CHAP. 114. De Junipero, of the Iuniper-tree.
The Names.
THe Juniper tree is called in Latine, Juniperus, the berries are called Grana Juniperi, or Baccae Juniperi: the Gum that runneth from the tree being cut is call•d Lachrima Juniperi, vernix, or vernia, quasi veris ros, issuing forth in the spring, as also Sandaracha and Sandarax of the Arabians, but not of the Greeks. Yet some will have Vernix to be made of Amber and Linseed Oyle.
The Temperament.
The Juniper both leaves and wood are hot and dry in the third degrees, the berries hot in the third degree and dry in the first; the Gum hot and dry in the first degree.
The Duration.
The Berries will keep good a yeare, the wood longer.
The inward use.
The leaves & young tender branches of the Juniper tree, or the juice of them or of the berries, or the berries themselves taken in wine, are very eff ctuall against the biting of a Vipers or Adders, as also against the Plague or Pestilence, or any other infection or poyson: the same also is profitable against the Strangury and stopping of the Urine, and so powerfull against the Dropsie, that as Matthiolus saith, he hath knowne divers to avoid so much water by urine, by taking foure or five ounces at a time of the lye made of Juniper Ashes, that they have been holpen thereby: it doth also provoke the courses, and help the rising of the Mother, and other paines thereof: the berries are good for the Cough and shortnesse of breath, and other diseases of the Chest an Lungs, and to ease the griping paines in the Belly; they are prevalent also to help Ruptures, Convulsions and Cramps, to procure a safe and easie delivery unto women with Childe: The Page [unnumbered] berries are very comfortable to the braine, & strengthen the memory and sight, and all the senses, and the heart also, being either drunke in wine, or the decoction of them in wine taken: the same also is good against the Quartaine, and dissolveth the winde in the Belly or Sto∣mach, and in generall is effectuall for all diseases proceeding from any cold cause, if they take of the berryes two or three times a weeke, three, foure or more at a time in wine. The Salt made of the Ashes of the Juniper wood is a singular remedy for the scurvey, the putrified and foule Gums, and generally resisting all putrefaction. The chymi∣call oyle drawne from the ber•ies while they are greene, is as effectu∣all if not more to all the purposes aforesaid: and the oyle drawne from the Juniper wood is good against the Chollick, rising of the Mother, Gout, Wormes, Head-ach, &c. if foure or five drops there∣of be taken in a Morning in Broth, or in B•ere. The Gumme of Ju∣niper in powder taken in wine doth stay vomitings, inward bleedings and spitting of blood, womens courses also, and all other fluxes of the belly, and the Piles, also killeth wormes in children.
The manner of Administring it.
The berries and wood are given in powder, or in Decoction.
The outward use.
The smoake of the Juniper wood being burned, besides that it yeeldeth a good sent to perfume any house, it is of good use in time of infection, and driveth away all noysome Serpents, Flies, Wasps, &c. the Ashes of the wood or barke made into a lye with water doth cure all Itches, Scabs, Pustules, or other eruptions in the skin, yea and the Lepry also if the places be bathed therewith. The Gum is used to stay cold distillations & Catarrhs that fall upon the eyes or Lungs &c. the fume thereof upon the burning on coals being taken into a Cap (the head also holden in the meane time over the said fumes) at night, & to lye covered therewith: or the powder thereof with other things fit for the purpose, strewed upon flax and to be quilted into a Cap to be worne in the night chiefly, and in the day also as neede shall re∣quire: the powder thereof mixed with some oyle of Roses and Myrtles healeth the chaps of the fundament, Kibes also and Chilblains on the hands and feet: the powder also mixed with the white of an Egge, and applyed to the forehead stayeth the bleeding at the nose: the same also burned upon coals, and the fumes thereof taken through a Funnell upon an aking tooth taketh away the paine: it is effectuall in most Ulcers and Fistulaes, and weeping running sores to dry up their Page [unnumbered] moisture: The Liquid Varnish is an especiall remedy against scaldings with water, or burnings with fire, and to help the painfull and blee∣ding Piles, and Palsie, Cramps, Convulsions of the nerves and sinews. The chymecall oyle of the wood is good against the Tooth-ach and for the Gout, Sciatica, and resolution of the nerves comming of colde.
A bath against the Hip-gout.
Take Camomill flowers and Juniper berries of each ten hand∣fulls, boyle them in a sufficient quantity of water for a Bath.
A quilt or bag for the same.
Take of Juniper berries what quantity you will, bruise them and make two large quilts for the hip; wet them with strong Aquavitee, make them very hot and apply them one after another unto the place affected.
The hurtfull quality.
They must not be used in hot and dry bodies.
The Dose.
The berries are given in powder from sixe to twenty.
Of such things as are made thereof.
Spirit of Juniper. Oyle Chymicall both of the berries and wood. Salt. Extract. Elixer juniperinum. Rob. juniperinum, &c.
