Enchiridion medicum

Decoctiones; or, De∣coctions.

A Decoction against a hot burning Feaver.

TAke of Succory with the Roots, Sorrel, Endive, of each one handful; the four greater Cool-seeds,

of each one dragme; Grass roots and Sparagrass macerated in Vinegar, of each three dragmes: boyl them in a sufficient quantity of water, till it comes to a pinte: add unto the clear Cola∣ture, white Sugar, and Juyce of Lem∣mons, of each three ounces: or in the end of the Decoction, add sharp Vine∣gar and Hony well scummed, of each three ounces; white Sanders two scrup. mingle them.

Another for the same purpose.

Take Sorrel, Wood-sorrel, Borage, Violet Leaves, Straw-berry Leaves, and Endive, of each one handful; Harts-horn, and Ivory shavings, of each half an ounce; Scorzonery roots one ounce; well bruised Succory root half an ounc. Citron-seed two scruples: boyl all these in three pints of Barly-water, till a third part be consumed; add there∣unto Juyce of Lemmons two spoon∣fulls: strain it, and to the Colature add Aquae Cordialis Fridg. Saxoniae four ounces: mingle them.

A Decoction against Choler.

Take the Roots of Garden Endive, Bugloss, Liquerish, the five opening Roots, of each half an ounce: Maiden-hair, and Violet Flowers, of each one handful; the Seeds of Smallidge, and Fennel, Lavender, Egrimony, of each two dragmes; Mastick one scruple, Raisins stoned four handfuls; Barly cleansed one handful: Tamarinds and Damask prunes, of each one ounce and half: mingle them, and make them into a Decoction.

A pectoral Decoction against a Pleurisie.

Take Raisins stoned, Liquerish, of each half a dragme; the Seeds of Annis and Fennel, of each two dragms; Figgs Nu. vj. Dates one ounce; Barly clean∣sed two handfuls, Hyssop, Maiden-hair, of each two handfuls; Florentine Or∣ris one ounce: make a Decoction thereof, till half of the Liquor be con∣sumed.

Another for the same.

Take Coltsfoot, Maiden-hair, Lung∣wort, Liverwort, Garden Scurvigrass, of each one handful; Raisins stoned four ounces, Liquerish half an ounce, Bears tooth rasped two dragmes, Stone-Horse Dung one ounce, Figgs three ounces: make of these a Decoction in spring water, boyling them till half the water be consumed.

A Decoction against Flegme.

Take Hyssop, Betony, Hore-hound, Origanum, the Leaves of Bayes, and Rosemary, of each one Pugill, Guai∣acum, (An Indian-wood so called) grosly powdered: Sassafras, Sarsaperilla, of each one ounce, the Seeds of Fennel and Annis, Juniper-berryes, of each two dragmes: the roots of Fennel and Persly, Maiden-hair, of each half an ounce; Orris three dragmer, Hony two ounces nad half: mingle them, and boyl them in water, till half be consumed, and afterwards repose it for your use.

A Decoction against Melancholy.

Take of the Flowers of Borage and Bugloss, of each one ounce; Polipody, i. e. Epithimus, Staechados, Maiden-hair, Raisins stoned, the Bark of the roots of Capers, the Bark of Tamarisk, the Bark of Ash, Fumatory, the flowers of Camomile, of each one ounce: boyl these in three pints of water, till half be consumed.

A Carminative Decoction.

Take of the flowers of Camomile, Staechados, Rue, Melilot, tops of Bayes, of each half a handful; the seeds of Annis, Fennel, Caraway, Bay-berries bruised, the seeds of Dill, Ladies Rose, and Rue, of each three dragmes: boyl all these in four pints of Water till half be consumed, and so preserve it for Glysters.

A Decoction for a Cancer.

Take of fresh water Crabs Calcined, and beaten into very fine powder two

dragmes, Self-heal, Sanicle, Bugle, Fluellen, of each one handful: boyl them in three pints of water till half be consumed: in the end adding Crabs eyes and claws glosly pulverized, of each two dragmes; white Wine one pinte: then strain it for future or pre∣sent use.

A Decoction against the Venereal Dolors.

Take the Raspings of Guaiacum four ounces, the Bark of the same one ounc. Infuse them in four pints of Fountain water, according to art: afterwards boyl them till half be consumed; ad∣ding towards the end of the Decocti∣on, Maiden-hair, Succory, Borage, Carduus, of each one handful; Raisins stoned, Liquerish, of each three dragms; Melon-seed two dragmes: boyl them, and after one Ebulution strain it: of this Decoction, take half a pint warm in hemorning, and sweat after it.

A Decoction against Serose or watrish Humors.

Take of Lignum Guaiacum two ounc. Sarsaperilla one ounce and half, Sassa∣fras half an ounce: let them be infused in four pints of Fountain water; after∣wards boyled till half be consumed, and let the Colature be kept in a glass, taking every morning seven ounces very warm.

Another of the same Nature.

