The names.

Elder is called in Latine Sambucus from Sambix the first finder of it.

Dane-wort is called Low-Elder, in Latine Ebulus, in English Wall-wort, Dane-wort, or Dwarfe-Elder.

The temperament.

They are hot and dry in the second, or third degree, and the Wall-wort is somewhat hotter then Elder.

The duration.

They will keep good a yeere.

The inward use.

There is in use the flowers, leaves, inward barke or rinde, the Seeds, Berries, and the spongie substance.

They are profitable in the Dropsie, joynt-Gowt, Agues, stop∣ping and swellings of the spleen, stone of the Kidneys, affects of the Wombe, and St. Anthonies fire. They purge tough flegme, water and thin choler chiefly from the belly and joynts. They are good in the Scorbute or Scurvy, and kill wormes in the stomach or belly.

The first shoots, or young leaves of the Elder boiled in Broth or Posset-drink, draweth forth strongly choler and tough flegme; the tender leaves eaten with Oile and Salt do the same. The inner bark boiled in water and given to drink, worketh much more violently; and the berries also green or dry expell the same humour, and is often given with good successe to help the Dropsie, by evacuating great plenty of waterish humours: the bark of the root also boiled in Wine, or the juice thereof drunk, worketh the same effect, but more effectually then either leaves or fruit do; the juice of the root taken, provoketh vomit mightily, and purgeth the watery humours of the Dropsie. The decoction of the root cureth the biting of the Adder, as also of a mad Dogge, and bringeth downe the courses of women.

The decoction of the Berries in Wine being drunk provoketh Urine. The powder of the seeds first prepared in Vineger, and then taken in Wine, halfe a dram at a time for certaine dayes toge∣ther, is a meanes to abate and consume the fat flesh of a corpulent body, and to keep it leane. The Berries so prepared, and as much with Tartar, and a few Anise-seeds put to them, a dram of this powder given in Wine, cureth the Dropsie by purging very gently The dry flowers are often used in decoction for Glisters to expell Page  [unnumbered] winde, and easeth the Collick; for they lose their purging quality which they have being green, and reteine an attenuating. The flow∣ers in Ale or Beere are very good for such as have the Dropsie, be∣ing put into a bag. The flowers of both provoke sweat. The Vi∣neger made of the flowers of Elder, by Ma ceration and setting in the Sunne is much more used in France then any where else, and is gratefull to the stomach, and effectuall to quicken the appe∣tite, and helpeth to cut grosse and tough flegme in the breast. The distilled water of the inner bark of the Tree, or of the root, is very powerfull to purge the waterie humours of the Dropsie, or Tympa∣ny, taking it fasting and two hours before supper: The dose is two ounces in the morning, and as much before supper, or take foure ounces in the morning. The water of the flowers also is good in the Dropsie, and openeth the stoppings of the Liver, Spleen and Reines: it driveth away the tertian Ague, and is good against me∣lancholy, and strengthneth the stomach. The dose is three or foure ounces fasting.

The Mushromes of the Elder called Jewes-eares, are much used (being dryed and boiled with Ale or milke with Columbine-leaves) for sore throats, and with a little Pepper and Pellitory of Spain in powder to put up the Uvula or palate of the mouth when it is fallen downe.

The young and tender branches of Dane-wort and leaves thereof taken with Wine, helpeth those that are troubled with the stone and gravell. The juice of the root is a strong purger of watery humours, and excellent for the Dropsie. The leaves boiled in water and gi∣ven to drink, helpeth the dry Cough and the Quinsie. The dryed Berries or Seeds beaten to powder and taken in Wine fasting, work∣eth the same effect as the juice of the root doth. The powder of the seeds taken in the decoction of Ground-pine, and a little Cyna∣mon to the quantity of a dram at a time, is an approved remedy both for the Gowt, joint-aches and Sciatica, as also for the French disease, for it easeth the paines by withdrawing the humours from the places affected, and by drawing forth those humours that are fluent, peccant and offensive: the powder of the root worketh the same effect. The root steeped in Wine all night, and a draught thereof given before the fit of an Ague, doth much prevaile to abate the fit, or to take it quite away, especially taken the second or third time if need be. In a word, what hath been said of Elder may be said of Dane-wort, only Dane-wort is more forceable or power∣full then Elder.

