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

PILLS.

Culpeper.] Pills in Greek are called, Katopotia, in Latin, Pilulæ: which signifies little balls, because they are made up in such a form, that they may be the better swallowed down, by reason of the offensiveness of their taste.

Pilulæ de Agarico.
Or Pills of Agarick.

College.] Take of Agarick three drams, our own blue Orris roots, Mastich, Horehound, of each one dram, Turbith five drams, Species Hiera Picra half an ounce, Colocynthis, Sarcocol, of each two drams, Myrrh one dram, Sapa as much as is sufficient to make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] It was invented to cleanse the breast and lungs of flegm, it works pretty strongly. Half a dram at a time (keeping yourself warm,) cannot well do you harm, unless your body be very weak.

Pilulæ Aggregativæ.

College.] Take of Citron, Myrobalans, Rhubarb, of each half an ounce, juice of Agrimony and Wormwood made thick, of each two drams, Diagridium five drams, Agarick, Colocynthis, Polypodium of each two drams, Turbith, Aloes, of each six drams, Mastich, red Roses, Sal. Gem. Epithymum, Annis, Ginger, of each a dram, with Syrup of Damask Roses, make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] It purges the head of choler, flegm and melancholy, and that stoutly: it is good against quotidian agues, and faults in the stomach and liver, yet because it is well corrected if you take but half a dram at a time, and keep yourself warm, I suppose you may take it without danger.

Pilulæ Alœphanginæ.

College.] Take of Cinnamon, Cloves, Cardamoms the less, Nutmegs, Mace, Calamus Aromaticus, Carpobalsamum, or Juniper berries, Squinanth, Wood of Aloes, yellow Sanders, red Roses dried, Wormwood, of each half an ounce, let the tincture be taken out of these, being grossly bruised in spirit of Wine, the vessel being close stopped; in three pounds of this tincture, being strained, dissolve Aloes one pound, which being dissolved, add Mastich, Myrrh, of each half an ounce, Saffron two drams, Balsam of Peru one dram, the superfluous liquor being consumed, either over hot ashes, or a bath, bring it into a mass of pills.

Culpeper.] It cleanses both stomach and brain of gross and putrified humours, and sets the senses free when they are thereby troubled, it cleanses the brain offended by ill humours, wind, &c. helps vertigo and head-aches, and strengthens the brain exceedingly, helps concoction, and strengthens the stomach, one dram taken at night going to bed, will work gently next day: if the party be weak, you may give less, if strong more. If you take but half a dram, you may go abroad the next day: but if you take a dram, you may keep the house; there can be no harm in that.

Pilulæ de Aloe Lota.
Or Pills of washed Aloes.

College.] Take of Aloes washed with juice of red Roses, one ounce, Agarick three drams, Mastich two drams, Diamoscu Dulce half a dram, Syrup of Damask-roses, so much as is sufficient to make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] It purges both brain, stomach, bowels, and eyes of putrified humours, and also strengthens them. Use these as the succeeding.

Aloe Rosata.

College.] Take of Aloes in powder four ounces, juice of Damask Roses clarified one pound, mix them and digest them in the sun, or in a bath, till the superfluous liquor be drawn off, digest it, and evaporate it four times over, and keep the mass.

Culpeper.] It is a gallant gentle purger of choler, frees the stomach from superfluous humours, opens stoppings, and other infirmities of the body proceeding from choler and flegm, as yellow jaundice, &c. and strengthens the body exceedingly. Take a scruple, or half a dram at night going to bed, you may walk abroad, for it will hardly work till next day in the afternoon.

Pilulæ Aureæ.

College.] Take of Aloes, Diacrydium, of each five drams, red Roses, Smallage seeds, of each two drams and an half, the seeds of Annis and Fennel, of each one dram and an half, Mastich, Saffron, Troch, Alhandal, of each one dram, with a sufficient quantity of Honey Roses, make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] They are held to purge the head, to quicken the senses, especially the sight, and to expel wind from the bowels, but works something harshly. Half a dram is the utmost dose, keep the fire, take them in the morning, and sleep after them, they will work before noon.

Pilulæ Cochiæ, the greater.

College.] Take of Species, Hiera Picra, ten drams, Troch, Alhandal, three drams and an half, Diacrydium two drams and an half, Turbith, Stœchas, of each five drams, with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Stœchas, make it into a mass, according to art.

Culpeper.] It is held to purge the head, but it is but a dogged purge at best, and must be given only to strong bodies, and but half a dram at a time, and yet with great care.

