Tractatus de simplicium medicamentorum facultatibus. = A treatise of the nature and qualities of such simples as are most frequently used in medicines,: both purging, and others. Methodically handled, for the benefit of those that understand not the Latine tongue. To which is added: many compound medicines for most diseases incident to mankinde: as also two alphabeticall tables, very necessary for the reader. Together with, the explanation of all hard words or termes of art, whereby the vulgar may the better understand it. / By Robert Pemel, practitioner in physick, at Cranebrooke in Kent. Licensed and enterd according to order.

CHAP. 39. De Hyperico, of Saint Johns-wort.

SAint Johnswort is an herb that hath brownish, upright, hard, round stalks, two foot high, having two small leaves set one against an∣other at every place, which are of a deep green colour, somewhat like the leaves of lesser Centory, but narrower, and full of small holes in every leaf, which are easily perceived being held up against the light, the flowers are yellow, which being bruised yield a reddish juice, the root is hard and woody, with divers strings, & of a brown∣ish colour.

The names.

It is called in Latine Hypericon, and Hypericum, also of some, Fuga Demonum, quia Daemon inde fugere creditur, because they superstiti∣ously imagine that it drove away the Devil. Some call it Perforata, because of the smal holes in the leaves that seem to be bored through. In English it is called Saint Johns-wort, and Saint Johns-grasse.

The temperament.

It is hot and dry in the third degree, and of subtile parts.

The duration.

It will keep good a yeer.

The inward use.

It is diuretical and vulnerary. A dram of the seeds being taken, doth purge choler, causeth the stone to come away, kils Wormes, resists venome, and helpeth the biting of venemous creatures, also provokes urine, and the courses in Women, and helps the Falling sicknesse, Palsey, and Sciatica, being drunk fourty dayes together. A decoction thereof cures tertian and quartane Agues: it is most excellent for all inward wounds in any place, and for congealed bloud, or spitting of bloud, or vomiting bloud, by reason of a vein broken in any place; it is very useful in all vulnerary potions, for it resolves, opens, consoli∣dates,

and is of a glutinous nature, and truly I know not a better wound herb. Being made into powder and taken in Wine, it cureth the Gowt, and is much commended against the Jaundise. The Salt of S. Johns-Wort helpeth the Plurisey, and expelleth the Stone, you may give a dram- thereof in any convenient liquor. The distilled water of S. Johns Wort profiteth such as have the Falling sicknesse, (especially taken with the root, or seeds of Pyony) as also the Apo∣plexie and Palsey; the dose is two or three ounces every day. It also stayeth the Flux of the belly being taken with Red Wine, and cureth inward wounds.

The manner of administring it.

It is given in decoction or in powder.

Against the Jaundise.

Take of the herbe and flowers of St. Johns-wort two handfulls, boile them in a pinte and a halfe of Wine or water, straine it, and give of it with Sugar for divers mornings together; This ••to••herus doth much commend, and further adviseth to put the herbe in your Shoes, bosome, and to weare it about your head. Stocher. prax. aur. f. 185.

Against spitting or vomiting of blood.

Take of the seeds of ••t. Johns-wort in powder halfe a dram, or a dram, of the juice of Knot-grasse one ounce, or of Plantaine-water two ounces, of syrup of Quinces halfe an ounce, mix them together, and take it.

The outward use.

The leaves cure all green wounds, (except such as are in the head) as also burnes and scalds. The herbe dryed and made into powder is effectuall to cure wounds and sores, and rotten festered Ulcers, be∣ing strewed thereon. The distilled water cures also wounds being washed therewith. The Oile of St. Johns-wort either simple or compound is good for all green wounds, and old sores and Ulcers in the legs, or else where that are hard to be cured, and is effectuall for all Cramps and aches in the joynts, and paines in the Reines, but the compound Oile is much better. The simple Oile is made thus.

Take foure ounces of the flowers of St. Johns-wort, infuse them in a pinte of Sallet-Oile, and three ounces of white Wine, set them in the Sunne for ten or twelve dayes, then boyle them in a Balneo, or Kettle of seething water, straine it, and put in new flowers, and let it stand so long againe, then straine it as before, and renew it a third time, and straine it againe, which being hot, put two ounces of

pure Turpentine to it, and keep it for green wounds, or sinevvs that are prickt, or any vvound made vvith a venomous vveapon.

Gerard hath a compound Oile made thus.

Take vvhite Wine tvvo pintes, oile-Olive foure pounds, oile of Turpentine tvvo pounds, the leaves, flovvers and seeds of St. Johns vvort tvvo great handfulls, gently bruised, put them altogether into a great double Glasse, and set it in the Sun 8 or 10 dayes, then boile them in the same Glasse, per balneum Mariae, that is in a kettle of vvater vvith some stravv in the bottome, vvherein the Glasse must stand to boile: vvhich done, straine the liquor from the herbs, and do as you did before, putting in the like quantity of herbs, flovvers, and seeds, but not any more Wine.

Another Oile of St. Johns-wort excellent against wounds.

Take of Sallet-Oile tvvo pound, of earth vvormes vvashed and flit five ounces, of the flovvers and tops of St. Johns-vvort halfe a pound, of small Centory-flovvers, and of the tops of svveet Trefoile, of each tvvo drams, Gum Elmne one ounce; let them stand in the Sun certaine dayes, then straine it, and keep it for your use, you may add some Turpentine if you vvill.

The Dose.

The seeds are given from a dram to tvvo drams.

Of such things as are made thereof.

The distilled vvater, Salt, Tincture thereof, Oile.