Nicholas Culpeper - Examples From The English Physician

Examples From The English Physician

The following herbs, their uses and preparations are discussed in The English Physitian.

• Anemone, as a juice applied externally to clean ulcerations, infections and cure leprosy or inhaled to clear the nostrils.
• Bedstraw, boiled in oil and applied externally as a stimulant, consumed as an aphrodisiac, or externally raw to stimulate clotting.
• Burdock, crushed and mixed with salt, useful in treating dog bites, and taken inwardly to help pass flatulence, an analgesic for tooth pain and to strengthen the back.
• Cottonweed, boiled in lye can be used to treat head lice or infestations in cloth or clothing. Inhaled, it acts as an analgesic for headaches and reduces coughing.
• Dittany, as an abortifacient, to induce labour, as a treatment for poisoned weapons, to draw out splinters and broken bones, and the smell drives away 'venomous beasts'.
• Fleabane, helps with bites from 'venomous beasts' and its smoke can kill gnats and fleas. Can be dangerous for pregnant women.
• Hellebore, causes sneezing if ground and inhaled, kills rodents if mixed with food.
• Mugwort, induces labour, assists in birth and afterbirth and eases labour pains.
• Pennyroyal, strengthens the backs of women, assists with vertigo and helps expel gas.
• Savory, help expel gas, excellent mixed with peas and beans for this reason.
• Wood Betony, helps with 'falling sickness' and headaches, anti-anoretic, 'helps sour belchings', cramps, convulsions, bruises, afterbirth and gout, and kills worms.