Pilulæ Cochiæ, the less.

College.] Take of Aloes, Scammony, Colocynthis, of each one ounce, with equal parts of Syrup of Wormwood, and of purging thorn, make it into a mass according to art.

Pilulæ de Cynoglosso.
Or Pills of Hound’s-tongue.

College.] Take of the Roots of Hound’s-tongue dried, white Henbane seed, Opium prepared, of each half an ounce, Myrrh six drams, Olibanum five drams, Saffron, Castoreum, Styrax, Calamitis, of each one dram and an half, with Syrup of Stœchas, make it into a mass.

Culpeper.] It stays hot rheums that fall down upon the lungs, therefore is good in phthisics, also it mitigates pain, a scruple is enough to take at a time going to bed, and too much if your body be weak: have a care of opiates for fear they make you sleep your last.

Pilulæ ex Duobus.
Or Pills of two things.

College.] Take of Colocynthis, and Scamony, of each one ounce, oil of Cloves as much as is sufficient to malax them well, then with a little Syrup of purging Thorn, make it into a mass.

Pilulæ de Eupatorio.
Or Pills of Eupatorium.

College.] Take of the juice of Maudlin, and Wormwood made thick, Citron, Myrobalans, of each three drams, Rhubarb three drams and an half, Mastich one dram, Aloes five drams, Saffron half a dram, Syrup of the juice of Endive, as much as is sufficient to make it into a mass.

Culpeper.] It is a gallant gentle purge, and strengthening, fitted for such bodies as are much weakened by disease of choler. The author appropriates it to such as have tertian agues, the yellow jaundice, obstructions or stoppings of the liver; half a dram taken at night going to bed, will work with an ordinary body, the next day by noon.

Pilulæ Fætidæ.
Or Stinking Pills.

College.] Take of Aloes, Colocynthis, Ammoniacum, Sagapen, Myrrh, Rue-seeds, Epithymum, of each five drams, Scamony three drams, the roots of Turbith half an ounce, the roots of Spurge the less prepared, Hermodactils of each two drams, Ginger one dram and an half, Spikenard, Cinnamon, Saffron, Castoreum, of each one dram, Euphorbium prepared two scruples, dissolve the Gums in juice of Leeks, and with Syrup made with the juice of Leeks and Sugar, make it into a mass.

Culpeper.] They purge gross and raw flegm, and diseases thereof arising; gouts of all sorts, pains in the back-bone, and other joints: it is good against leprosies, and other such like infirmities of the skin. I fancy not the receipt much.

Pilulæ de Hermodactilis.
Or Pills of Hermodactils.

College.] Take of Sagapen six drams, Opopanax three drams, melt them in warm juice of Coleworts, so much as is sufficient, then strain it through a convenient rag, afterwards boil it to a mean thickness, then take of Hermodactils, Aloes, Citron, Myrobalans, Turbith, Coloquintida, soft Bdellium, of each six drams, Euphorbium prepared, the seeds of Rue and Smallage, Castoreum, Sarcocol, of each three drams, Saffron one dram and an half, with the Syrup of the juice of Coleworts made with honey, make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] They are good against the gout, and other cold afflictions of the joints. These are more moderate by half than Pilulæ Fœtidæ, and appropriated to the same diseases.

Pilulæ de Hiera cum Agarico.
Or Pills of Hiera with Agarick.

College.] Take of Species Hiera Picra, Agarick, of each half an ounce, Aloes one ounce, Honey Roses so much as is sufficient to make it into a mass according to art.

Pilulæ Imperiales.
Or Imperial Pills.

College.] Take of Aloes two ounces, Rhubarb one ounce and an half, Agarick, Sena, of each one ounce, Cinnamon three drams, Ginger two drams, Nutmegs, Cloves, Spikenard, Mastich, of each one dram with Syrup of Violets, make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] It cleanses the body of mixt humours, and strengthens the stomach exceedingly, as also the bowels, liver, and natural spirits: it is good for cold natures, and cheers the spirits. The dose is a scruple or half a dram, taken at night.

Pilulæ de Lapide Lazuli.
Or Pills of Lapis Lazuli.

College.] Take of Lapis Lazuli in powder and well washed, five drams, Epithymum, Polypodium, Agarick, of each an ounce, Scamony, black Hellebore roots, Sal. Gem. of each two drams and an half, Cloves, Annis seeds, of each half an ounce, Species Hiera simple fifteen drams, with Syrup of the juice of Fumitory, make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] It purges melancholy very violently.

