The Complete Herbal / To which is now added, upwards of one hundred additional herbs, with a display of their medicinal and occult qualities physically applied to the cure of all disorders incident to mankind: to which are now first annexed, the English physician enlarged, and key to Physic.

by Nicholas Culpeper

COMPOUND OILS BY INFUSION AND DECOCTION.

Oleum Benedictum.
Or Blessed Oil.

College.] Take of the roots of Carduus and Valerian, of each one ounce, the flowers of St. John’s Wort two ounces, Wheat one ounce and an half, old Oil four ounces, Cypress Turpentine eight ounces, Frankincense in powder two ounces, infuse the roots and flowers, being bruised, in so much white Wine as is sufficient to cover them, after two days’ infusion put in the Oil with the Wheat, bruised, boil them together till the Wine be consumed; then press it out, and add the Frankincense and Turpentine, then boil them a little, and keep it.

Culpeper.] It is appropriated to cleanse and consolidate wounds, especially in the head.

Oleum de Capparibus.
Or, Oil of Capers.

College.] Take of the bark of Caper roots an ounce, bark of Tamarisk, the leaves of the same, the seeds of Agnus Castus, Cetrach, or Spleenwort, Cypress roots, of each two drams, Rue one dram, oil of ripe Olives one pound, white Wine Vinegar, and white Wine, of each two ounces, cut them and steep them, and boil them (two days being elapsed) gently in a bath, then the Wine and Vinegar being consumed, strain it, and keep it.

Culpeper.] The oil is opening, and heating, absolutely appropriated to the spleen, hardness and pains thereof, and diseases coming of stoppings there, as hypocondriac melancholy, the rickets, &c.

Oil of Castoreum compound.

College.] Take of Castoreum, Styrax Calamitis, Galbanum, Euphorbium, Opopanax, Cassia Lignea, Saffron, Carpobalsamum or Cubebs, Spikenard, Costus, of each two drams, Cypress, Squinanth, Pepper long and black, Savin, Pellitory of Spain, of each two drams and an half, ripe Oil four pounds, Spanish Wine two pounds, the five first excepted, let the rest be prepared as they ought to be, and gently boiled in the Oil and Wine, until the Wine be consumed, mean time the Galbanum, Opopanax, and Euphorbium beaten in fine powder, being dissolved in part of the Wine, and strained, let them be exquisitely mixed with it (while the oil is warm) by often stirring; the boiling being finished, put in the Styrax and Castoreum.

Culpeper.] The virtues are the same with the simple.

Oleum Castinum.

College.] Take of the roots of bitter Castus two ounces, Cassia Lignea one ounce, the tops of Marjoram eight ounces, being bruised, steep them two days in twelve ounces of sweet white Wine; then with three pounds of sallad oil washed in white Wine, boil it in Balneo Mariæ till the Wine be consumed.

Culpeper.] It heats, opens obstructions, strengthens the nerves, and all nervous parts, as muscles, tendons, ligaments, the ventricle; besides these, it strengthens the liver, it keeps the hairs from turning grey, and gives a good colour to the body. I pray you take notice that this and the following oils, (till I give you warning to the contrary) are not made to eat.

Oleum Crocinum,
Or, Oil of Saffron.

College.] Take of Saffron, Calamus Aromaticus, of each one ounce, Myrrh, half an ounce, Cardamoms nine drams, steep them six days, (the Cardamoms excepted, which are not to be put in till the last day,) in nine ounces of Vinegar, the day after put in a pound and an half of washed oil, boil it gently according to art, till the Vinegar, be consumed, then strain it.

Culpeper.] It helps pains in the nerves, and strengthens them, mollifies their hardness, helps pains in the matrix, and causes a good colour.

Oil of Euphorbium.

College.] Take of Stavesacre, Sopewort, of each half an ounce, Pellitory of Spain six drams, dried Mountain Calamint one ounce and an half, Castus two drams, Castoreum five drams, being bruised, let them be three days steeped in three pounds and an half of Wine, boil them with a pound and an half of Oil of Wall-flowers, adding half an ounce of Euphorbium, before the Wine be quite consumed, and so boil it according to art.

Culpeper.] It hath the same virtue, only something more effectual than the simple.

Oleum Excestrense,
Or, Oil of Exeter.

College.] Take of the leaves of Wormwood, Centaury the less, Eupatorium, Fennel, Hyssop, Bays, Marjoram, Bawm, Nep, Pennyroyal, Savin, Sage, Thyme, of each four ounces, Southernwood, Betony, Chamepitys, Lavender, of each six ounces, Rosemary one pound, the flowers of Chamomel, Broom, white Lilies, Elders, the seeds of Cummin, and Fenugreek, the roots of Hellebore black and white, the bark of Ash and Lemons, of each four ounces, Euphorbium, Mustard, Castoreum, Pellitory of Spain, of each an ounce, Oil sixteen pounds, Wine three pounds, the herbs, flowers, seeds, and Euphorbium being bruised, the roots, barks, and Castoreum cut, all of them infused twelve hours in the Wine and Oil, in a warm bath, then boiled with a gentle fire, to the consumption of the Wine and moisture, strain the Oil and keep it.