Take of Sarsaperilla cut small and cleansed from his Filaments three ounc. Infuse it in Fountain water eight pints, for the space of eighteen hours: then ••dd thereunto Gum Guaiacum two ounces; boyl them tillhalf be con∣sumed: let the Colature be put into Bottles, and drink thereof eight ounces in the morning, sweating after it.

A Decoction for the French Disease.

Take of Guaiacum eight ounces, the Bark of the same, Sarsaperilla, of each four ounces: bruise them very small, and infuse them in a pot close covered, in twelve pints of water; then boyl them till a third part be consumed, ad∣ding thereunto Liquerish three ounc. Raisins stoned two ounces, Harts-horn one ounce, Gum Guaiacum half an ounce: strain it, and let the Colature be preserved in Glass Bottles, drinking of it for ordinary drink.

A purging Decoction of the same Nature.

Take Sarsaperilla, Lignum Guaiacum, of each three ounces; the Bark of the same two ounces, Polipody, Epithimus, of each one ounce and half: Infuse them, and boyl them in six pints of Fountain water, till half be consumed; and at the end of the Decoction add Alexandrian Senna two ounces; strain it, and let the Colature be preserved in Bottles close stopt, drinking there∣of

half a pint every other morn∣ing.

A Decoction opening obstructions.

Take of the five Opening Roots, Liquerish, Rose Leaves, the middle Bark of Ash, the Bark of the Root of Capers, of each one ounce; Orris Root, fresh Cinamon, sweet Cane, of each half an ounce; Maiden-hair, Worm∣wood, Hyssop Carduus, Hore-hound, Fennel, Egrimony, of each one hand∣full, the Seeds of Annis, Ladies Rose, and Smallidge, of each two dragmes; Senna picked and cleansed three ounc. dry Soldanella half an ounce, the Seed of dwarfe Elder, Gummeous Turbith six dragmes, Broom Flowers, Tamaris, of each one Pugil: boyl them in water where steel hath been quenched three pints, to which add about the end of the Decoction half a pint of white-Wine: strain it, and with red Sugar as much as will suffice, dulcify it, and it may be made into an Apozeme by adding species Aromaticum Rosatum.

Another Decoction much of the same Nature.

Take Grass roots, Succory roots, Bugloss and Asparagrass, of each one ounce; the middle Bark of the roots of Capers and Tamaris, of each three dragmes; the Leaves of Borage and Bugloss, of each two handfuls; Cate∣rach, Maiden-hair, of each one hand∣ful, Polipody two ounces, Raisins stoned one ounce, the Seeds of Annis and Fennel, of each two ounces, the roots of Liquerish six dragms, the three Cor∣dial Flowers, of each one Pugil: first infuse them, and then boyl them in a sufficient quantity of clear water to three pints: strain it, and clarify the Colature; which may be made into an Apozeme, by adding species Diatrion Santalon three dragmes, and Syrup of Borage three ounces.

A Decoction against Melancholy.

Take Sparagrass roots, Hops, the middle Bark of Elder and Ash, Succory root, of each one ounce; Scabiouse,

Egrimony, Borage, Bugloss, Fumatory, Dropwort, Maiden-hair, of each one handful; sweet Prunes, Nu. vij. Ani∣seed two dragmes, Succory Flowers one Pugil: boyl them all in Whey, a sufficient quantity, till it come to a pint and half.

A Decoction gently purging Sordid Humors.

Take of Rhabarbe, Senna, of each one dragme and half; Spikenard half a scruple: Infuse them in a sufficient quantity of white-Wine upon hot Em∣bers, strain out four ounces, add to the Colature Diacatholicon three dragms, Confectio Hamech one dragme, Juyce of Roses half a dragme: mingle them for a Decoction.

A Decoction gently purging Choler.

Take Senna half an ounce, Pulpe of Tamarinds two dragms, the Cordial Flowers, of each one Pugill; sweet Fennel Seed one dragme: boyl them in a sufficient quantity of pectoral De∣coction, adding of the best Rhabarbe

one dragme, Chebulan Mirabalens half a dragme, Ginger, Squinant, of each eight grains; Citron Pill one scruple: strain out three ounces and an half; add thereunto Manna half an ounce, Syrup of Roses with Agarick half an ounce, Oil of Sulphur three drops.

Another much of the same vertue, recti∣fying the blood, purging Melancholy, and removing the obstructions of the Spleen.

Take Senna one ounce and half, Epithimus half an ounce, Polipody of the Oake half an ounce, Rhabarbe two dragmes, Agarick one dragme and half, sweet Fennel Seed three dragms, Cara∣way two dragmes, the Flowers of Vio∣lets six Pugils, tops of Borage two handfuls, Russetins in Number two Decorticated, Prunes and Currans, of each three ounces: boyl them and infuse them in a sufficient quantity of water; take of the Colature seven ounces, divide it into two parts: in the first dissolve Syr. Magist. add Melanch. one ounce, Juyce of Oranges three dragmes, the compound water of Balm

half a dragme: take it in the morning early: three dayes after, take the second part, to which add Diaphaenicon two dragmes, Syrup of Violets one ounce, Juyce of Oranges one spoonful: mingle them. But indeed these rather ought to be ranked in the Tribe of Potions, then De∣coctions.

