The Names and temperament.

IT is called in Latine Urtica, ab urendo, of his burning and stinging quality, in English Nettle. It is moderately hot, and dry in the se∣cond degree, of thin and subtile parts.

The duration.

The seed will keep good a yeer.

The inward use.

The leaves boil'd in Wine and drunk, are said to open the belly and make it soluble. The roots or leaves boiled, or the juice of either of them, or both made into an Electuary with Honey or Sugar, is a safe or sure Medicine to open the pipes and passages of the Lungs which causeth shortnesse of breath, and helpeth to bring away tough cold flegme sticking in them, or in the stomach, as also to raise the impo∣stumated pleurisie, and spend it by spitting. The decoction of the leaves in Wine and drunk is singular good to provoke Womens courses, and to settle the strangling of the mother, and all other Page  [unnumbered] diseases thereof, also provoketh urine, and expelleth gravel and the stone in the reins or bladder, killeth Wormes in children, and is said to ease the pains in the side, and to expel winde in the body; but others think it to be windy of it self, and therefore not so powerful to ex∣pel winde, but only to provoke Venery: the juice of the leaves taken two or three dayes together stayeth bleeding at the mouth, which riseth from the stomach: the seed being drunk is a remedy against the stinging of venomous creatures, the bitings of mad Dogs, the poisonful qualities of Hemlock, Henbane, Nightshade, Mandrake, or such like, that stupifie and dull the senses, and helpeth them that have taken Quicksilver, or those that have eaten evil Mushromes, or surfet of the good. A Decoction of Nettles is profitable for such as have the Gangrene and Chin-cough, as also to expel the small poxe.

The Roman Nettle is held to be most effectual. The roots are com∣mended against the Jaundise.

The manner of administring it.

It is given in Decoction chiefly, the seeds are given in powder, or in Electuary.

The outward use.

They help the Almonds of the throat being swolne, to gargle the mouth and throat therewith; the juice also is effectuall to settle the palate of the mouth in its place, and to heal and temper the inflam∣mations and sorenesse of the mouth and throat. The seeds or leaves bruised and put into the nostrils, doth stanch the bleeding of them, and taketh away the flesh growing in them called Polypus: the juice of the leaves, or the Decoction of them, or of the roots, is singular good to wash either old, rotten, and stinking sores, or Fistulaes and Gangrenes, and such as are fretting and eating Scabs, also Maunginess and Itches in any part of the body as also green Wounds, by wash∣ing them therewith, or putting the juice into the sores, yea, although the flesh were separated from the bones, the same applied to over-wearied members refresheth them, or to places out of joynt, after the joynt is set in its right place, it strengtheneth, dryeth and comforteth them, as also to those places troubled with Aches and Gowts.

The Dose.

The seed is given from half a dram to a dram▪