Leavs are somwhat narrower than the Elder, but els very like them. The Flowers are white with a dash of Purple standing in Umbels, very like the Elder also, but more sweet in scent, after which come smal blackish Berries, full of Juyce while they are fresh, wherein there lie smal hard Kernels or Seed. The Root doth creep under the upper crust of the ground, springing a∣fresh in divers places being of the bigness of ones finger or Thumb somtimes.

Places.

The Elder-Tree groweth in Hedges, being planted there to strengthen the Fences, and Partitions of Grounds, and to hold up the Banks by Ditches, and Water-courses.

The Dwarf Elder groweth Wild in many places of England, where being once gotten into a Ground it is not easily gotten forth a∣gain.

Times.

Most of the Elder-Trees Flower in June, and their Fruit is ripe for the most part in Au∣gust.

But the Dwarf Elder, or Wallwort Flowreth somwhat later, and his fruit is not ripe until September.

Vertues and Vse.

The first Shoots of the common Elder boy∣led like Asparagus, & the yong Leavs & Stalks boyled in Fat Broth, doth mightily carry forth Flegm and Choller.* 1.1 The middle, or inner Bark boyled in Water, and given to drink worketh much more violently; and the Ber∣ries either green or dry, expel the same hu∣mors, and is often given with good success to help the Dropsie.* 1.2 The Bark of the Root

boyled in Wine, or the Juyce therof drunk, worketh the same effects, but more powerful∣ly than either the Leavs or Fruit. The Juyce of the Root taken doth mightily provoke Vo∣mit, and purgeth the watery Humors of the Dropsie. The Decoction of the Root taken cureth the biting of the Adder, and biting of Mad Dogs;* 1.3 It mollifieth the hardness of the Mother, if Women sit therin, ••nd openeth the Veins, and bringeth down their Courses: The Berries boyled in Wine performeth the same effect; and the hair of the Head washed therwith is made black. The Juyce of the green Leavs applied to the hot Inflamations* 1.4 of the Eyes, asswageth them. The Juyce of the Leavs snuffed up into the Nostrils purgeth the Tunicles of the Brain.* 1.5 The Juyce of the Berries boyled with a little Honey and drop∣ped into the Ears,* 1.6 helpeth the pains of them. The Decoction of the Berries in Wine being drunk provoketh Urine.* 1.7 The distilled Water of the Flowers is of much use to clear the Skin from Sunburning, Freckles, Morphew, or the like; and taketh away Headaches coming of a cold caus, the Head being bathed therwith. The Leavs or Flowers distilled in the Month of May, and the Legs often washed with the said distilled Water, it taketh away the Ulcers and Sores of them: The Eyes washed there∣with, it taketh away the redness and Blood∣shot: And the Hands washed morning and evening therwith helpeth the Palsey,* 1.8 and sha∣king of them.

The Dwarf Elder is more powerful than the Common Elder, in opening and purging Choller, Flegm, and Water, in helping the Gout,* 1.9 the Piles, and Womens Diseases, colo∣reth the Hair black, helpeth Inflamation in the Eyes, and pains in the Ears; the biting of Serpents or a Mad Dog, Burnings and Scal∣dings, the wind Chollick, Chollick and Stone, the difficulty of Urine, the cure of old Sores, and Fistulous Ulcers.

Either Leavs or Bark of Elder stripped up∣ward as you gather it causeth Vomiting, but stripped downward it purgeth downwards. Also Dr. Butler in a Manuscript of his com∣mends Dwarf Elder to the Sky for Dropsies, viz. to drink it being boyled in white Wine, to drink the Decoction I mean, not the El∣der.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Flegm, Choller,
• * 1.2

  Dropsie,
• * 1.3

  Venemous Beasts, Mad Dogs, Terms provokes.
• * 1.4

  Inflamati∣on,
• * 1.5

  Brain,
• * 1.6

  Ears,
• * 1.7

  Urine pro∣vokes, Sunbur∣ning, Frec∣kles, Mor∣phew. Headach, ulcers.
• * 1.8

  Palsey.
• * 1.9

  Gout In∣flamation, Burning, Scalding, Chollick, Stone, Disury.