The manner of administring them.

They are given in powder, Boles, and decoction.

A Powder against the Hip-gowt, and joynt-gowt.

Take Dane-wort-seed, Turbith, Hermodactyles, Sene, Tartar, of each a dram, of Cynamon two drams, make all into fine powder.

The dose is foure scruples, in any convenient liquor.

A bole purging flegme, and usefull in the Dropsie.

Take of the juice of Elder berries halfe an ounce, powder of Seabinde-weed a dram, Oile of Cynamon foure drops, make a bole or lump, rolle it up in Sugar, and take it in a morning, drinking some Posset-drink after it.

A decoction against the Quartane Ague and Quotidian.

Take of Elder-bark, with the root, of each an ounce, of Asarum three drams, Cynamon a dram and a halfe, boile them in milk, and give halfe of it. This will work upward and downward. Take it before the fit commeth, once or twice if need be. Vide Blochwitius, Anotomiâ Sambuci.

The outward use.

A decoction of the roots of either, mollifieth the hardnesse of the wombe, if women do sit therein, and openeth the veines, and bringeth downe the courses. The leaves boiled and laid hot upon a∣ny hot and painefull Apostumes, especially in the more remote and sinewie parts doth both coole the heat and inflammation of them, and ease the paines. The juice of the leaves snuffed up into the Nostrils, purgeth the tunicles of the brain. The juice of the green leaves applyed to hot inflammations of the eyes, asswageth them. The juice of the berries boiled with a little Honey, and dropped into the eares, easeth the paines of them.

A decoction of the root maketh the haire black if it be washed therewith: the leaves boiled till they be tender, then beaten and mixed with Barley-meale, and applyed to hot inflammations, as∣swageth them, and helpeth places that are burnt either by fire or water, cureth Fistulous Ulcers being laid thereupon; and easeth the paines of the Gowt being beaten and boiled with tallow of a Bull, or Goat, and laid warme thereon. The young buds and leaves of the Elder, and as much of the roots of Plantaine beaten together, and boiled in Hogs-grease, this being laid warme upon the place pained with the Gowt doth give present ease thereto: the leaves also burnt, and the powder of them put up into the Nostrils stayeth the bleed∣ing once or twice used. The leaves of Elders boiled tender, and applied warme to the fundament, easeth the paines of the Piles, if Page  [unnumbered] they be once or twice renewed growing cold. The pitch in the middle of the Elder stalkes, being dried and put into the cavernous, or hollovv holes of Fistulous Ulcers that are ready to close, open∣eth and dilateth the Orifices, whereby injections may be used, and other remedies applied for the cure of them. The Mushromes cal∣led Jewes-eares, helpeth the inflammation of the eyes being mace∣rated or steeped in Rose-water, or Plantaine-water, and the eyes washed therewith. The dryed Jewes-eares steeped in Rose-water and applied to the Temples and forehead, do ease the paines of the head or head-ach. The distilled water of the flowers of Elder, is of much use to cleare the skin from Sun-burning, Freckles, Mor∣phew or the like: and both the fore-part and hinder-part of the head being bathed therewith, it taketh away all manner of head-ach that commeth of a cold cause. The same water taketh away the heat and inflammation of the eyes, and helpeth them when they are blood-shotten. The hands being washed morning and evening with the same vvater of the flovver doth much help and ease them that have the Palsy in them, and cannot keep them from shaking.

The foule inflamed or old Ulcers and sores of the leggs, being often vvashed vvith the vvater of the leaves or of the flovvers distilled in the middle of the moneth of Maey doth heale them in a short space. The water also helpeth the paine of the side, if a linnen cloth be vvet therein, and the side bathed therevvith vvarme. Oile of Elder-flovvers doth assvvage paine, cleanse and mundifie the skin, profiteth in stoppings of the Liver and spleene, and is good for the paines of the joynts and nerves, and is very usefull in burning and wild-fire. An ointment made of the green leaves of Dan-wort & May butter made in the Moneth of May, is accounted with many a sove∣reigne remedy for all outward paines, aches and cramps in the joynts, nerves or sinewes, for starcknesse and lamenesse by cold and other casualties, and generally to warme, comfort, and strengthen all the outward parts ill-affected, as also to mollifie the hardnesse, and to open the obstructions of the spleen, the grieved parts anoint∣ed therewith.

