The English Physitian, D, pp. 41-45
[p. 41]
DAISIES.
These are so wel known to almost every Child, that I
suppose it altogether needless to write any Description of
them. Take therfore the Vertues of them as followeth.
Vertues and Use.
The greater wild Daisie is a Wound Herb of good
respect, often used in those Drinks or Salvs that are for
Wounds, either inward or outwards. The Juyce or distilled
Water of these, or the smal Daisies, doth much temper the
heat of Choller, and refresheth the Liver and other inward
parts. A Decoction made of them and drunk, helpeth to
cure the Wounds made in the hollowness of the Breast: The
same also cureth al Ulcers and Pustles in the Mouth or
Tongue, or in the secret parts. The Leavs bruised and
applied to the Cods, or to any other parts that are
swollen and hot, doth resolve it and temper the Head: A
Decoction made hereof with Walwort and Agrimony and the
places fomented or bathed therwith warm, giveth great eas
to them that are troubled with the Palsy, Sciatica, or the
Gout. The same also disperseth and dissolveth the Knots
or Kernels that grow in the Flesh of a-
[p. 42]
ny part of the Body
and the Bruises and Hurts that come of Fals and Blows:
[EDGENOTE:] Wounds, inward & outward, Choller, Liver,
Breast, Ulcers, Swellings, Kernels, Bruises, Falls,
Ruptures, Burnings, Inflamations.
They are also used for Ruptures, and other inward Burnings
with very good success. An Oyntment made hereof doth
wonderfully help al Wounds that have Inflamations about
them, or by reason of moist humors having access unto
them, are kept long from healing and such are those for
the most part that happen in the Joynts of the Arms or
Legs. The Juyce of them dropped into the running Eyes of
any doth much help them.
The Herb is under the Sign Cancer, and under the
Dominion of Venus, and therfore excellent good for Wounds
in the Breast, and very fitting to be kept both in Oyls,
Oyntments, and Plaisters, as also in Syrup.
DANDELYON,
Vulgarly called,
PISS-A-BEDS.
Description.
This is wel known to have many long and deeply gashed
Leavs lying on the ground, round about the Head of the
Root; the ends of each Gash or Jag on both sides looking
downwards towards the Root, the middle rib being white
which broken yieldeth abundance of bitter Milk, but the
Root much more: from among the Leavs which alwaies abide
green, arise many slender, weak, naked Footstalks, every
one of them bearing at the top one large yellow Flower,
consisting of many rows of yellow Leavs, broad at the
points and nicked in with a deep spot of yellow in the
middle, which growing ripe, the green Husk wherin the
Flower stood turneth it self down to the Stalk, and the
Head of down becometh as round as a Ball, with long
reddish Seed underneath, bearing a part of the Down on the
Head of every one, which together is blown away with the
Wind, or may be at once blown away with ones Mouth. The
Root growth downwards exceeding deep, which being broken
off within the ground, wil notwithstanding shoot forth
again; and wil hardly be destroyed where it hath once
taken deep Root in the ground.
Place.
It groweth frequent in al Meadows and Pasture Grounds.
Time.
It Flowreth in one place or other almost all the yeer
long.
Vertues and Use.
It is of an opening and clensing quality, and therfore
very effectual for the Obstructions of the Liver, Gall,
and Spleen, and the Diseases that arise from them, as the
jaundice, & Hypocondriacal Passion: It wonderfully openeth
the Passages of the Urin both in yong and old. It
powerfully clenseth Aposthumes, and inward in the Uritory
passages, and by the drying and temperate quality doth
afterwards heal them; for which purpose the Decoction of
the Roots or Leavs in white Wine, or the Leavs chopped as
Potherbs with a few Allisanders and boyled in their Broth,
[EDGENOTE:] Openeth, Clenseth, Obstructions, Liver, Gall,
Spleen, Jaundice, Hypochodriacal Melancholly, Disury,
Consumption, Cachexia, Watching, Heat, Agu, Pestilence.
is very effectual. And whoso is drawing towards a
Consumption, or an il Disposition of the whol Body called
Cachexia by the use herof for some time together shal find
a wonderful help: It helpeth also to procure rest and
sleep to Bodies distempered by the Heat of Ague Fits, or
otherwise. The distilled Water is effectual to drink in
Pestilential Feavers, and to wash the Sores.