A Decoction purging Melancholy.

Take Dropwort, Borage, of each one handful and half; Raisins stoned, Epithimus, Polipody, Indian Mirabo∣lens one dragme and half, Senna two dragmes: make a Decoction, and to the expression add Cassia one ounce, Confectio Hamech two dragmes, Syrup of Roses one ounce: mingle them and make it into a Haustus, and to be taken in the morning; ordering the Body as the accustomed manner is in all Purga∣tions.

A Decoction against the Dropsy.

Take Lignum Sanctum one pound and half, China root one ounce, Foun∣tain water sixteen pints, white-Wine

two pints; to which add the roots of Asparagrass, Fennel, Smallidg, Grass, Parsly, Butchers Broom, Madder, and Orris Roots, of each two ounces; the Roots of Asarabacca, the Bark of the Roots of Tormentil, Tamaris and Ca∣pers, of each one ounce; Egrimony, both Succories, Ceterach, or spleen∣wort, and Maiden-hair, of each one handful; Soldanella one handful and half, the seed of Annis, Bishop-weed, of each three dragmes; Melon-seed bruised one ounce, 20 Raisins stoned, Choice Cinamon three dragmes, red Cicers two Pugills: make a Decoction of these, ••••ill one part thereof be con∣sumed; then strain it, and to the Co∣lature add yellow Sanders, Cinamon and Orris root, of each one ounce: fiat Decoctio.

A Decoction against Droptical Humors.

Take Lignum Guaiacum half a pound, the Leaves of Borage, Bugloss, Camo∣mile, Hyssop, Sage, Parsly, of each one handful and half, Egrimony two hand∣fuls, the Roots of Fennel, and Parsly,

the Pith from within being taken a∣way, of each two; Orris root two ounc. Liquerish four ounces, Polipody of the Oake three ounces, sweet Fennel seed four ounces, Bay-berryes two ounces, Cinamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, Mace, of each two dragmes: let the roots, the species, and the seeds be bruised, and put into an earthen Pipkin, with thir∣teen pints of Water, and four pints of white Wine; covering it close, putting it into a Kettle with water, that it may stand in a Bath, with a good fire under it, for the space of twenty four hours: afterwards make an Expression, and take of the Colature, Mornings, Noons, and Nights.

A Decoction provoking Urine.

Take of the Bark or rind of the Roots of Fennel, Parsly, Butcher∣broom, of each two ounces; Ciperus half an ounce, the Seeds of Bishop-weed, Coriander, Parsly, Mastick, Car∣ret, Annis, Cardamoms, Cummin, of each one dragme: boyl them, and add unto the Colature as much Sugar as will suffice to sweeten it.

A Decoction against the Inflammation and Opilation of the Liver.

Take of Borage, Bugloss, Violets, Egrimony, Endive, Succory, Fumatory, of each one handful; the roots of Par∣sly and Fennel, of each one ounce; Rai∣sins stoned four ounces, Dates one ounce, Mace three dragmes, Cinamon half an ounce, Aniseed two dragmes, Fountain-Water, and white-Wine, of each three pints; Sugar one pound, Liquerish one ounce: mingle them, and boyl them, till half be consumed: then strain it; and of the Colature after it is setled, take before meals three ounces, for ten days together.

A Decoction against such Diseases as pro∣ceed from humidity.

Take Lignum Guaiacum six ounces, the Bark of the same two ounces, Sarsape∣rilla two ounces and half, Chiny Root one ounce, sowre Dock-root one ounce, Rhabarbe one dragme, Turbith half an ounce, Agarick half an ounce, Poly∣pody, Liquerish, of each four ounces:

the Pith of the Seeds of Meadow-Saf∣fron half an ounce, the Bark of Capers-root one ounce, the five opening roots, of each half an ounce; Sage three hand∣fuls, Romane Wormwood one handful and an half, Anniseed two ounces, Hony one pound, Cinamon six ounces, white-Wine four pints, Fountain-water sixteen pints: Infuse them a whole night, and boyl them for a good space: afterwards strain them, and let the Colature be preserved in a vessel close∣ly covered: and take thereof every morning four ounces fasting, and be∣fore Dinner and Supper three ounces: and after that the Decoction is spent, boyl the ingredients over again, with the same quantity of Water as before; adding Wine two pints, and Hony of Roses two pound; of which take the same quantity as before: only this lat∣ter Decoction must be drunk for thirty dayes together; And every day for ten of the first, to sweat one hour: and if the Body be costive, in the taking of the aforesaid Decoction; then use this fol∣lowing mixture. Take of the afore∣said Decoction three ounces, Manna one ounce, Syrup of Roses one ounce,

Confectio Hamek two dragmes: min∣gle them into a Ha••stus.