Culpeper.] Many people by catching bruises when they are young, come to feel it when they are old: others by catching cold, catch a lameness in their limbs, to both which I commend this sovereign oil to bathe their grieved members with.

Oleum Hirundinum,
Or, Oil of Swallows.

College.] Take of whole Swallows sixteen, Chamomel, Rue, Plantain the greater and lesser, Bay leaves, Pennyroyal, Dill, Hyssop, Rosemary, Sage, Saint John’s Wort, Costmary, of each one handful, common Oil four pounds, Spanish Wine one pound, make it up according to art.

Culpeper.] Both this and the former are appropriated to old bruises and pains thereof coming, as also to sprains.

Oleum Hyperici compositum.
Or, Oil of St. John’s Wort compound.

College.] Take of the tops of St. John’s Wort four ounces, steep them three whole days in a pound of old Sallad Oil, in the heat either of a bath, or of the sun, then press them out, repeat the infusion the second or third time, then boil them till the wine be almost consumed, press them out, and by adding three ounces of Turpentine, and one scruple of Saffron, boil it a little and keep it.

Culpeper.] See the simple oil of St. John’s Wort, than which this is stronger.

Oleum Hyperici magis compositum.
Or, Oil of St. John’s Wort more compound.

College.] Take of white Wine three pounds, tops of St. John’s Wort ripe and gently bruised, four handfuls, steep them two days in a glass, close stopped, boil them in a bath, and strain them strongly, repeat the infusion three times, having strained it the third time, add to every pound of decoction, old Oil four pounds, Turpentine six ounces, oil of Wormwood three ounces, Dittany, Gentian, Carduus, Tormentil, Carline, or Cordus Maria, Calamus Aromaticus, all of them bruised, of each two drams, Earth-worms often washed in white Wine two ounces, set it in the sun five or six weeks, then keep it close stopped.

Culpeper.] Besides the virtue of the simple oil of St. John’s Wort, which this performs more effectually, it is an excellent remedy for old bruises, aches, and sprains.

Oleum Irinum,
Or, Oil of Orris.

College.] Take of the roots of Orris Florentine, three pounds four ounces, the flowers of purple Orris fifteen ounces, Cypress roots six ounces, of Elecampane three ounces, of Alkanet two ounces, Cinnamon, Spikenard, Benjamin, of each one ounce: let all of them, being bruised as they ought to be, be steeped in the sun, or other hot place, in fifteen pounds of old oil, and four pounds and an half of clear water, after the fourth day, boil them in Balneo Mariæ, the water being consumed, when it is cold, strain it and keep it.

Culpeper.] The effects are the same with the simple, only ’tis stronger.

Oleum Marjoranæ.
Or, Oil of Marjoram.

College.] Take of Marjoram four handfuls, Mother of Thyme two handfuls, the leaves and berries of Myrtles one handful, Southernwood, Water Mints, of each half an handful, being cut, bruised, and put in a glass, three pounds of Oil Omphacine being put to it, let it stand eight days in the sun, or in a bath, close stopped, then strain it out, in the oil put in fresh simples, do so the third time, the oil may be perfected according to art.

Culpeper.] It helps weariness and diseases of the brain and nerves, coming of cold; it helps the dead palsy, the back (viz. the region along the back bone) being anointed with it; being snuffed up in the nose, it helps Spasmus cynicus, which is a wrying the mouth aside; it helps noise in the ears being dropped into them, it provokes the menses, and helps the biting of venomous beasts; it is a most gallant oil to strengthen the body, the back being anointed with it; strengthens the muscles, they being chafed with it; helps head-ache, the forehead being rubbed with it.

Moschelæum,
Or, Oil of Musk.

College.] Take two Nutmegs, Musk one dram, Indian leaf or Mace, Spikenard, Costus, Mastich, of each six drams, Styrax Calamitis, Cassia Lignea, Myrrh, Saffron, Cinnamon, Cloves, Carpobalsamum or Cubebs, Bdellium, of each two drams, pure Oil three pounds, Wine three ounces, bruise them as you ought to do, mix them, and let them boil easily, till the Wine be consumed, the Musk being mixed according to art after it is strained.

Culpeper.] It is exceeding good against all diseases of cold, especially those of the stomach, it helps diseases of the sides, they being anointed with it, the stranguary, cholic, and vices of the nerves, and afflictions of the reins.

Oleum Nardinum.
Or, Oil of Nard.

College.] Take of Spikenard three ounces, Marjoram two ounces, Wood of Aloes, Calamus Aromaticus, Elecampane, Cypress, Bay leaves, Indian leaf or Mace, Squinanth, Cardamoms, of each one ounce and a half, bruise them all grossly, and steep them in water and wine, of each fourteen ounces, Oil of Sesamin, or oil of Olives, four pounds and an half, for one day: then perfect the oil by boiling it gently in a double vessel.

Oleum Populeum. Nicholaus.

College.] Take of fresh Poplar buds three pounds, Wine four pounds, common Oil seven pounds two ounces, beat the Poplar buds very well, then steep them seven days in the oil and wine, then boil them in a double vessel till the wine be consumed, (if you infuse fresh buds once or twice before you boil it, the medicine will be the stronger,) then press out the oil and keep it.

Culpeper.] It is a fine cool oil, but the ointment called by that name which follows hereafter is far better.