You see here what Vertues this common Herb hath, and
that's the reason you French and Dutch so often eat them
in the Spring; and now if you look a little further you
may see plainly wthout a pair of Spectakles, that Forraign
Physitians are not so selfish as ours are, but more
communicative of the Vertues of Plants to People.
DARNEL.
Description.
This hath all the Winter long, sundry long, fat, and
rough Leavs, which when the Stalk riseth which is slender
and joynted, are narrower, but rough stil; on the top
groweth a long spike composed of many Heads, set one above
another, containing two or three Husks with sharp, but
short Beards or awns at the ends; the Seed is easily
shaked out of the Ear, the Husk it self being somwhat
tough.
Place.
The Country Husbandmen do know this too well to grow
among their Corn: or in the Borders and Pathwaies of other
Fields that are fallow.
Vertues and Use.
As this is not without some Vices, so hath it also many
Vertues. The Meal of Darnel is very good to stay
Gangreans, and other such like fretting and eating
Cankers, and putrid Sores: It also clenseth the Skin of al
[EDGENOTE:] Gangreans, Cankers, Leprosie, Morphew,
Ringworms, Sciatica, Thorns, Splinters, broken Bones,
Diabets.
Lepries, Morphews, Ringworms, and the like, if it be used
with Salt and Rhadish Roots. And being used with quick
Brimstone and Vinegar it dissolveth Knots and Kernels and
breaketh those that are hard to be dissolved, being boyled
in Wine with Pidgeons Dung and Linseed: A Decoction
therof made with Water and Honey and the place bathed
therwith is profitable for the Sciatica. Darnel Meal
ap-
[p. 43]
plied in a Poltis, draweth forth Splinters and broken
Bones in the Flesh: The red Darnel boyled in red Wine and
taken stayeth the Lask and all other Fluxes, and Womens
bloody Issues; and restraineth Urin that passeth away too
suddenly.
DILL.
Description.
The common Dill groweth up with seldom more than one
Stalk, neither so high nor so great usually as Fennel,
being round and with fewer Joynts theron, whose Leavs are
sadder, and somwhat long, and so like Fennel that it
deceiveth many; but harder in handling and somwhat
thicker, and of a stronger unpleasanter set: The tops of
the Stalks have four Branches and smaller Umbels of yellow
Flowers, which turn into smal Seed somwhat flatter and
thinner than Fennel Seed. The Root is small and woody,
perishing every year after it hath born Seed; and is also
unprofitable, being never put to any use.
Place.
It is most usually sown in Gardens, and Grounds for the
purpose, & is also found wild with us in some places.
Vertues and Use.
The Dill being boyled and drunk is good to eas
Swellings & pains, it also stayeth the Belly, and Stomach
from casting: The Decoction thereof helpeth Women that
are troubled with the Pains and Windiness of the Mother,
if they fit therin. It stayeth the Hiccough, being boyled
in Wine and but smelled unto, being tied in a Cloth. The
Seed is of more use than the Leavs and more effectual to
[EDGENOTE:] Swellings, Pains, Loosness, Vomiting, Mother,
Hiccough, Raw and tough Humors, Wind, Apostums, Ulcers,
Terms provokes.
digest raw and viscuous humors, and is used in Medicines
that serve to expel Wind and the pains proceeding
therfrom. The Seed being toasted or fried and used in
Oyls or Plaisters, dissolveth the Imposthumes in the
Fundament, and drieth up all moist Ulcers (especially in
the secret parts.) The Oyl made of Dill is effectual to
warm, to resolve Humors and Imposthumes, to eas pains and
to procure rest.
The Decoction of Dill be it Herb or Seed (only if you
boyl the Seed you must bruis it) in white Wine, being
drunk is a gallant expeller of Wind and provoker of the
Terms.
DEVILS-BIT.
Description.
This riseth up with a round green, smooth Stalk about
two foot high set with divers long and somwhat narrow,
smooth, dark, green Leavs, somwhat snip'd about the edges
for the most part, being els al whol and not divided at al
or but very seldom, even to the tops of the Branches which
yet are smaller than those below, with one Rib only in the
middle: At the end of each Branch standeth a round Head
of many Flowers set together in the same manner or more
neatly than the Scabious, and of a more blewish purple
colour; which being past there followeth Seed that falleth
away. The Root is somehat thick, but short and blackish
with may Strings, abiding after Seed time many yeers.