Pilulæ Macri.

College.] Take of Aloes two ounces, Mastich half an ounce, dried Marjoram two drams, Salt of Wormwood one dram, make them all, being in powder, into a mass according to art with juice of Coleworts and Sugar, so much as is sufficient.

Culpeper.] It strengthens both stomach and brain, especially the nerves and muscles, and eases them of such humours as afflict them, and hinder the motion of the body, they open obstructions of the liver and spleen, and takes away diseases thence coming.

Pilulæ Mastichinæ.
Or Mastich Pills.

College.] Take of Mastich two ounces, Aloes four ounces, Agarick, Species Hiera simple, of each one ounce and an half, with Syrup of Wormwood, make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] They purge very gently, but strengthen much, both head, brain, eyes, belly, and reins.

Pilulæ Mechoacanæ.
Or Pills of Mechoacan.

College.] Take of Mechoacan roots half an ounce, Turbith three drams, the leaves of Spurge steeped in Vinegar and dried, the seeds of Walwort, Agarick trochiscated, of each two drams, Spurge roots prepared, Mastich, of each one dram and an half, Mace, Cinnamon, Sal. Gem. of each two scruples, beat them into powder, and with white Wine, bring them into a mass. When it is dry, beat it into powder, and with Syrup made with the juice of Orris roots and sugar, make it the second time into a mass for pills.

Culpeper.] They purge flegm very violently.

Pilulæ de Opopanace.
Or Pills of Opopanax.

College.] Take of Opopanax, Sagapen, Bdellium, Ammoniacum, Hermodactils, Coloquintida, of each five drams, Saffron, Castoreum, Myrrh, Ginger, white Pepper, Cassia Lignea, Citron, Myrobalans, of each one dram, Scamony two drams, Turbith half an ounce, Aloes an ounce and an half, the Gums being dissolved in clarified juice of Coleworts, with Syrup of the juice of Coleworts, make them into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] It helps tremblings, palsies, gouts of all sorts, cleanses the joints, and is helpful for such as are troubled with cold afflictions of the nerves. It works violently.

Pilulæ Rudii.

College.] Take of Coloquintida six drams, Agarick, Scamony, the roots of black Hellebore, and Turbith, of each half an ounce, Aloes one ounce, Diarrhodon Abbatis half an ounce, let all of them (the Diarrh. Abbatis excepted) be grossly bruised, and infused eight days in the best spirits of Wine in a vessel close stopped, in the sun, so that the liquor may swim at top the breadth of six fingers: afterwards infuse the Diarrhodon Abbatis in the same manner four days in Aqua vitæ, then having strained and pressed them hard, mix them both together, casting the dross away, and draw off the moisture in a glass Alembick, and let the thick matter remain in a mass.

Culpeper.] It cleanses both head and body of choler, flegm, and melancholy: it must not be taken in any great quantity, half a dram is sufficient for the strongest body.

Pilulæ Russi.

College.] Take of Aloes two ounces, Myrrh one ounce, Saffron half an ounce, with Syrup of the juice of Lemons, make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] A scruple taken at night going to bed, is an excellent preservative in pestilential times; also they cleanse the body of such humours as are gotten by surfeits, they strengthen the heart, and weak stomachs, and work so easily that you need not fear following your business the next day.

Pilulæ sine Quibus.
Or Pills without which——

College.] Take of washed Aloes fourteen drams, Scammony prepared six drams, Agarick, Rhubarb, Sena, of each half an ounce, Wormwood, red Roses exungulated, Violet flowers, Dodder, Mastich, of each one dram, salt of Wormwood, of each half a dram, with Syrup of the juice of Fennel made with Honey, make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] It purges flegm, choler, and melancholy from the head, makes the sight and hearing good, and gives ease to a burdened brain.

Pilulæ Stomachiæ.
Or Stomach Pills.

College.] Take of Aloes six drams, Mastich, red Roses, of each two drams, with Syrup of Wormwood, make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] They cleanse and strengthen the stomach, they cleanse but gently, strengthen much, help digestion.

Pilulæ Stomachiæ cum Gummi.
Or Stomach Pills with Gums.

College.] Take of Aloes an ounce, Sena five drams, Gum Amoniacum dissolved in Elder-flower Vinegar half an ounce, Mastich, Myrrh, of each a dram and an half, Saffron, salt of Wormwood, of each half a dram, with Syrup of purging Thorn, make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] They work more strongly than the former.

Pilulæ e Styrace.
Or Pills of Styrax.