Against burning by Fire or Water.

Take one pound of the inner bark of Elder, bruise it or cut it small, and put it into two pound of pure Sallet-Oile, or Oile-Olive, that hath been first washed oftentimes with the distilled water of Elder-flowers, let them boile gently a good while together, and afterwards straine forth the Oile, pressing it very hard; set this Oile on the fire againe, and put thereto foure ounces of the juice of the young branches and leaves of the Elder-tree, and as much new Wax, let them boile to the Consumption of the Page  [unnumbered] juice, after vvhich being taken from the fire, put presently thereto two ounces of liquid Vernish (such as Joyners use to ver∣nish Bed-steds, Cubboards, &c.) and afterwards of Olibanum in fine powder foure ounces, and the whites of two Egges being first well beaten by themselves, all these being well stirred and mixed toge∣ther, put it up into a cleane pot, and keep it for to use when occa∣sion serveth. Parkinson Treatise of Plantes, fol. 210, 211. taken out of Matthiolus.

Against the Tooth-ach.

Take of the root of Elder cut in thin slices, two ounces and a halfe, Vineger of Elder, or White Wine halfe a pinte: boile them to∣gether, then wash the mouth and teeth therewith.

Or

Take of the middle rinde of Elder, and flowers thereof, of each a handfull, of Jewes-eares one or two, boyle them in a sufficient quan∣tity of Vineger and Wine, use it as the former.

An Ointment against the hardnesse or scirrhus of the Spleene.

Take Oile of Elder an ounce, Ammoniacum dissolved in Vineger, of Elders two drams: boile them to the Consumption of the watery substance, then add a little wax, and make an ointment. Two or three drams of Wax will be sufficient. With this Ointment anoint the spleen morning and evening warme, laying a warme cloth on.

A Cataplasme or pultis against bruises.

Take of Elder-flowers in powder two ounces, Camomill and Worme-wood in powder, of each halfe an ounce, mix them with a sufficient quantity of Oile of Elder, and apply it warme to the bruis∣ed parts.

For the Piles or Hemorrhoides.

Take a handfull or two of Elder-leaves, and boile them in water till they be tender, take them out of the water and mix a little Linseed-Oile therewith, then apply it warme (upon a red cloth, or a piece of Scarlet) to the Piles, there letting it lye till it be almost cold, then apply fresh, do thus for the space of an houre or two if need require, and let it be bound up, having the party to his warme bed. This saith Gerard hath not failed at the first dressing to cure the said disease. Ger. Herball. fol. 1423.

The hurtfull quality.

Both Elder and Dane-wort offend the head, are hurtfull to the stomach and liver that is hot, as also bringeth gripings, & weakneth the body, let them be given with Anise-seed, Carraway-seed, Cy∣namon, Page  [unnumbered] Mace, &c. Wal-wort is not to be given but to such as have strong bodies.

The dose.

The juice of the leaves or rinde is given from halfe an ounce to an ounce or two ounces. The juice of the berries from two drams to six drams. The seeds from halfe a dram to a dram. The distilled water from two ounces to four ounces. The powder of the bark or rinde from halfe a dram to a dram.

Of such things as are made of them.

From the flowers of Elder are made these following.

The distilled water both of the flowers and leaves. Spirit of El∣der-flowers. Wine of Elder-flowers. Syrupus acetosus Sambucinus. Honey of Elder. Conserve of Elder. Oile both by infusion and di∣stillation.

From the berries, Rob-Sambuci, or Pulp of the berries. Tincture, Extract, Wine, Spirit, water distilled. Oile.

From the tender branches. Conserve.

From the leaves, middle rinde, roots and Jewes-eares. Distilled water. Syrup. Oile.

From Dane-wort are made: the distilled water; the spirit: from the flowers. Rob-Ebuli, or the pulp of the berries. Tincture or essence.