The Complete Herbal: To which is now added, upwards of one hundred additional herbs, with a display of their medicinal and occult qualities physically applied to the cure of all disorders incident to mankind: to which are now first annexed, the English physician enlarged, and key to Physic.Culpeper, Nicholas
History
The Complete Herbal: To which is now added, upwards of one hundred additional herbs, with a display of their medicinal and occult qualities physically applied to the cure of all disorders incident to mankind: to which are now first annexed, the English physician enlarged, and key to Physic.
Culpeper, Nicholas
Botany, Medical; Botany, Medical -- England; Herbs -- Therapeutic use; Materia medica, Vegetable; Medicinal plants; Medicinal plants -- England
_Government and virtues._] Stinking Arrach is used as a remedy to
women pained, and almost strangled with the mother, by smelling to
it; but inwardly taken there is no better remedy under the moon for
that disease. I would be large in commendation of this herb, were I
but eloquent. It is an herb under the dominion of Venus, and under the
sign Scorpio; it is common almost upon every dunghill. The works of
God are freely given to man, his medicines are common and cheap, and
easily to be found. I commend it for an universal medicine for the
womb, and such a medicine as will easily, safely, and speedily cure any
disease thereof, as the fits of the mother, dislocation, or falling out
thereof; cools the womb being over-heated. And let me tell you this,
and I will tell you the truth, heat of the womb is one of the greatest
causes of hard labour in child-birth. It makes barren women fruitful.
It cleanseth the womb if it be foul, and strengthens it exceedingly;
it provokes the terms if they be stopped, and stops them if they flow
immoderately; you can desire no good to your womb, but this herb will
affect it; therefore if you love children, if you love health, if you
love ease, keep a syrup always by you, made of the juice of this herb,
and sugar (or honey, if it be to cleanse the womb), and let such as be
rich keep it for their poor neighbours; and bestow it as freely as I
bestow my studies upon them, or else let them look to answer it another
day, when the Lord shall come to make inquisition for blood.
ARCHANGEL.
TO put a gloss upon their practice, the physicians call a herb (which
country people vulgarly know by the name of Dead Nettle) Archangel;
whether they favour more of superstition or folly, I leave to the
judicious reader. There is more curiosity than courtesy to my
countrymen used by others in the explanation as well of the names, as
discription of this so well known herb; which that I may not also be
guilty of, take this short discription: first, of the Red Archangel.
This is likewise called Bee Nettle.
_Descript._] This has divers square stalks, somewhat hairy, at the
joints whereof grow two sad green leaves dented about the edges,
opposite to one another to the lowermost, upon long foot stalks, but
without any toward the tops, which are somewhat round, yet pointed, and
a little crumpled and hairy; round about the upper joints, where the
leaves grow thick, are sundry gaping flowers of a pale reddish colour;
after which come the seeds three or four in a husk. The root is small
and thready, perishing every year; the whole plant hath a strong smell
but not stinking.
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