The English physitian enlarged with three hundred, sixty, and nine medicines made of English herbs that were not in any impression until this: ... Being an astrologo-physical discourse of the vulgar herbs of this nation: containing 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, they being most fit for English bodies. Herein is also shewed these seven things, viz. 1 The way of making plaisters, oyntments, oyls, pultisses, syrups, decoctions, julips, or waters, of al sorts of physical herbs ... 7 The way of mixing medicines according to cause and mixture of the disease, and part of the body afflicted. By Nich. Culpeper, Gent. student in physick and astrologie: living in Spittle Fields.

Hedg-Mustard.

Descript.] THis groweth up usually but with one blackish green Stalk, tough, easie to bend but not break, branched into divers parts, and somtimes with divers Stalks set full of Branches, whereon grow long, rough, or hard rugged Leavs, very much torn or cut on the edges into

many parts, some bigger, and somelesser, of a dirty green color: The Flo∣wers are smal and yellow, that grow at the tops of the Branches, in long spikes, flowring by degrees, so that continuing long in Flower the stalks wil have smal round Cods at the bottom, growing upright and close to the stalk, while the top Flowers, yet shew themselves; in which are contained smal yellow Seed, sharp and strong, as the Herb is also. The Root groweth down slender and woody, yet abiding, and springing again every yeer.

Place.] This groweth frequently in this Land by the Waies and Hedg∣sides, and somtimes in the open Fields.

Time.] It flowreth most usually about July.

Government and Vertues.] Mars owns this Herb also. It is singular good in al the Diseases of the Chest and Lungs, Hoarsness of Voyce,* 1.1 and by the use of the Decoction therof for a little space, those have been recovered who had utterly lost their voyce, and almost their spirits also. The Juyce thereof made into a Syrup, or licking Medicine with Honey or Sugar is no less effectual for the same purpose, and for al o∣ther Coughs, Wheesings, and shortness of Breath The same is also profitable for those that have the Jaundice, the Pluresie, pains in the Back and Loyns, and for torments in the Belly, or the Chollick, being also used in Clysters. The Seed is held to be a special Remedy against Poy∣son and Venom: It is singular good for the Sciatica, the Gout, and al Joynt aches, Sores, and Cankers in the Mouth, Throat, or behind the Ears; and no less for the hardness and Swelling of the Testicles, or of Womens Breasts.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chest, Lungs, Hoarsness, Cough, shortness of breath, Jaundice, Plu∣resie, Back, Loyns, Belly, Chollick, Poy∣son, Sciatica, Gout, Joynts, Fistulaes, ulcers, cankers, Testicles, wo∣mens Breasts.