The English Physitian, N-O, pp. 89-92
[p. 89]
NEP, or CATMINT.
Description.
The common garden Nep shooteth forth hard four square
Stalks with a hoariness on them, a yard high or more, full
of Branches, bearing at every Joynt two broad Leavs,
somwhat like Balm but longer pointed, softer, whiter, and
more hoary, nicked about the edges, and of a strong sweet
scent. The Flowers grow in large tufts at the tops of the
branches, and underneath them likewise on the Stalks many
together, of a whitish Purple colour. The Roots are
composed of many long strings or Fibres, fastning
themselves strongly in the ground, and abide with green
Leavs thereon all the Winter.
Place.
It is only nursed up in our Gardens.
Time.
And it flowreth in July or thereabouts.
Vertues and Use.
Nep is generally used for Women to procure their
Courses, being taken inwardly or outwardly, either alone
or with other convenient Herbs in a decoction to bath
them, or sit over the hot fumes therof, and by the
frequent use thereof it taketh away barrenness, and the
[EDGENOTE:] Terms provokes, Barrenness Womb, Wind, Mother,
Cough, Rhewms, Vertigo, Cramp, Cold ach, Difficulty of
breath, Bruises, Hemorrhoids, Scabby Heads.
wind and pains of the Mother. It is also used in pains of
the Head coming of any cold caus, as Catarrh's, Rhewms,
and for swimming and giddiness thereof, and is of especial
use for the windiness of the Stomach and Belly. It is
effectual for any Cramps or cold aches to dissolve the
cold and wind that afflicteth the place, and is used for
Colds, Coughs, and shortness of breath. The Juyce thereof
drunk in Wine is profitable for those that are bruised by
any accident. The green Herb bruised and applied to the
Fundament, and lying there two or three hours, easeth the
pains of the Piles. The Juyce also being made up into an
Oyntment, is effectual for the same purpose: The head
washed with a Decoction thereof, it taketh away Scabs; and
may be effectual for other parts of the Body also.
It is an Herb of Venus.
NETTLES.
These are so well known that they need no Description
at all, they may be found by the feeling in the darkest
night.
Vertues and Use.
The Roots or Leavs boyled or the Juyce of either of
them, or both, made into an Electuary with Honey or Sugar,
is a safe and sure Medicine to open the Pipes and passages
of the Lungs, which is the caus of wheesing and shortness
of breath, and helpeth to expectorate tough Flegm, as also
to raise the impostumated Pleuresie, and spend it by
spitting; The same helpeth the swelling of the Almonds of
the Throat, the Mouth and Throat being gargled therewith:
The Juyce is also effectual to settle the Pallate of the
Mouth in its place, and to heal and temper the
Inflamations and soreness of the Mouth and Throat. The
Decoction of the Leavs in Wine being drunk is singular
good to provoke Womens Courses, and settle the suffocation
or strangling of the Mother, and all other Diseases
thereof, as also applied outwardly with a little Mirrh.
The same also, or the Seed provoketh Urine, and expelleth
the Gravel and Stone in the Reins or Bladder often proved
to be effectual in many that have taken it. The same
killeth the Worms in Children, easeth pains in the sides,
and dissolveth the windiness in the Spleen, as also in the
Body, although others think it only powerful to provoke
Venery. The Juyce of the Leavs taken two or three daies
together, staieth bleeding at the Mouth: The Seed being
drunk is a Remedy against the stinging of Venemous
Creatures, the biting of Mad Dogs, The poysonful qualities
of Hemlock, Henbane, Nightshade, Mandrake, or other such
like Herbs that stupifie or dull the senses, as also the
Lethargy, especially to use it outwardly to rub the
Forehead and Temples in the Lethargy, and the places
bitten or stung with Beasts, with a little Salt. The
distilled water of the Herb is also effectual (although
not so powerful) for the Diseases aforesaid, as for
outward Wounds and Sores to wash them, and to clens the
Skin from Morphew, Lepry, and other discolourings thereof:
[EDGENOTE:] Lungs, Wheezing, Shortness of breath,
Pleuresie, Almonds of the Ears, Ears, Throat, Mouth,
Uvula, Terms provokes, Mother, Disury, Gravel, Worms,
Spleen, Bleeding, Venemous Beasts, Mad Dogs, Hemlock,
Henbane, Night-shade, Mandrakes, Lethargy, Morphew,
Leprosie, Bleeding, Polipus, Ulcers, Fistulaes, Gangrenes,
Scabs, Itch, Wounds, Weariness, Disjunctures, Gout,
Sciatica, Joynts.
