The names.

It is called in Latine Myrrha, in English Myrrhe.

The temperament.

Myrrhe is hot and dry in the third degree.

The best kinde.

The best is that which is pinguous or fatty, reddish and cleare, having some whitish veines in it, very bitter and light. That which is heavy and blacke is to be rejected.

The difference between Bdellium and Myrrhe.

Bdellium in sight is somewhat like to Myrrhe, but may be distin∣guished thus; Myrrhe is extreame bitter, so is not Bdellium; againe Myrrhe is easier to be broken, and of a more quick sharp sent.

The duration.

Myrrhe will keep good many yeares; Platearius saith it will keep good a hundred yeares.

The inward use.

Myrrhe is opening, discussing, glutinative, and drying: it resisteth putrefaction, and is usefull in stoppings of the wombe, brings down the courses, and expells the childe living or dead, being taken with a decoction of Lupines ane the juice of Rue. It helpeth stoppings of the Breast and Lungs, and hoarsenesse, as also the cough, and is usefull in the Quinsey, Pleurisy, or paines of the side, in the Collick, in fluxes of the belly, and killeth wormes. It mollifieth the hardnesse of the Matrix, and is good against rheumatick distillations It ta∣keth away the shivering fits of Agues, being taken an houre or two before the fit commeth, especially of Quartane Agues, as if a dram or lesse be taken in Muscadine warme two or three times before the fit come, and sweat after it: this cured Matthiolus of a quartane Ague. Mathiol. Com. in lib. Diascor. Cap. 68. f. 78.

Pils made thereof with Treacle and Birth-wort-root, are effe∣ctuall for the same purpose, to take one or two at a time as big as a Pease, an houre before the fits, for many dayes together: it is also a great preservative in the Plague or pestilence, and against the ve∣nome, or poison of Serpents and venomous creatures, therefore it is put into Antidotes and Counterpoisons: it is a singular remedy, for a stinking breath. It doth conduce much to women to help Con∣ception, especially by removing obstructions, or stoppings from the uterine parts

The manner of administring it.

It is given in Powder, in Pils, in electuary and Trosses, though it be rarely given alone by reason of its bitternesse.

To hasten the birth.

Take of Myrrhe in powder two scruples: Give it in a little Posset-drink, or make foure or five Pils thereof with a little Honey, and give them, drinking a draught of posset-drink after them.

The outward use.

It healeth wounds of the head, and helpeth to cover bones that are bare, and incarneth good flesh in deep wounds. It helpeth a stinking breath if the mouth be washed with the decoction thereof; and helpeth rotten gums, and fastneth loose teeth, being dissolved in wine and washed therewith, it cleanseth also the filthinesse of the Eares. Being used with Ladanum and Wine of Myrtles, it stayeth the falling or shedding of the haire: it helpeth watering eyes, and taketh away the skin that beginneth to grow therein and darken the sight, and helpeth ulcers of the eyes. It is commended to beau∣tifie the face, and to make it smooth and youthfull, to be made into an oile, or rather liquour of Myrrhe, which is made with Eggs boil∣ed hard, cut in the middle, the yolkes taken forth, and filled up with the powder of Myrrhe, then put into a Glasse and set in a Wine-seller, or moist place, and with this liquor to wash the face.

A fumigation hereof comforts the braine, and dryeth up super∣fluous humours. It openeth, and mollifieth the hardnesse of the ma∣trix, and a fumigation thereof helpeth conception; and it bringeth downe the courses if a Pessarie be made thereof and used. It doth facilitate or hasten the birth being used to the genitals or privities with oile of white Lillies. Being used with Vineger it helpeth Tetters and Ring-wormes, and freckles, or used with Cassia and Honey it helpeth the Gangrene and wilde fire, the stinking, or chafing of the arme-holes, used with oile of •ox it doth extend and mollifie the nerves that are stiffe with cold. It helpes Tenas∣mus (or a desire often to go to stoole) from a cold cause.

A Powder for wounds in the head.

Take of myrrhe half an ounce of Madder-seed, of Cypresse-root, of Orris-root, of Sarcocole, of each three drams, make a powder, and us it as need requireth.

The hurtfull quality.

It must not be given to women with childe, for it causeth them to miscarry, nor to such as have very hot and dry bodies.

The Dose.

The Dose in powder is from a scruple to two scruples.

Of such things as are made of Myrrhe.

Trosses of Myrrhe, Myrrhe depurated, or cleansed, Extract of Myrrhe, Oile of Myrrhe.