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. CCCXV. Of Dittany.

The Names.

IT is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 by Dioscorides, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 by Theophrastus, and by others 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, being derived, as some suppose 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, à pariendo, because it is exceeding helpfull to Women in their paines of Child birth, not onely by allaying them, but by furthering their delivery, as the Authors but now mentioned do testifie. It is also called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, Pu∣legium Sylvestre, but it is called by most Latine Writers Dictamnus, or Dictam∣nus Creticus, Dictamum or Dictamnum Creticum; and the bastard sort is called Pseudodictamnus, Pseudodictamus, and Pseudodictamum.

The Kindes.

Concerning that kinde of Bastard Dittany, called Fraxinella, in Latine, I have already spoken, and told you that it was improperly so called, and therefore I shall here set down those that better deserve the name, and they are three; 1. Dittany of Candy; 2. Bastard Dittany; 3. Another Bastard Dittany.

The Forme.

Dittany of Crete or Candy, for so it is now called, hath divers hard and brown∣ish, yet somewhat hoary Stalks rising from the root, set full of Leaves, two stan∣ding together one against another, all along the Branches, which are broad, and thick, and almost round, so hoary, white, and covered over with a wooly down, that they seem not at all to be green; at the tops of the Branches come forth scaly heads, purplish on the out-side, and paler on the in-side, from among which come forth gaping Flowers, of a pale purplish colour, and after them small brownish Seed; the Root consisteth of many blackish strings or Fibres, from a harder long Root; the whole Herb is of a quick or fiery scent, especially if it be fresh, and of a hotter taste, for it decayeth in keeping, yet it will retain its vertue a year, or longer.

The Places and Time.

The first grows in the Isle of Crete or Candy, & therefore called Creticus, which by elder times was supposed to be the onely place in the world; but Clusius saith, that it was signified to him, that it was found also in the Isle of Sardinia▪ with lesser and whiter Leaves than those of that of Candy, and exceeding sweet withall, and is sown in some few of our Gardens, but seldome endureth the coldness of our Win∣ters, and then it must be carefully covered; the second groweth neer Pisa and Li∣gorne, in the Florentine Dominions, and is frequent in the Gardens of Italy; the last in the Island Corigo. Some have thought that the first beareth neither Flower nor Seed, but not without error, for it is found to bear both in its naturall soil, though in our cold Climate it seldome flowers, and then it cannot often seed. The second is

late before it flowreth, so that it seldome perfecteth its seed. The last is so great a stranger, that its time is not known.

The Temperature.

Dittany both that of Crete, and of the Bastard kindes, is hot and dry in the third degree.

The Vertues.

Dioscorides, Theophrastus, and the generall consent of Writers doe confirme that the Leaves of Dittany being made into Powder and dranke, with Water or Wine, causeth speedy deliverance and easie, though the Childe be dead, and out of due course, and expelleth the After-birth, and it is said that Dittany, Vervaine and Hyssope of each one handful, being stamped, and drank by a Woman when she is in travaile, saveth both the Woman and Childe, though they be both in danger: It povokes Womens Courses, and is profitable for those that are troubled with the Dropsie, or swelling of the Spleen. The Juice drank with Wine is a present reme∣dy for those that are bitten or stung by any Venemous Creature: nay, the Herb is so effectuall against the poyson of all beasts that are venemous, that the very smell drives them away: The powder being mixed with Honey and taken, easeth the Cough and killeth Wormes, and a Decoction thereof taken, is profitable for the Jaundise A P••ss••••y made of the Juice and the Powder, bringeth away the dead Childe, and after birth being applyed. A Bath or Decoction made thereof, and used all over, cures the ••aundise. The Juyce mixed with the Powder, helps the Ʋvula being ••allen, if it be annointed therewith; and the Juice being mixed with Womans milke, and dropped in the ••ares that are pained, easeth them. The Roots of Dittany and Ac••r••s made into powder, and snuffed up into the Nostrills, purgeth the Braine: The Powder of Dittany and Castor mixed with the Juice of Rue, and put up into the Nose, is good for those that have the falling Sicknesse. It draweth forth Thornes and Splinters out of the feet or other parts, being applyed thereto; and if a weake Member be but rubbed with the Juice thereof, it strength∣neth the same. The Juice is a present remedy for all wounds made with Iron, being put therein, both mundifying and cleansing the same, especially those that are made with Venemous Weapons. The same hath a purging faculty, being annointed or applyed with Barly Meale. The distilled Water thereof cannot but be usefull for many of the aforesaid purposes, and besides it is commended against the Pe∣stilence, if three ounce•• be drank Morning and Evening, and against Venome, if six ounces thereof be dranke; and three ounces thereof taken in the morning are profitable against the Stone. Though Dittany be good for Women in Labour, yet Women with Ch••ld must avoid it, because it will make them miscarry; neither is it for hot, cholerick and dry bodies, nor to be much used in hot seasons: but when it is needfull the Dose of the powder is from a scruple to a dram. It is a report of an∣cient standing, and contradicted by no Author that ever I read, that the Wild Goates and Deere in Candy, when they be wounded with Arrowes, do drive them forth by eating this herbe, the cure also ensuing thereupon.