The Seed or Leaves bruised and put into the Nostrils,
staieth the bleeding of them, and taketh away the Flesh
growing in them called Polipus. The Juyce of the Leavs,
or the Decoction of them, or of the Roots, is singular
good to wash either old rotten and stinking sores, or
Fistulaes and Gangrenes, and such as are fretting, eating,
or corroding Scabs, Mainginess and Itch in any part of the
Body, as also green Wounds by washing them therwith, or
applying the green Herb bruised thereunto, yea although
the Flesh were seperated from the Bones. The same applied
to our wearied Members refresheth them, or to places that
have been out of Joynt being first set again,
strengthneth, drieth and comforteth them, as also those
places troubled with Aches and Gouts, and the Defluxion of
Humors upon the Joynts or Sinews, it easeth the pains, and
drieth or dissolveth the
[p. 90]
Defluxions. An Oyntment made of
the Juyce, Oyl, and a little Wax, is singular good to rub
cold and benummed Members. An handful of the Leavs of
green Nettles, and another of Wallwort, or Danewort,
bruised and applied simply of themselves to the Gout,
Sciatica, or Joynt aches in any part hath been found to be
an admirable help thereunto.
This also is an Herb Mars claims Dominion over, you
know Mars is hot and dry, and you know as well that Winter
is cold and moist; then you may know as well the reason
why Nettle tops eaten in Spring consume the Flegmatic
superfluities in the Body of man, that the coldness and
moisture of Winter, hath left behind.
NIGHTSHADE.
Description.
Common Nightshade hath an upright, round, green, hollow
stalk, about a Foot or half a yard high, bushing forth
into many Branches, whereon grow many green Leavs, somwhat
broad and pointed at the ends, soft and full of Juyce,
somwhat like unto Bazil, but larger, and a little unevenly
dented about the edges at the tops of the Stalks and
Branches, come forth three or four or more white Flowers
made of five smal pointed Leavs apiece, standing on a
Stalk together, one above another with yellow pointels in
the middle, composed of four or five yellow threds set
together which aftewards turn into so many pendulous green
Berries of the bigness of smal Pease, full of green Juyce,
and smal whitish round flat Seed lying within it. The
Root is white and a little woody when it hath given Flower
and Fruit with many smal Fibres at it; The whol Plant is
of a waterish insipide tast, but the Juyce within the
Berries is somwhat viscuous, and of a cooling and binding
quality.
Place.
It groweth wild with us, under old Walls, and in
Rubbish, the common paths, and sides of Hedges and Fields,
as also in our Gardens here in England without any
planting.
Time.
It dieth down every yeer, and ariseth again of its own
sowing, but springeth not until the latter end of April at
the soonest.
Vertues and Use.
This Common Nighshade is wholly used to cool all hot
Inflamations either inwardly or outwardly, being no way
dangerous to any that shall use it, as most of the rest of
the Nightshades are; yet it must be used moderately: The
[EDGENOTE:] Inflamations, Eyes, Shingles, Ringworms, Terms
stops, Testicles, Gouts, Ears.
distilled water only of the whol Herb is fittest and
safest to be taken inwardly. The Juyce also clarified and
taken being mingled with a little Vinegar, is good to wash
the Mouth and Throat that is inflamed: But outwardly the
Juyce of the Herb or Berries with Oyl of Roses, and a
little Vinegar and Ceruss labored together in a leaden
Morter, is very good to anoint all hot Inflamations in the
Eyes; It doth also much good for the Shingles, Ringworms,
and in all running fretting, and corroding Ulcers, and in
moist Fistulaes, if the Juyce be made up with some Hens
dung and applied thereto: A Pessary dipp'd in the Juyce,
and put up into the Matrix stayeth the immoderate Flux of
Womens Courses: A Cloth wet therein and applied to the
Testicles or Cods, upon any Swelling therein giveth much
eas, as also to the Gout that cometh of hot and sharp
Humors. The Juyce dropped into the Ears, easeth pains
therin that arise of heat or Inflamation. And Pliny
saith, it is good for hot Swellings under the Throat.