College.] Take of Styrax Calamitis, Olibanum, Myrrh, juice of Liquorice, Opium, of each half an ounce, with Syrup of white Poppies, make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] They help such as are troubled with defluxion of rheum, coughs, and provoke sleep to such as cannot sleep for coughing.

Pilulæ de Succino.
Or Pills of Amber.

College.] Take of white Amber, Mastich, of each two drams, Aloes five drams, Agaric a dram and an half, long Birthwort half a dram, with Syrup of Wormwood make it into a mass.

Culpeper.] It amends the evil state of a woman’s body, strengthens conception, and takes away what hinders it; it gently purges choler and flegm, and leaves a binding, strengthening quality behind it.

Pilulæ ex Tribus.
Or Pills of three things.

College.] Take of Mastich two ounces, Aloes four ounces, Agarick, Hiera simple, of each an ounce and an half, Rhubarb two ounces, Cinnamon two drams, with Syrup of Succory, make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] They gently purge choler, and help diseases thence arising, as itch, scabs, wheals, &c. They strengthen the stomach and liver, and open obstructions, as also help the yellow jaundice.

Pilulæ Turpeti Aureæ.

College.] Take of Turbith two ounces, Aloes an ounce and an half, Citron Myrobalans ten drams, red Roses, Mastich, of each six drams, Saffron three drams, beat them all into powder, and with Syrup of Wormwood bring them into a mass.

Culpeper.] They purge choler and flegm, and that with as much gentleness as can be desired; also they strengthen the stomach and liver, and help digestion.

Laudanum.

College.] Take of Thebane Opium extracted in spirit of Wine, one ounce, Saffron alike extracted, a dram and an half, Castorium one dram: let them be taken in tincture of half an ounce of species Diambræ newly made in spirit of Wine, add to them Ambergris, Musk, of each six grains, oil of Nutmegs ten drops, evaporate the moisture away in a bath, and leave the mass.

Culpeper.] It was invented (and a gallant invention it is) to mitigate violent pains, stop the fumes that trouble the brain in fevers, (but beware of Opiates in the beginning of fevers) to provoke sleep, take not above two grains of it at a time, going to bed; if that provoke not sleep, the next night you may make bold with three. Have a care how you be too busy with such medicines, lest you make a man sleep to doom’s-day.

Nepenthes Opiatum.

College.] Take of tincture of Opium made first with distilled Vinegar, then with spirit of Wine, Saffron extracted in spirit of Wine, of each an ounce, salt of Pearl and Coral, of each half an ounce, tincture of species Diambræ seven drams, Ambergris one dram: bring them into the form of Pills by the gentle heat of a bath.

Culpeper.] The operation is like the former.

Pilulæ Assaireth. Avicenna.

College.] Take of Species Hiera Picra Galeni one ounce, Mastich, Citron Myrobalans, of each half an ounce, Aloes two ounces, the Syrup of Stœchas as much as is sufficient, make of them a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] It purges choler and flegm, and strengthens the whole body exceedingly, being very precious for such whose bodies are weakened by surfeits, or ill diet, to take half a dram or a scruple at night going to bed.

Pills of Bdellium. Mesue.

College.] Take of Bdellium ten drams, Myrobalans, Bellericks, Emblicks, and Blacks, of each five drams, flakes of Iron, Leek seeds, of each three drams, Choncula Veneris burnt, Coral burnt, Amber, of each a dram and an half, Pearls half an ounce, dissolve the Bdellium in juice of Leeks and with so much Syrup of juice of Leeks as is sufficient, make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] Both this and the former are seldom used, and therefore are hardly to be had.

Pills of Rhubarb. Mesue.

College.] Take of choice Rhubarb three drams, Citron Myrobalans, Trochisci Diarrhodon, of each three drams and an half, juice of Liquorice, and juice of Wormwood, Mastich, of each one dram, the seeds of Smallage and Fennel, of each half a dram, Species Hiera Picra simp. Galeni, ten drams, with juice of Fennel not clarified, and Honey so much as is sufficient, make it into a mass.

Culpeper.] It purges choler, opens obstructions of the liver, helps the yellow jaundice, and dropsies in the beginning, strengthens the stomach and lungs.

Pilulæ Arabica. Nicholaus.

College.] Take of the best Aloes four ounces, Briony roots, Myrobalans, Citrons, Chebs, Indian Bellerick, and Emblick, Mastich, Diagrydium, Asarabacca, Roses, of each an ounce, Castorium three drams, Saffron one dram, with Syrup of Wormwood, make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] It helps such women as are not sufficiently purged in their labour, helps to bring away what a careless midwife hath left behind, purges the head, helps head-ach, megrim, vertigo, and purges the stomach of vicious humours.

