Adam in Eden, or, Natures paradise the history of plants, fruits, herbs and flowers with their several names ... the places where they grow, their descriptions and kinds, their times of flourishing and decreasing as also their several signatures, anatomical appropriations and particular physical vertues together with necessary observations on the seasons of planting and gathering of our English simples with directions how to preserve them in their compositions or otherwise : ... there is annexed a Latin and English table of the several names of simples, with another more particular table of the diseases and their cures ... / by William Coles ...

CHAP. CCCXII. Of Birth-wort.

The Names.

IT is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 quasi 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because it is good both to facilitate the Birth, and to purge all impurity that may be in the Womb after delivery. The Latines following the Greek do likewise call it Aristolochia, besides which it hath none other Latine name, but those which are corrupt, yet coming thence also as Pistolochia and Aristologia. In English it is called Birth-wort from the effects before mentioned.

The Kindes.

There are eight sorts hereof reckoned up by Bauhinus in his Pinax, though perhaps not translated Verbatim. 1. The more ordinary round rooted Birth-wort. 2. Another round rooted Birth-wort. 3. The true long rooted Birth-wort. 4. Spanish long Birth-wort. 5. The running rooted Birth-wort. 6. Spanish climing Birth-wort. 7. The bushy rooted Birth-wort. 8. Ever-green bushy rooted Birth-wort of Candy.

The Forme.

The more ordinary round rooted Birth-wort sendeth forth divers long, trailing square Stalks, a foot long, or thereabouts, with few or no branches, but with ma∣ny round yellowish green Leaves, full of veines, standing at distances without or∣der, every one upon the short foot-stalk: At every joynt with the Leaves from the middle of these Stalks upwards, cometh one long hollow Flower, small at the bottom, but broader at the top, with a long piece or slippet, as it were, at one side of the top bending down, both of them almost of a deadish yellow, or some∣what brownish colour, and somewhat blackish purple on the in-side; the Flowers being past, there come in their places small, round, and somewhat long fruit of divers sizes, but commonly about the bignesse of a Walnut, when the green shell is peeled off; which being ripe, openeth it self into three parts, and sheweth the Seed, which is somewhat flat and round, lying in order within it, being separated into Cells by certain skins: the root is round and tuberous, somewhat like to that of Sowbread, both in form and operation.

The Places and Time.

I finde none of these growing naturally in England, but that with the long Root, which is said to grow beyond Reding, yet divers others of the sorts are to be found either in the Physick Garden at Oxford, or in Dr. Howes Garden at Westminster, or in Mr. Tradescants Garden at Lambeth, being brought thither either mediately or immediately from their naturall places: the three first growing as well in France about Mompelier, as in Spain and Italy; the next three in Spaine, as also in Candy, the seaventh delights in the stony Olive yards of Provence and Spain; and the last in Candy. In the warmer Countreys they flower and seed betimes, as in the months of May, June and July, but with us they flower not untill the middle or end of July, and their fruit doth hardly ripen before the Winter.

The Temperature.

The Roots of Birth-wort are hot in the second degree and dry in the third, according to some; and hot in the third degree, and dry in the second▪ according to others; the round hath lesse earthy Substance, and more tenuity of part••, and there∣fore more effectuall in most Diseases.

The Signature and Vertues.

The learned Crollius, in his book of Signatures, doth take notice of the 〈…〉〈…〉m∣blance that is between the root of round Birth-wort and the Womb, and 〈…〉〈…〉 ••t is not altogether strange, if it be excellent for Women that have gone out 〈◊〉〈◊〉 full time, especial••y when they are in Travel, for it causeth an easie and speedy delivery, whether the Chi••d be alive or dead, expelleth the After-birth, and all other impu∣rity of the Womb, and provoketh the Courses, so that it must needs be an accepta∣ble Herb to such Women as understand the Vertues of it. It is also effectuall to purge Phlegm, and then Choler, and that without any trouble or commotion to the Body, for it discusseth windynesse, which all other purging Medicines do usually cause, and therefore it availeth much in the diseases of the Brain••, Nerves, Breast, Stomack, Guts and Spleen: It profiteth likewise in the Falling Sicknesse, Cramp, Convulsion, Ruptures, shortnesse of Breath▪ pain of the Side, Hicket, gnawing of the Stomack, Choll••ck, swelling of the Spleen, and especially if they come of Phlegm or Wind. It is used with good successe in the Joynt Gout, against Venome and Poyson, against cold Agues, and against Stopping and Rebellious humours, that are the cause of long Agues. It killeth Wormes, and resisteth putrifaction, and is good against the con••usions of the Nerves and Muscles, if it be given with Syrup of Vinegar, Mede or Honyed water. It is used also in old rotten and malignant Ʋlcers, espe∣cially being mixed with the powder of the roots of Flower-de-luce and Honey, for being thus used it cleanseth and healeth them. It cures Ʋlcers of the secret parts, if they be washed with the Decoction thereof. The Powder hereof doth cleanse the Teeth, and make them white, being rubbed therewith. It easeth the Gout, be∣ing mingled with Honey and Salt, and applyed. It draweth out Thornes and Spl••••ters of Bones that are broken, being applyed with Turpentine. It helpeth the biting of venemous Beasts, being boyled in Wine and laid on, and so doth the powder thereof being mixed with the juyce of Rue, and applyed to the Wound. Being mingled with the powder of Aloes, Lime, or Chalk, and Honey, and made into an Oyntment, by adding a little Wine, it cureth the Cancer and Polyppus in the Nose, if Tents dipped therein be put into the Nostrill. The powder thereof tempered with Honey, cures the Ʋlcers of the Mouth and Gummes. The fume thereof, or the powder in a quilted Cap, stayeth all Fluxes and Distillations of thin Rheume from the Head. It is held to be so excellent for Wounds in the Head, and elsewhere, that it is an usuall saying, That without Birthwort, no Chirurgion can performe any great cure. A Pessary made hereof, and with Myrrhe, provokes the Termes in Women, but let such a•• are with Child, and have not gone their full

time, by no means meddle with it, lest it cause abortion. The distilled Water hereof is usefull against creeping Ʋlcers and Pustules of the Genitalls, both in men an wo∣men, being therewith wash'd, or linnen cloaths dipt in the same▪ & laid on the place all night. The long Birth-wort is almost, yet not altogether, so effectual as the round, for all the diseases aforesaid, whether inward or outward, and some hold the run∣ning kinde to be so also.