Have a care you mistake not the deadly Nightshade for
this; if you know it not, you may let them both alone and
take no harm, having other Medicines sufficient in the
Book.
THE OAK.
This is so well known (the timber therof being the
Glory and Safety of this Nation by Sea) that it needeth no
Description.
Vertues and Use.
The Leavs and Bark of the Oak, and the Acorn Cups, do
bind and dry very much: The inner Bark of the Tree, and
the thin Skin that covereth the Acorn, are most used to
stay the spitting of Blood, and the Bloody Flux: The
Decoction of that Bark and the Pouder of the Cups, to stay
Vomitings, spitting of blood, bleeding at Mouth or other
Flux of Blood in man or woman, Lasks also, and the
involuntary Flux of Natural Seed. The Acorns in Pouder
taken in Wine, provoketh Urine, and resisteth the Poyson
of Venemous Creatures. The Decoction of Acorns and the
Bark made in Milk and taken resisteth the force of
Poysonous Herbs and Medicines, as also the Virulency of
Cantharides, when one by eating them, hath his Bladder
exulcerated, and pisseth Blood.
[EDGENOTE:] Dry, Bind, Spitting Blood, Bloody Flux
Vomiting, Venerious Acts, Disury, Poyson, Venemous Beasts,
Cantarides, Ulcers of the Bladder, Mother, Wounds,
Inflamation, Flux, Pestilences, Epidemical Diseases,
Liver, Stone, Terms stops, Scabs.
Hippocrates saith, he used the fumes of Oak Leavs to
Women that were troubled with the strangling of the
Mother; and Galen applied them being bruised to cure green
Wounds. The Distilled water of the Oaken Buds before they
break out into Leavs, is good to be used
[p. 91]
either inward, or
outwardly, to asswage Inflamations and stop all manner of
Fluxes in man or woman: The same is singular good in
Pestilential and hot burning Feavers, for it resisteth the
force of the infection, and allayeth the heat; it cooleth
the heat of the Liver, breaketh the Stone in the Kidneys,
and staieth womens Courses: The Decoction of the Leavs
worketh the same effects. The water that is found in the
hollow places of old Oaks, is very effectual against any
foul or spreading Scab.
The Distilled Water (or Decoction which is better) of
the Leavs is one of the best Remedies that I know for the
Whites in Women.
Jupiter owns the Tree.
OATS.
These are also so well known that they need no
Description.
Vertues and Use.
Oats fryed with Bay-Salt, and applied to the sides,
takes away the pains of Stitches and Wind in the sides or
Belly: A Pultis made of the Meal of Oats, and some Oyl of
[EDGENOTE:] Stitch, wind, Itch, Leprosie, Fistulaes,
Apostums, Freckles.
Bays put thereto, helpeth the Itch, and the Leprosie, as
also the Fistulaes of the Fundament, and dissolveth hard
Impostuhmes. The Meal of Oats boyled with Vinegar and
applied, taketh away Freckles and Spots in the face, or
other parts of the Body.
ONE-BLADE.
Description.
This smal Plant never beareth more than one Leaf, but
only when it riseth up with his Stalk, which thereon
beareth another, and seldom more, which are of a blewish
green colour, pointed, with many Ribs or Veins therein,
like Plantane: At the top of the Stalk, grow many smal
white Flowers, Star-fashion, smelling somwhat sweet; after
which come smal reddish Berries when they are ripe. The
Root is small of the bigness of a Rush, lying and creeping
under the upper crust of the Earth, shooting forth in
diverse places.
Place.
It groweth in moist, shadowy, and grassy places of
Woods, in many places of this Land.
Time.
It Flowreth about May, and the Berries be ripe in June,
and then quickly perisheth until the next yeer, it
springeth from the same Root again.
Vertues and Use.
Half a Dram, or a Dram at most in Pouder of the Roots
hereof taken in Wine and Vinegar, of each equal parts, and
the party laid presently to sweat thereupon, is held to be
[EDGENOTE:] Pestilence, Poyson, Epidemical Diseases,
Wounds, Sinews cut.
a Soveraign Remedy for those that are infected with the
Plague, and have a Sore upon them, by expelling the poyson
and infection, and defending the Heart and Spirits from
danger. It is a singular good Wound Herb, and is therupon
used with other the like effects in making Compound Balms
for the curing of Wounds, be they fresh and green or old
and Malignant, and especially if the Sinews be hurt.
