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

ROB, OR SAPA: AND JUICES.

Culpeper.] 1. Rob, or Sapa, is the juice of a fruit, made thick by the heat either of the sun, or the fire, that it is capable of being kept safe from putrefaction. 2. Its use was first invented for diseases in the mouth. 3. It is usually made, in respect of body, somewhat thicker than new Honey. 4. It may be kept about a year, little more or less.

Rob sive Sapa, simplex.
Or Simple Rob, or Sapa.

College.] Take of Wine newly pressed from white and ripe Grapes, boil it over a gentle fire to the thickness of Honey.

Culpeper.] Whenever you read the word Rob, or Sapa throughout the Dispensatory, simply quoted in any medicine without any relation of what it should be made, this is that you ought to use.

Rob de Barberis.
Or Rob of Barberries.

College.] Take of the juice of Barberries strained as much as you will, boil it by itself (or else by adding half a pound of sugar to each pound of juice) to the thickness of Honey.

Culpeper.] It quenches thirst, closes the mouth of the stomach, thereby staying vomiting, and belching, it strengthens stomachs weakened by heat, and procures appetite. Of any of these Robs you may take a little on the point of a knife when you need.

Rob de Cerasis.
Or Rob of Cherries.

College.] Take of the juice of red Cherries somewhat sowerish, as much as you will, and with half their weight in sugar boil them like the former.

Culpeper.] See the virtue of Cherries, and there you have a method to keep them all the year.

Rob de Cornis.
Or Rob of Cornels.

College.] Take of the juice of Cornels two pounds, sugar a pound and an half, boil it according to art.

Culpeper.] Of those Cornel trees are two sorts, male and female, the fruit of the male Cornel, or Cornelian Cherry is here to be used. The fruit of male Cornel, binds exceedingly, and therefore good in fluxes, and the immoderate flowing of the menses.

Rob Cydoniorum.
Or Rob of Quinces.

College.] Take of the clarified juice of Quinces, boil it till two parts be consumed and with its equal weight in sugar boil it into a Rob.

Miva vel Gelatina Eorundem.
Or Jelly of Quinces.

College.] Take of the juice of Quinces clarified twelve pounds, boil it half away, and add to the remainder, old white Wine five pounds, consume the third part over a gentle fire, taking away the scum (all you ought) let the rest settle, and strain it, and with three pounds of sugar boil it according to art.

Culpeper.] Both are good for weak and indisposed stomachs.

College.] Rob of sour Plums is made as Rob of Quinces, the use of sugar is indifferent in them both.

Rob of English Currants is made in the same manner, let the juice be clarified.

Culpeper.] The virtues are the same with Rob of Barberries.

Rob Baccarum Sambuci.
Or Rob of Elder Berries.

College.] Take of the juice of Elder Berries, and make it thick with the help of a gentle fire, either by itself, or a quarter of its weight in sugar being added.

Culpeper.] Both Rob of Elder Berries, and Dwarf-Elder, are excellent for such whose bodies are inclining to dropsies, neither let them neglect nor despise it. They may take the quantity of a nutmeg each morning, it will gently purge the watery humour.

College.] In the same manner is made Rob of Dwarf-Elder, Junipers, and Paul’s Betony, only in the last, the sugar and juice must be equal in weight.

Succus Glycyrrhizæ simplex.
Or Juice of Liquorice simple.

College.] Infuse Liquorice Roots cleansed and gently bruised, three days in Spring Water, so much that it may over-top the roots the breadth of three fingers, then boil it a little, and press it hard out, and boil the liquor with a gentle fire to its due thickness.

Culpeper.] It is vulgarly known to be good against coughs, colds, &c. and a strengthner of the lungs.

Succus Glycyrrhizæ compositus.
Or Juice of Liquorice compound.

College.] Take of the water of tender Oak leaves, of Scabious, of each four pounds, English Liquorice scraped and bruised two pounds, boil them by degrees till they be soft, then press out the liquor strongly in a press, to which add three pounds of juice of Hyssop, and dry it away in the sun in a broad earthen vessel.

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

Succus Pronorum Sylvestrum.
Or Juice of Sloes, called Acacia.

College.] Take of Sloes hardly ripe, press out the juice, and make it thick in a bath.

Culpeper.] It stops fluxes, and procures appetite.

College.] So are the Juices of Wormwood, Maudlin, and Fumitory made thick, to wit, the herbs bruised while they be tender, and the juice pressed out and after it be clarified, boil over the fire to its just thickness.