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

TROCHES.

Trochisci de Absinthio.
Or Troches of Wormwood.

College.] Take of red Roses, Wormwood leaves, Annis seeds, of each two drams, juice of Maudlin made thick, the roots of Asarabacca, Rhubarb, Spikenard, Smallage seeds, bitter Almonds, Mastich, Mace, of each one dram, juice of Succory so much as is sufficient to make it into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] They strengthen the stomach exceedingly, open obstructions, or stoppings of the belly and bowels: strengthen digestion, open the passages of the liver, help the yellow jaundice, and consume watery superfluities of the body. They are somewhat bitter, and seldom taken alone; if your pallate affect bitter things, you may take a dram of them in the morning: They cleanse the body of choler, but purge not, or not to any purpose.

Agaricus Trochiscatus.
Or Agarick Trochiscated.

College.] Take of Agarick sifted and powdered, three ounces, steep it in a sufficient quantity of white Wine, in which two drams of ginger have been infused, and make it into troches.

Trochisci Albi. Rhasis.
Or white Troches.

College.] Take of Ceruss washed in Rosewater ten drams, Sarcocol three drams, white Starch two drams, Gum Arabic and Tragacanth, of each one dram, Camphire half a dram, either with Rosewater, or women’s milk, or make it into troches according to art.

Trochisci Alexiterii.

College.] Take of Zedoary roots, powder of Crab’s Claws, of each one dram, and an half, the outward Citron preserved and dried, Angelica seeds, Pills, of each one dram, Bole-amoniac half a dram, with their treble weight in sugar make them into powder, and with a sufficient quantity of Mussilage of Gum Tragacanth, made into treacle water distilled, make it into paste, of which make troches.

Culpeper.] This preserves the body from ill airs, and epidemical diseases, as the pestilence, small pox, &c. and strengthens the heart exceedingly, eating now and then a little: you may safely keep any troches in your pocket, for the drier you keep them, the better they are.

Trochisci Alhandal.

College.] Take of Coloquintida freed from the seeds and cut small, and rubbed with an ounce of oil of Roses, then beaten into fine powder, ten ounces, Gum Arabic, Tragacanth, Bdellium, of each six drams. Steep the Gums three or four days in a sufficient quantity of Rose-water till they be melted, then with the aforesaid pulp, and part of the said mussilage, let them be dried in the shadow, then beaten again, and with the rest of the mussilage, make it up again, dry them and keep them for use.

Culpeper.] They are too violent for a vulgar use.

Trochisci Aliptæ Moschatæ.

College.] Take of Labdanum bruised three ounces, Styrax Calamitis one ounce and an half, Benjamin one ounce, Wood of Aloes two drams, Ambergris one dram, Camphire half a dram, Musk half a scruple, with a sufficient quantity of Rose-water, make it into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] It is singularly good for such as are asthmatic, and can hardly fetch their breath; as also for young children, whose throat is so narrow that they can hardly swallow down their milk.

Trochisci Alkekengi.
Or Troches of Winter-cherries.

College.] Take of Winter Cherries three drams, Gum Arabic, Tragacanth, Olibanum, Dragon’s-blood, Pine-nuts, bitter Almonds, white Styrax, juice of Liquorice, Bole-ammoniac, white Poppy seeds, of each six drams, the seeds of Melons, Cucumbers, Citruls, Gourds, of each three drams and an half, the seeds of Smallage and white Henbane, Amber, Earth of Lemnos, Opium, of each two drams, with juice of fresh Winter-Cherries, make them into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] They potently provoke urine, and break the stone. Mix them with other medicine of that nature, half a dram at a time, or a dram if age permit.

Trochisci Bechici aloi, vel, Rotulæ pectorales.
Or, Pectoral Rolls.

College.] Take of white Sugar one pound, white Sugar Candy, Penids, of each four ounces, Orris Florentine one ounce, Liquorice six drams, white Starch one ounce and an half, with a sufficient quantity of mussilage of Gum Tragacanth made in Rose Water, make them into small troches. You may add four grains of Ambergris, and three grains of Musk to them, if occasion serve.

Trochisci Bechici nigri.

College.] Take of juice of Liquorice, white Sugar, of each one dram, Gum Tragacanth, sweet Almonds blanched, of each six drams, with a sufficient quantity of mussilage of Quince seeds, made thick with Rose Water. Make them into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] Both this and the former will melt in ones mouth, and in that manner to be used by such as are troubled with coughs, cold, hoarseness, or want of voice. The former is most in use, but in my opinion, the latter is most effectual.

Trochisci de Barberis.
Or, Troches of Barberries.

College.] Take of juice of Barberries, and Liquorice made thick, Spodium, Purslain seeds, of each three drams, red Roses, six drams, Indian Spikenard, Saffron, white Starch, Gum Tragacanth, of each a dram, Citrul seeds cleansed three drams and an half, Camphire half a dram; with Manna dissolved in juice of Barberries, make them into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] They wonderfully cool the heat of the liver, reins, and bladder, breast, and stomach, and stop looseness, cools the heat of fevers.

Trochisci de Camphora.
Or, Troches of Camphire.

