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.

Sow-Thistles.

SOw-Thistles are generally so wel known that they need no Description.

Place.] They grow in our Gardens and manured Grounds, and som∣times by old Wals, the path sides of Fields and High-waies.

Government and Vertues.] This and the former are under the influence of Venus. Sow-thistles are cooling and somwhat binding, and are very fit to cool an hot Stomach, and to eas the gnawing pains thereof: The Herb boyled in Wine is very helpful to stay the dissolutions of the Stomach; and the Milk that is taken from the Stalks when they are broken, given in drink, is beneficial to those that are short winded, and have a wheesing withal: Pliny saith, That it hath caused the Gravel and Stone to be voided by Urin, and that the eating thereof helpeth a stinking brea••h: Three spoonfuls of the Juyce thereof taken in white Wine war∣med, and some Oyl put thereto causeth Women in Travel to have so easie and speedy delivery, that they may be able to walk presently after: The said Juyce taken in warm drink, helpeth the strangury and pains in making water. The Decoction of the Leavs and Stalks, causeth abundance of Milk in Nurses, and their Children to be wel colored, and is good for those whose Milk doth curdle in their Breasts. The juyce boiled or through∣ly heated with a little Oyl of bitter Almonds in the Pill of a Pomegranate, and dropped into the Ears, is a sure Remedy for Deafness, singings, and al other Diseases in them. The Herb bruised, or the Juyce, is profitably applied to al hot Inflamati∣ons in the Eyes, or wheresoever else, and for Wheals, Blisters, or other the like eruptions of heat in the skin; as also for the heat and itching of the Hemorrhoids, and the heat and sharpness of Humors in the secret Parts of Man or Woman: The distilled Water of the Herb, is not only effectual for al the Diseases aforesaid to be taken inwardly with a little Sugar (which Medicine the daintiest Stomach wil not refuse) but out∣wardly, by applying Cloathes or Spunges wetted therein: It is wonderful good for Women to wash their Faces therewith, to cleer the Skin, and give a lustre thereto.

Notes

• Pains and heat of the stomach, short Wind and Whee∣sing, gravel and stone; stinking Breath, speedy De∣livery, strangury, Milk in∣creased, Deafness & singing in the ears, infla∣med Eyes, Wheals & blisters, Hemor∣rhoids, Cleer the Face.