This Root was longer untill the Devil (as the Fryars say)
bit away the rest of it for spight, envying its usefulness
unto Man-kind. For sure he was not troubled with any
Disease for which it is proper.
[EDGENOTE:] A Learned Tale that cost a dull Fryar seven
yeers study.
There are two other sorts hereof in nothing unlike the
former, save that the one beareth White and the other
Blush colour'd Flowers.
Place.
The first groweth as well in dry Meadows and Fields, as
moist, in many places of this Land: But the other two are
more rare, and hard to meet with, yet they are both found
growing wild about Appledore, neer Rye in Kent.
Time.
They Flower not usually untill August.
Vertues and Use.
The Herb or Root (all that the Devil hath left of it)
being boyled in Wine and drunk is very powerful against
the Plague, and all Pestilential Diseases or Feavers,
Poysons also, and the bitings of Venemous Beasts; It also
helpeth those that are inwardly bruised by any casualty,
[EDGENOTE:] Pestilence, Feaver, Poyson, Venemous Beasts,
Bruises, Falls, Clotted Blood, Swellings of the Throat,
Mother, Wind, Worms, Wounds, Scurff, Itch, Dandriff,
Pimples, Freckles, Morphew.
ar outwardly by Falls or Blows, dissolving the clotted
Blood: and the Herb or Root beaten and outwardly applied,
taketh away the black and blue Marks that remain in the
Skin. The Decoction of the Herb, with Honey of Roses put
therin is very effectual to help the inveterate tumors and
Swellings of the Almonds and Throat, by often gargling the
Mouth therwith. It helpeth also to procure Womens
Courses, and easeth all pains of the Mother, and to break
and discuss Winds therein and in the Bowels. The Pouder
of the Root taken in Drink, driveth forth the Worms in the
body: The Juyce, or distilled Water of the Herb is
effectual for green Wounds, or old Sores, and clenseth the
Body inwardly, and the Seed outwardly from Sores, Scurff,
Itches, Pimples, Freekles, Morphew, or other deformities
therof, but especially if a little Vitriol be dissolved
therin.
[p. 44]
DOCK.
These are so wel known many kinds of them, that I shall
not trouble you with a Description of them; my Book grows
big too fast.
Vertues and Use.
All of them have a kind of cooling(but not all alike)
drying quality the Sorrels being most cold, and the
Bloodworts most drying: Of the Bur-dock I have spoken
already by himself. The Seed of most of the other kinds
whether of the Garden or Field, do stay Lasks or Fluxes of
all sorts, the loathings of the Stomach through Choller,
and is helpful to those that spit Blood. The Roots boyled
in Vinegar helpeth the Itch, Scabs, and breakings out of
the Skin if it be bathed therwith. The Distilled Water of
the Herb and Roots hath the same Vertue, and clensth the
Skin of Freckles, Morphews, and all other Spots and
Discolourings therin.
[EDGENOTE:] Flux, Loathing of Meat, Spitting Blood, Scabs,
Itch, Freckles, Morphew.
All Docks being boyled with Meat, make it boyled the
sooner: Besides Bloodwort is exceeding strengthning to
the Liver, and procures good Blood, being as wholsom a Pot
Herb as any grows in a Garden, yet such is the nicity of
our times forsooth, that Women will not put it in the Pot
becaus it makes the Pottage black, Pride and Ignorance (a
couple of Monsters in the Creation) preferring Nicity
before Health.
DODDER OF TIME, or EPITHIMUM, and other
DODDERS.
Description.
This first from seeds giveth Roots in the ground, which
shooteth forth threads or Strings, grosser or finer, as
the property of the Plant wherein it groweth, and the
climate doth suffer, creeping and spreading on that Plant
wheron it fastneth, be it high or low. These Strings have
no Leavs at all upon them but wind and interlace
themselves so thick upon a smal Plant that it taketh away
all comfort of the Sun from it, and is ready to choke or
strangle it: After these Strings are risen up to that
Height that they may draw Nourishment from the Plant, they
seem to be broken off from the ground, either by the
strength of ther rising, or withered by the heat of the
Sun. Upon these Strings are found clusters of small Heads
or Husks, out of which start forth whitish Flowers, which
afterwads give smal pale colour'd Seed somwhat flat, and
twice as big as Poppy Seed. It generally participates of
the Nature of that Plant which it climbeth upon, but the
Dodder of Time is accounted the best, and is the only true
Epithimum.
