Culpeper's English physician ; and complete herbal. Vol. I. / [Nicholas Culpeper].

  • Culpeper, Nicholas, 1616-1654
Date:
1817
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Culpeper's English physician ; and complete herbal. Vol. I. / [Nicholas Culpeper]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    81/592 (page 59)
    AND C O ]VI P L E T E HERBAL. AN GELICA. x^RALiA. ANGELICA fignifies the angelical or angel-like herb. On what occafion this excellent name was firft given to it I know not; unlels it were for the excellent vir- tues thereof, or for that God made it known to man by the miniftry of an angel. I fuppofe the former cafe rather to be true: however, as I am not able to prove the other, fo I think no man can give any good reafon to the contrary. For this we know, that God hath made his angels miniftering fpirits, to ferve us for the fafeguard of our fouls, as alfo of our bodies. But, upon what occafion foever the name was given, it is excellent, and fo are its properties. Angelica is hot and dry at leaft in the third degree. All the later writers agree upon this, and experience proveth the fame, that it is good againft poifon, pefti- lent airs, and the peftilence itfelf. The pradlitioners of Germany write thus of it:—If any man be fuddenly taken either with the peftilence, or with any peftilent ague, let him drink of the powder of the root half a dram, mingled with a dram of treacle, in three or four fpoonfuls of the water of angelica, diftilled from the roots, and, after his going to bed, covering himfelf well, let him faft at leaft three hours; which if he do, he will begin to fweat, and, by the help of God, he will be cured of his difeafe. For want of treacle, take a whole dram of the root of an- gelica in powder, with lb much of the diftilled water as aforefaid, and it will have the fame efifedt. The root of angelica well fteeped in vinegar, and fmelt to in time of peftilence, and the fame liquor being drunk fometimes fafting, preferveth from infection. But, in my judgment, it is better to take an orange or a lemon, cut off the top, pick out the meat, prick it full of fmall holes, put into it a piece, of fponge or fine linen cloth dipped in the aforefaid vinegar, and fmell to it. The water diftilled out of the roots of angelica, or the powder of the fame, is good againft gnawing and pains of the belly occafioned by cold, if the body be not bound. It is good againft all inward difeafes, as pleurify, in the beginning before the heat of the inflammation be come into the body ; for that it dilfolveth and fcattereth abroad fuch humours as ufe to caufe the pleurify, M oreover it is good for the difeafes of the lungs, if they come of a cold caufe; and for the ftrangury, if from a cold caufe, or of a ftopping. It is good for a woman that is in travail. It expelleth wind that is in the body, and eafeth the pain that cometh from the fame. The root may be fod in wine or water, as the na- ture of the fick requireth. The root or the juice put into a hollow tooth, taketh away the ach; the fame effeCt hath the diftilled water, being put into the ear. The juice or water of angelica quickens the eye-fight, and breaks the little films