BARKS.
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Culpeper, Nicholas
A Pil Rad. Of the roots of Smallage. Take notice here, that the Barks both of this root, as also of Parsley, Fennel, &c. is all of the root which is in use, neither can it properly be called bark, for it is all the root, the hard pith in the middle excepted, which is always thrown away, when the roots are used. It is something hotter and drier than Parsley, and more medicinal; it opens stoppings, provokes urine, helps digestion, expels wind, and warms a cold stomach: use them like grass roots.
Avellanarum. Of Hazel. The rind of the tree provokes urine, breaks the stone; the husks and shells of the nuts, dried and given in powder, stay the immoderate flux of the menses.
Aurantiorum. Of Oranges. Both these, and also Lemons and Citrons, are of different qualities: the outward bark, viz. what looks red, is hot and dry, the white is cold and moist, the juice colder than it, the seeds hot and dry; the outward bark is that which here I am to speak to, it is somewhat hotter than either that of Lemons or Citrons, therefore it warms a cold stomach more, and expels wind better, but strengthens not the heart so much.
Berber, &c. Barberries. The Rind of the tree according to Clœsius, being steeped in wine, and the wine drank, purges choler, and is a singular remedy for the yellow jaundice. Boil it in white wine and drink it. See the directions at the beginning.
Cassia Lignea, &c. It is something more oily than Cinnamon, yet the virtues being not much different, I refer you thither.
Capparis Rad. Of Caper roots. See the roots.
Castanearum. Of Chesnuts. The bark of the Chesnut tree is dry and binding, and stops fluxes.
Cinnamonum. Cinnamon, and Cassia Lignea, are hot and dry in the second degree, strengthens the stomach, help digestion, cause a sweet breath, resist poison, provoke urine, and the menses, cause speedy delivery in women to travail, help coughs and defluxions of humours upon the lungs, dropsy, and difficulty of urine. In ointments it takes away red pimples, and the like deformities from the face. There is scarce a better remedy for women in labour, than a dram of Cinnamon newly beaten into powder, and taken in white wine.
Citrij. Of Pome Citrons. The outward pill, which I suppose is that which is meant here: It strengthens the heart, resists poison, amends a stinking breath, helps digestion, comforts a cold stomach.
Ebuli Rad. Of the roots of Dwarf-Elder, or Walwort. See the herbs.
Enulæ. Of Elecampane. See the roots.
Esulæ Rad. See the roots.
Fabarum. Of Beans. Bean Cods (or Pods, as we in Sussex call them) being bruised, the ashes are a sovereign remedy for aches in the joints, old bruises, gouts, and sciaticas.
Fœniculi Rad. Of Fennel roots. See the roots, and remember the observation given in Smallage at the beginning of the barks.
Fraxini Rad. Of the bark of Ash-tree roots. The bark of the tree, helps the rickets, is moderately hot and dry, stays vomiting; being burnt, the ashes made into an ointment, helps leprosy and other deformity of the skin, eases pains of the spleen. You may lay the bark to steep in white wine for the rickets, and when it hath stood so for two or three days, let the diseased child drink now and then a spoonful of it.
Granatorum. Of Pomegranates. The rind cools, and forcibly binds, stays fluxes, and the menses, helps digestion, strengthens weak stomachs, fastens the teeth, and are good for such whose gums waste. You may take a dram of it at a time inwardly. Pomegranate flowers are of the same virtue.
Gatrujaci. See the wood.
Juglandium Virid. Of green Walnuts. As for the outward green bark of Walnuts, I suppose the best time to take them is before the Walnuts be shelled at all, and then you may take nuts and all (if they may properly be called nuts at such a time) you shall find them exceeding comfortable to the stomach, they resist poison, and are a most excellent preservative against the plague, inferior to none: they are admirable for such as are troubled with consumptions of the lungs.
Lauri. Of the Bay-tree. See the root.
Limonum. Of Lemons. The outward peel is of the nature of Citron, but helps not so effectually; however, let the poor country man that cannot get the other, use this.
Mandragora Rad. Be pleased to look back to the root.
Myrobalanorum. Of Myrobalans. See the fruits.
Macis. Of Mace. It is hot in the third degree, strengthens the stomach and heart exceedingly, and helps concoction.
Maceris, &c. It is held to be the inner bark of Nutmeg-tree, helps fluxes and spitting of blood.
Petroselini Rad. Of Parsley root: opens obstructions, provokes urine and the menses, warms a cold stomach, expels wind, and breaks the stone. Use them as grass roots, and take out the inner pith as you were taught in smallage roots.
Prunelli Silvestris. Of Sloe-tree. I know no use of it.
Pinearum putaminae. Pine shucks, or husks. I suppose they mean of the cones that hold the seeds; both those and also the bark of the tree, stop fluxes, and help the lungs.
Querci. Of Oak-tree. Both the bark of the oak, and Acorn Cups are drying and cold, binding, stop fluxes and the menses, as also the running of the reins; have a care how you use them before due purging.
Rhaphani. Of Radishes. I could never see any bark they had.
Suberis. Of Cork. It is good for something else besides to stop bottles: being dry and binding, stanches blood, helps fluxes, especially the ashes of it being burnt. Paulus.
Sambuci, &c. Of Elder roots and branches; purges water, helps the dropsy.
Cort. Medius Tamaricis. The middle Bark of Tameris, eases the spleen, helps the rickets. Use them as Ash-tree bark.
Tillim. Of Line-tree. Boiled, the water helps burnings.
Thuris. Of Frankinsenses. I must plead Ignoramus.
Ulmi. Of Elm. Moderately hot and cleansing, good for wounds, burns, and broken bones, viz. boiled in water and the grieved place bathed with it.