Vertues and Use.
This is accounted the most effectual for Melanchollick
Diseases, and to purge black or burnt Choller, which is
the caus of many Diseases of the Head and Brains, as also
for the trembling of the Heart, faintings, and swounings.
It is helpful in all Diseases and Griefs of the Spleen,
and of that Melancholly that ariseth from the windiness of
the Hypochondria. It purgeth also the Reins or Kidneys by
Urin. It openeth Obstructions of the Gall, wherby it
profiteth them that have the Jaundice; as also of the
Liver, and Spleen; purging the Veins of Chollerick and
Flegmatick Humors, and helpeth Childrens Agues, a little
Wormfeed being put therto.
The other Dodders do (as I said before) participate of
the Nature of those Plants whereon they grow: As that
which hath been found growing upon Nettles in the West
Country, hath by experience been found very effectual to
procure plenty of Urin where it hath been stopped or
hindred. And so of the rest.
[EDGENOTE:] Melancholy, Addust Choller, Trembling,
fainting, swooning, Spleen, Hypochondria, Obstructions,
Gall, Jaundice, Liver, Disury.
All Dodders are under Saturn. Tell not me of
Physitians crying up Epithimum, or that Dodder which grows
upon Time (most of which comes from Hymettus in Greece, or
Hybla in Sicilia, becaus those Mountains abound with Time)
he is a Physitian indeed that hath wit enough to chuse his
Dodder according to Nature of the Diseas and Humor
peccant, we confess, Time is the hottest Herb it usually
grows upon, and therfore that which grows upon Time is
hotter than that which grows upon colder Herbs, for it
draws Nourishment from what it grows upon as well as from
the Earth where its Root is and thus you see old Saturn is
wise enough to have two Strings to his Bow.
Sympathy and Antipathy, are the two Hinges upon which
the whol Moddel of Physick turns, and that Physitian which
minds them not is like a Door off from the Hooks, more
likely to do a man a mischief than to secure him: then
all the Diseases Saturn causeth, this helps by Sympathy, &
strengthens al the parts of the Body he rules, such as
caused by Sol it helps by Antipathy, what those Diseases
are see my Judgment of Diseases by Astrology, and you be
pleased to look the Herb Wormwood, you shal find a
Rational way for it.
[p. 45]
DOGS-GRASS or QUICH-GRASS.
Description.
It is well known that this Grass creepeth far about
under ground with long white joynted Roots, and smal
fibres almost at every Joynt very sweet in tast, as the
rest of the Herb is, and interlacing one another, from
whence shoot forth many fair long grassy Leavs small at
the ends and cutting or sharp on the edges. The Stalks
are joynted like Corn with the like Leavs on them, and a
long spiked Head with long Husks on them and hard rough
Seed in them.
Place.
It groweth commonly through this Land in divers plowed
grounds, to the no smal trouble of the Husbandman, as also
of the Gardiners in Gardens to weed it out if they can,
for it is a constant Customer to the place it gets footing
in.
Vertues and Use.
This is the most Medicinable of all the Quich-grasses:
Being boyled and drunk it openeth Obstructions of the
Liver and Gall, and the stoppings of the Urin, and easeth
the griping pains of the Belly, and Inflamations; wasteth
the matter of the Stone in the Bladder, and the Ulcers
thereof also: The Roots brused and applied doth
consolidate Wounds: The Seed doth more powerfully expel
Urin, and stayeth the Lask, and Vomitings; The distilled
Water alone, or with a little Wormfeed killeth the Worms
in Children.
[EDGENOTE:] Liver, Gall, Disury, Griping, Inflamations,
Ulcers, in the Bladder, Wounds, Vomiting, Worms, Stopping.
The way of use is to bruis the Roots, and having well
boyled them in white Wine, drink the Decoction; 'tis
opening, but not purging very safe; 'tis a Remedy against
all Diseases coming of Stopping and such are half those
which are incident to the Body of man; and although a
Gardiner be of another opinion, yet a physitian holds half
an Acre of them to be worth five Acres of Carrots twice
told over.
DOVESFOOT, or CRANES-BILL.
Description.
