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  • Astrantia maxima Pall. Apiaceae. Large masterwort. The botanical name Astrantia is a corruption of the old apothecaries’ name for this plant, Magistrantia “masterwort”, implying its suitability for use only by adepts in herbalism. Probably mildly poisonous. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Hepatica nobilis Mill. Ranunculaceae. Liverwort - not to be confused with the lichen of the same name. Distribution: North America. Liverwort (‘liver plant’): discontinued herbal medicine for disorders of the liver. The name and the use to which the Liverworts have been put medicinally is suggested, according to the doctrine of signatures, by the shape of the leaves which are three-lobed, like the liver. It is little used in modern herbalism but was employed in treating disorders of the liver and gall bladder, indigestion etc. It is highly toxic. Hepatica acutiloba was widely used for liver disorders in the 1880s, with up to 200,000 kilos of leaves being harvested per annum to make liver tonics - which eventually caused jaundice. Gerard (1633) calls it Hepaticum trifolium, Noble Liverwort, Golden Trefoile and herbe Trinity and writes: 'It is reported to be good against weakness of the liver which proceedeth from a hot cause, for it cooleth and strengtheneth it not a little. ' He adds ' Baptista Sardus[a Piedmontese physician fl. 1500] commendeth it and writeth that the chiefe vertue is in the root
  • Hepatica nobilis Mill. Ranunculaceae. Liverwort - not to be confused with the lichen of the same name. Distribution: North America. Liverwort (‘liver plant’): discontinued herbal medicine for disorders of the liver. The name and the use to which the Liverworts have been put medicinally is suggested, according to the doctrine of signatures, by the shape of the leaves which are three-lobed, like the liver. It is little used in modern herbalism but was employed in treating disorders of the liver and gall bladder, indigestion etc. It is highly toxic. Hepatica acutiloba was widely used for liver disorders in the 1880s, with up to 200,000 kilos of leaves being harvested per annum to make liver tonics - which eventually caused jaundice. Gerard (1633) calls it Hepaticum trifolium, Noble Liverwort, Golden Trefoile and herbe Trinity and writes: 'It is reported to be good against weakness of the liver which proceedeth from a hot cause, for it cooleth and strengtheneth it not a little. ' He adds ' Baptista Sardus [a Piedmontese physician fl. 1500] commendeth it and writeth that the chiefe vertue is in the root
  • Ming herbal:
  • Ming herbal (painting): Tricosanthes
  • Ming herbal (painting): Owl
  • Ming herbal (painting): Stephania
  • Ming herbal (painting): Shrike
  • Ming herbal (painting): Pigeons
  • Ming herbal (painting): Lindera
  • Ming herbal (painting): Stork
  • Ming herbal (painting): Crow
  • Ming herbal (painting): Quail
  • Ming herbal (painting): Cormorant
  • Ming herbal (painting): Peacock
  • Ming herbal (painting): Swan
  • Ming herbal (painting): Paulownia
  • Ming herbal (painting): Longan
  • Japanese Manuscript: Herbal 1620.
  • Ming herbal (painting): Fig
  • Herbal, 17th century
  • Ming herbal (painting): Violet
  • Ming herbal (painting): Horse
  • [Leaflet advertising Viper (herbal viagra)].
  • Japanese herbal, 17th century
  • Famine Relief Herbal (1593): Preface
  • Japanese herbal, 17th century
  • Famine Relief Herbal (1593): Bromegrass
  • Ming herbal (painting): Paradise flycatcher
  • Ming herbal (painting): Zelkova tree