158 



THE COMPLETE HERBAL, 



thereof contrary doth bind the belly, and j blood, opening obstructions, and helping 

 helps to stay any sort of lasks or bloody- j those griefs that come thereof, as the jaun- 

 flux. The distilled water thereof is very dice, dropsy, swelling of the spleen, tertain 



and daily agues, and pricking pains of the 

 sides; and also stays spitting of blood. 

 The powder taken with cassia dissolved, 



1 I t -W T 



profitably used to heal scabs ; also foul 

 ulcerous sores, and to allay the inflamma- 

 tion of them ; the juice of the leaves or 



roots or the decoction of them in vinegar, { and washed Venice turpentine, cleanses the 

 is used as the most effectual remedy to heal reins and strengthens them afterwards, and 



scabs and running sores. 



The Bastard Rhubarb hath all the pro- 

 perties of the Monk's Rhubarb, but more 



i* i i i i \ 



is very effectual to stay the gonorrhea. It 

 is also given for the pains and swellings in 

 the head, for those that are troubled with 



effectual for both inward and outward dis- j melancholy, and helps the sciatica, gout, 

 eases. The decoction thereof without vine- and the cramp. The powder of the Rhu- 

 gar dropped into the ears, takes away the; barb taken with a little mummia and mad- 

 pains ; gargled in the mouth, takes away ' der roots in some red wine, dissolves clotted 

 the tooth ache ; and being drank, heals the j blood in the body, happening by any fall 

 jaundice. The seed thereof taken, eases or bruise, and helps burstings and broken 

 the gnawing and griping pains of the j parts, as well inward as outward. The oil 

 stomach, and takes away the loathing there- | likewise wherein it hath been boiled, works 

 of unto meat. The root thereof helps the | the like effects being anointed. It is used 

 ruggedness of the nails, and being boiled in $ to heal those ulcers that happen in the eyes 

 wine helps the swelling of the throat, com- j or eyelids, being steeped and strained ; as 

 monly called the king's evil, as also the > also to assuage the swellings and inflam- 

 swellings of the kernels of the ears. It | mations ; and applied with honey, boiled 

 helps them that are troubled with the stone, | in wine, it takes away all blue spots or 



r L" c tr* o t 1 \t _ \nor\ t MOI*AI n 



provokes urine, and helps the dimness of 

 the sight. The roots of this Bastard Rhu- i 

 barb are used in opening and purging diet- i 



marks that happen therein. Whey or 

 white wine are the best liquors to steep it 

 in, and thereby it works more effectual in 



drinks, with other things, to open the liver, 1 opening obstructions, and purging the 

 and to cleanse and cool the blood. | stomach and liver. Many do use a little 



The properties of that which is called the i Indian Spikenard as the best corrector 

 English Rhubarb are the same with the \ thereof, 

 former, but much more effectual, and hath i 

 all the properties of the true Italian Rhu- 1 



barbs, except the force in purging, wherein } Descript.~] MEADOW-RWU rises up with 

 it is but of half the strength thereof, and I a yellow stringy root, much spreading in 

 therefore a double quantity must be used : | the ground, shooting forth new sprouts 

 it likewise hath not that bitterness and as- j round about, with many herby green stalks, 

 triction ; in other things it works almost in j two feet high, crested all the length of them, 

 an equal quantity, which are these : It i set with joints here and there, and many 

 purges the body of choler and phlegm, being) large leaves on them, above as well as be- 

 either taken of itself, made into powder, and I low, being divided into smaller leaves, 

 drank in a draught of white wine, or steeped j nicked or dented in the fore part of them, 

 therein all night, and taken fasting, or put s of a red green colour on the upper-side, 

 among other purges, as shall be thought | and pale green underneath ; Toward the 

 convenient, cleansing the stomach, liver, and \ top of the stalk there shoots forth divers 