This hath divers small, round, pale, green Leavs, cut
in about the edges, much like Mallows, standing upon long
reddish hairy Stalks lying in a round compass upon the
ground; among which rise up two or three, or more reddish
Joynted, slender, weak, and hairy Stalks, with some such
like Leavs thereon, but smaller, and more cut in up to the
tops, where grow many very smal, bright, red Flowers of
five Leavs apiece after which follow smal Heads, with smal
short beaks pointing forth, as all other sorts of these
Herbs do.
Place.
It groweth in Pasture Grounds, and by the Path sides in
many places and wil also be in Gardens.
Time.
It Flowreth in June, July, and August, some earlier,
and some later and the Seed is ripe quickly after.
Vertues and Use.
It is found by experience to be singular good for the
Wind Chollick, and pains thereof, as also to expel the
Stone and Gravel in the Kidnies. The Decoction thereof in
Wine is an exceeding good Wound Drink for those that have
inward Wounds, Hurts, or Bruises, both to stay the
[EDGENOTE:] Chollick, Stone, Gravel, Wounds, Congealed
Blood, Sores, Ulcers, Fistulaes, Gout, Sinews, Ruptures.
bleeding to dissolve and expel the congealed Blood, and to
heal the parts, as also to clens, and heal outward Sores,
Ulcers, and Fistulaes; and for green Wounds many do but
bruise the Herb, and apply it to the place, and it healeth
them quickly. The same Decoction in Wine fomented to any
place pained with the Gout, or to Joynt-aches, or pain, of
the Sinews giveth much eas. The Pouder, or Decoction of
the Herb taken for some time together is found by
experience to be singular good for Ruptures, and Burstings
in People, either yong or old.
DUCKSMEAT.
This is so well known to swim on the top of standing
Waters, as Ponds, Pools, and Ditches, that it is needless
further to describe it.
Vertues and Use.
It is effectual to help Inflamations and St. Anthonies
fire, as also the Gout, either applied by it self, or in a
Pultis with Barley Meal. The distilled Water herof is by
some highly esteemed, against all inward Inflamations, and
Pestilent Feavers; as also to help the redness of the
Eyes, the Swellings of the Cods, and of the Breasts before
they be grown too much. The fresh Herb applied to the
Forehead, easeth the Pains of the Head-ach coming of heat.
[EDGENOTE:] Inflamations, St. Anthonies Fire, Pestilence,
Eyes, Swillings of the Cods, Headach.
Cancer claims the Herb, and the Moon wil be Lady of it,
a word is enough to a Wise man.
[p. 46]
DOWN, or COTTON-THISTLE.
Description.
This hath many large Leavs lying on the ground, somwhat
cut in, and as it were crumpled on the edges, of a green
colour on the upper side, but covered over with a long
hairy Wool, or Cottony Down, set with most sharp, and
cruel pricks; from the middle of whose Heads of Flowers,
thrust forth many Purplish, Crimson Treds, and somtimes
(although more seldom) white ones. The Seed that
followeth in these Heads, lying in a great deal of fine
white Down is somwhat large, long, and round, like the
Seed of Ladies Thistle, but somwhat paler. The Root is
great and thick spreading much, yet it usually dieth after
Seed time.
Place.
It groweth on divers Ditches Banks, and in the
Corn-fields, and High-waies generally every where
throughout the Land.
Time.
It Flowreth and beareth Seed about the end of Summer,
when other Thistles do Flower and Seed.
Vertues and Use.
Pliny and Dioscorides write That the Leavs & Roots
hereof taken in Drink, helpeth those that have a Crick in
their Neck, wherby they cannot turn their Neck but their
whol Body must turn also (Sure they do not mean those that
have got a Crick in their Neck by being under the Hangmans
Hands.) Galen saith that the Root and Leavs hereof are of
an heating quality, and good for such Persons as have
their Bodies drawn together by some Spasme or Convulsion;
as it is with Children that have the Rickets, or rather
(as the Colledg of Physitians will have it) the Rachites,
for which name for the Disease, they have (in a particular
Treatise lately set forth by them) Learnedly Disputed, and
put forth to the publick view, that the World may see,
they took much pains to little purpose.
[EDGENOTE:] Wry Neck, Spasmus, Convulsion, Rickets.
Mars owns the Plant, and manifests to the World, that
though it may hurt your Fingers it will help your Body,
for I fancy it much for the Premises.
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