158 THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



thereof contrary doth bind the belly, and | 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 j dice, dropsy, swelling of the spleen, tertain 

 profitably used to heal scabs; also foul j and daily agues, and pricking pains of the 

 ulcerous sores, and to allay the inflamma- \ sides; and also stays spitting of blood. 

 lion of them ; the juice of the leaves or j The powder taken with cassia dissolved, 

 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. j is very effectual to stay the gonorrhea. It 



The Bastard Rhubarb hath all the pro- j is also given for the pains and swellings in 

 perties of the Monk's Rhubarb, but more * 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 j barb taken with a little mummia and mad- 

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

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

 jaundice. The seed thereof taken, eases t 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 ta^es 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 5 to heal those ulcers that happen in the eyes 

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

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

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

 helps them that are troubled with ih^ stone, \ in wine, it takes away all blue spots or 



provokes urine, and helps the dimness of 

 the sight The roots of this Bastard Rhu- 



marks that happen therein. AVliey or 

 white wine are the best liquors to steep it 



Darb are used in opening and purging diet- j in, and thereby it works more effectual in 



drinks, with other things, to open the liver, > opening obstructions, and purgino- the 

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



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

 English Rhubarb are the same with the I thereof, 

 former, but much more effectual, and hath i 

 all the properties of the true Italian Rhu- ! 



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

 it is but of half the strength thereof, and \ 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- | round about, with many herby green stalks, 

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

 an equal quantity, which are these: It * 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 How, 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 : 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 j top of the stalk there shoots forth divers 