Pilulæ Arthriticæ. Nicholaus.

College.] Take of Hermodactils, Turbith, Agarick, of each half an ounce, Cassia Lignea, Indian Spikenard, Cloves, Xylobalsamum, or Wood of Aloes, Carpobalsamum or Cubebs, Mace, Galanga, Ginger, Mastich, Assafœtida, the seeds of Annis, Fennel, Saxifrage, Sparagus, Bruscus, Roses, Gromwell, Sal. Gem. of each two drams, Scammony one ounce, of the best Aloes, the weight of them all, juice of Chamepitys made thick with sugar, so much as is sufficient: or Syrup of the juice of the same, so much as is sufficient to make it into a mass.

Culpeper.] It helps the gout, and other pains in the joints, comforts and strengthens both brain and stomach, and consumes diseases whose original comes of flegm.

Pilulæ Cochiæ with Helebore.

College.] Take of the powder of the Pills before prescribed, the powder of the bark of the roots of black Hellebore, one ounce: make it into a mass with Syrup of Stœchas according to art.

Pills of Fumitory. Avicenna.

College.] Take of Myrobalans, Citrons, Chebs, and Indian Diagrydium, of each five drams, Aloes seven drams; let all of them being bruised, be thrice moistened with juice of Fumitory, and thrice suffered to dry, then brought into a mass with Syrup of Fumitory.

Culpeper.] It purges melancholy. Be not too busy with it I beseech you.

Pilulæ Indæ. Mesue out of Haly.

College.] Take of Indian Myrobalans, black Hellebore, Polypodium of the Oak, of each five drams, Epithymum, Stœchas, of each six drams, Agarick, Lapis Lazuli often washed troches Alhandal, Sal Indi, of each half an ounce, juice of Maudlin made thick, Indian Spikenard, of each two drams, Cloves one dram, Species Hiera Picra simplex Galeni, twelve drams, with juice of Smallage make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] It wonderfully prevails against afflictions coming of melancholy, cancers which are not ulcerated, leprosy, evils of the mind coming of melancholy, as sadness, fear, &c. quartan agues, jaundice, pains and infirmities of the spleen.

Pilulæ Lucis Majores. Mesue.

College.] Take of Roses, Violets, Wormwood, Colocynthis, Turbith, Cubebs, Calamus Aromaticus, Nutmegs, Indian Spikenard, Epithimum, Carpobalsamum, or instead thereof, Cardamoms, Xylabalsamum, or Wood of Aloes, the seeds of Seseli or Hartwort, Rue, Annis, Fennel and Smallage, Schænanthus, Mastich, Asarabacca roots, Cloves, Cinnamon, Cassia Lignea, Saffron, Mace, of each two drams, Myrobalans, Citrons, Chebuls, Indian Bellerick, and Emblick, Rhubarb, of each half an ounce, Agarick, Sena, of each five drams, Aloes Succotrina, the weight of them all: with Syrup of the juice of Fennel make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] It purges mixt humours from the head, and clears it of such excrements as hinder the sight.

Pills of Spurge. Fernelius.

College.] Take of the bark of the roots of Spurge the less, steeped twenty-four hours in Vinegar and juice of Purslain, two drams, grains of Palma Christi torrified, by number, forty, Citron Myrobalans one dram and an half, Germander, Chamepitys, Spikenard, Cinnamon, of each two scruples, being beaten into fine powder with an ounce of Gum Tragacanth dissolved in Rose Water, and Syrup of Roses so much as is sufficient, let it be made into a mass.

Pills of Euphorbium. Mesue.

College.] Take of Euphorbium, Colocynthis, Agarick, Bdellium, Sagapenum, of each two drams, Aloes five drams, with Syrup made of the juice of Leeks, make it into a mass.

Culpeper.] The Pills are exceeding good for dropsies, pains in the loins, and gouts coming of a moist cause. Take not above half a dram at a time and keep the house.

Pilulæ Scribonii.

College.] Take of Sagapen, and Myrrh, of each two drams, Opium, Cardamoms, Castorium, of each one dram, white Pepper half a dram, Sapa so much as is sufficient to make it into a mass according to art.

Culpeper.] It is appropriated to such as have phthisicks, and such as spit blood, but ought to be newly made, a scruple is sufficient taken going to bed.