Fruits Purging
Cassia Fistula: Citron Myrobalans: Prunes: Ta∣marinds: Raisons.
Indian Myrobalans.
Colocynthis and wild Cucumers purge it violently, and therefore are not rashly to be medled withal; I desire my book should be beneficial, not hurtful to the vulgar; but Myrobalans of all sorts, especially Chebs, Bellericks, and Emblicks purge flegm very gently, and without danger.
Of all these, besides what hath been formerly men∣tioned in this Book (to which I refer you) give me leave to commend only one to you, as of special con∣cernment, which is Juniper berries; They may be found all the Winter long plentifully growing on Warley Common in Essex neer Brent-wood, about fifteen miles from London.
Tragus saith, the Vertues of Juniper berries are so many, that they cannot be numbred; amangst which these are some: The Berries eaten (for they are plea∣sant in tast) are exceeding good against the biting of Adders, they resist poyson, pestilence, or any infecti∣ous disease, help the strangury, and dropsie. Mathio∣lus affirms that a lye made with the ashes of Juniper and water, is as great a provoker of Urine as can be; The Berries expel wind exceedingly, heat the sto∣mach, help the digestion, provoke the Terms, the Germans make an universal medicine of them; they help the cough, shortness of breath, weakness of the lungues, convulsions, cramps, they give easie delivery to women with child; five or six berries taken every morning preserves the body in health, helps the chollick and stone, rawness of the stomach, faintings, and heart-qualms, Madness and frenzies, they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then the eyes and help rhewms there, the yellow jaundice, falling sickness, gout, and palsey.
Take those berries that are ripe, which look black.