ONIONS.
These are so well known that I need not spend time
about writing a Description of them.
Vertues and Vices.
Onions are Flatulent or Windy, yet they do somwhat
provoke appetite, encreas thirst, eas the Belly and
Bowels; provoke Womens Courses, help the biting of a mad
Dog, and of other Venemous Creatures, to be used with
Honey and Rue, and encreaseth Sperm, especially the Seed
of them: They also kill the Worms in Children if they
drink the Water fasting wherein they have been steeped all
night. Being roasted under the Embers and eaten with
Honey, or Sugar and Oyl they much conduce to help an
inveterate Cough and expectorate the tough Flegm. The
Juyce being snuffed up into the Nostrils, purgeth the Head
and helpeth the Lethargy (yet the often eating of them is
said to procure pains in the Head) It hath been held with
divers Country people a good preservative against
Infection to eat Onions fasting with Bread and Salt: as
also to make a great Onion hollow, filling the place with
good Triacle, and after to roast it well under the Embers,
which after taking away of the outermost skin thereof,
being beaten together, is a Soveraign Salve for either
Plague-Sore, or any other putrid Ulcer. The Juyce of
Onions is good for either scalding, or burning by fire,
water, or Gunpouder, and used with Vinegar, taketh away
all Blemishes, Spots, and Marks in the Skin, and dropped
into the Ears, easeth the pains and nois of them. Applied
also with Figs beaten together, helpeth to ripen and break
Impostumes and other Sores.
[EDGENOTE:] Mad Dogs, Worms, Cough, Lethargy, Epidemical
Diseases.
Leeks are like them in quality as a Pomewater is like
an Apple: They are a Remedy against a Surfeit of Mushroms,
being baked
[p. 92]
under the Embers and taken and being boyled
and applied warm helpeth the Piles; In other things they
have the same property as the Onions, although not so
effectual.
Mars owns them, and they have gotten this quality, to
draw any corruption to them, for if you pill one and lay
him upon a Dunghill, you shall find him rotten in half a
day, by drawing putrifaction to it, then being bruised and
applied to a Plague-Sore 'tis very probable 'twill do the
like.
ORPINE.
Description.
Common Orpine riseth up with diverse round brittle
Stalks, thick set with fat and fleshy Leavs without any
order, and little or nothing dented about the edges, of a
pale green colour; The Flowers are white or whitish
growing in tufts, after which come small chaffy Husks,
with Seed like dust in them. The Roots are diverse thick,
round white tuberous clogs; and the Plant groweth not to
big in some places as in others where it is found.
Place.
It is frequent almost in every Country of this Land,
and is cherished in Gardens with us, where it groweth
greater than that which is wild, and groweth in the
shadowy sides of Fields and Woods.
Time.
It Flowreth about July and the Seed is ripe in August.
Vertues and Use.
Orpine is seldom used in inward Medicines with us,
although Tragus saith from experience in Germany that the
distilled water thereof is profitable for gnawings or
excoriations in the Stomach or Bowels, and for Ulcers in
the Lungs, Liver, or other inward parts, as also in the
Matrix, and helpeth all those Diseases, being drunk for
certain daies together: And that is stayeth the sharpness
of Humors in the Bloody Flux, and other Fluxes in the
[EDGENOTE:] Excoriation of Bowels, Phtisick, Womb, Bloody
Flux, Wounds, Inflamation, Scalding, Burnings, Quinsie,
Ruptures.
Body, or in Wounds: The Root thereof also performeth the
same effect. It is used outwardly to cool any heat or
Inflamation upon any Hurt or Wound, and easeth the pains
of them: as also to heal Scaldings or Burnings: The Juyce
thereof beaten with some green Sallet Oyl, and anointed:
The Leaf also bruised and laid to any green Wound in the
Hands or Legs, doth heal them quickly; and being bound to
the Throat, much helpeth the Quinsie. It helpeth also
Ruptures and Burstiness.
If you pleas to make the Juyce into a Syrup with Honey
or Sugar, you may safely take a spoonful or two at a time
(let my Author say what he will) for a Quinsie, and you
shall find the Medicine more pleasant, and the Cure more
speedy, than if you took a Dogs-turd which is the Learned
Colledges vulgar Cure.
The Moon owns the Herb, and he that knows but her
Exaltation, knows what I say is true.
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