The Vertues.
The Powder of Bay Berries mixed with Honey and taken as other Lohocs or licking Medicines are, or else taken in Raisins as Aloes and Wormseed sometimes are, is an excellent Remedy for that disease called the Cholick, which is a con∣tinuall passion of one of the great Guts called Colon, after which followeth a a difficulty of voyding the Excrements, and an exceeding torment in those parts proceeding from W••nd. The said Powder taken after the same manner is good against a Consumption, Straitensse of breath, and all other infirmites of the brest, coming of Rhewme; they likewise helpe the Meagrim, and mightily expell wind both in young & old: yet it is more frequently given by Nurses to Children to cure them of that griping paine of the belly called the Frets, which is nothing but wind, causing them to be very unquiet; they provoke Uine also, are very effectuall for the Stone, as also to help the Ventosity or windinesse of the Mother, and to kill the wormes. They are a good An∣tidote too against the bitings and stingings of any Venemous beasts, and against all manner of Venoms and Poysons, and therefore they are put into Mithridate, Treackle, and such like Compositions. They warme a cold Stomack, also cause concoction of raw humors, stir up a decayed appetite, take away loathing of meat, open the stopping of the Liver and Spleene, bring down womens Courses, cause a speedy delivery, and expell the After-birth, so that they are dangerous to be taken by Women that have not gone their full time, yet they are good against Cramps, and the drawing together of Sinewes, if the powder of them be taken in White Wine. The oyle which is made of them, or the juyce pressed out of them, cureth black and blew Markes that come by blowes, digesting & wasting away the congealed blood, that is gathered together in any place: it taketh away Scabs, and wheales in the skin, and helpeth the Itch also, especially if a little Quicksilver be tempered therewith till it be mortified: it comforteth all cold griefes of the Joynts, Nerves, Arteries, Stomack, Belly, and Womb, so that it help∣eth Palsies, Convulsions, Cramps, Aches, tremblings and benummednesse, in any part; wearinesse also and paines of the Limbs, wherewith they are many times afflict∣ed, which use to travell through wet and dirt, by anointing the part affected, therewith. Some of the said Oyle or the Decoction of the Berries, is very con∣venient to be put into such Clisters which tend to the breaking of wind, and easing the torments of the wind Cholick, which it performeth even to admira∣tion. The said Oyle or juyce of the Berties helpeth the ach and deafnesse of the Eares being dropped thereinto. The Leaves may be used to many of the pur∣poses aforesaid, yet the ordinary use of them is to boile them in Beer, as also to dresse fish with, especially Eeles, leaving a dainty rellish, helping to warm the Stomack, and digesting those crudities which they are apt to breed of them∣selves. A bath of the decoction of the Leaves and Betries, is of great advantage in womens diseases both for the Mother, and other diseases of the Womb, as the Stopping of the Courses, &c. And so likewise for the diseases of the Bladder as the Strangury, &c. All these Virtues belong to the common Bayes, which besides their Ornamentall uses they performe; the three last serving onely for the pleasure of those, that are taken with the rarity of them, and not for any Physicall use that I can learn, and therfeore I shall say no more of them.