College.] Take of Camphire half a dram, Saffron two drams, white Starch three drams, red Roses, Gum Arabic, and Tragacanth, Ivory, of each half an ounce, the seeds of Cucumbers husked, of Purslain, Liquorice, of each an ounce, with mussilage of the seeds of Fleawort, drawn in Rose-water, make them into troches.

Culpeper.] It is exceeding good in burning fevers, heat of blood and choler, together with hot distempers of the stomach and liver, and extreme thirst coming thereby, also it is good against the yellow jaundice, phthisics, and hectic fevers.

Trochisci de Capparibus.
Or, Troches of Capers.

College.] Take of the bark of Caper roots, the seeds of Agnus Castus, of each six drams, Ammoniacum half an ounce, the seeds of Water Cresses and Nigella, the leaves of Calaminth and Rue, the roots of Acorus and long Birthwort, the juice of Maudlin made thick, bitter Almonds, of each two drams, Hart’s-tongue, the roots of round Cypress, Madder, Gum Lac. of each one dram: being bruised let them be made into troches according to art, with Ammoniacum dissolved in Vinegar, and boiled to the thickness of Honey.

Culpeper.] They open stoppings of the liver and spleen, and help diseases thereof coming; as rickets, hypochondriac melancholy, &c. Men may take a dram, children a scruple in the morning.

Trochisci de Carabe.
Or, Troches of Amber.

College.] Take of Amber an ounce, Hart’s-horn burnt, Gum Arabic burnt, red Coral burnt, Tragacanth, Acacia, Hypocistis, Balaustines, Mastich, Gum Lacca washed, black Poppy seeds roasted, of each two drams and two scruples, Frankincense, Saffron, Opium, of each two drams, with a sufficient quantity of mussilage of the seeds of Fleawort drawn in Plantain Water, make them into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] They were invented to stop fluxes of blood in any part of the body, the menses, the hæmorrhoids or piles; they also help ulcers in the breast and lungs. The dose is from ten grains to a scruple.

Trochisci Cypheos, for Mithridate.

College.] Take of pulp of Raisins of the Sun, Cypress, Turpentine, of each three ounces, Myrrh, Squinanth, of each an ounce and an half, Cinnamon half an ounce, Calamus Aromaticus nine drams, the roots of round Cypress, and Indian Spikenard, Cassia Lignea, Juniper berries, Bdellium, Aspalthus or Wood of Aloes, two drams and an half, Saffron one dram, clarified Honey as much as is sufficient, Canary Wine a little: let the Myrrh and Bdellium be ground in a mortar with the wine, to the thickness of liquid Honey, then add the Turpentine, then the pulp of Raisins, then the powders: at last with the Honey, let them all be made into troches.

Culpeper.] It is excellently good against inward ulcers in what part of the body soever they be. It is chiefly used in compositions, as Treacle and Mithridate.

Trochisci de Eupatorio.
Or Troches of Maudlin.

College.] Take of the juice of Maudlin made thick, Manna, of each an ounce, red Roses half an ounce, Spodium three drams and an half, Spikenard three drams, Rhubarb, Asarabacca roots, Annis seeds, of each two drams. Let the Nard, Annis seeds, and Roses, be beaten together, the Spodium, Asarabacca, and Rhubarb by themselves, then mix the Manna and juice of Maudlin in a mortar, add the powders, and with new juice make it into troches.

Culpeper.] Obstructions, or stoppings, and swelling above nature, both of the liver and spleen, are cured by the inward taking of these troches, and diseases thereof coming, as yellow and black jaundice, the beginning of dropsies, &c.

Troches of Gallia Moschata.

College.] Take of Wood of Aloes five drams, Ambergris three drams, Musk one dram, with mussilage of Gum Tragacanth made in Rose Water, make it into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] They strengthen the brain and heart, and by consequence both vital and animal spirits, and cause a sweet breath. They are of an extreme price, therefore I pass by the dose.

Trochisci Gordonii.

College.] Take of the four greater cold seeds husked, the seeds of white Poppies, Mallows, Cotton, Purslain, Quinces, Mirtles, Gum Tragacanth, and Arabic, Fistic-nuts, Pine-nuts, Sugar-candy, Penids, Liquorice, French-barley, mussilage of Fleawort seeds, sweet Almonds blanched, of each two drams, Bole-ammoniac, Dragon’s-blood, Spodium, red Roses, Myrrh, of each half an ounce, with a sufficient quantity of Hydromel, make it into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] They are held to be very good in ulcers of the bladder, and all other inward ulcers whatsoever, and ease fevers coming thereby, being of a fine cooling, slippery heating nature.

Trochisci Hedichroi, (Galen) for Treacle.

College.] Take of Aspalthus, or yellow Sanders, the leaves of Mastich, the roots of Asarabacca, of each two drams, Rhupontic, Castus, Calamus Aromaticus, Wood of Aloes, Cinnamon, Squinanth, Opobalsamum or oil of Nutmegs by expression, of each three drams, Cassia Lignea, Indian Leaf or Mace, Indian Spikenard, Myrrh, Saffron, of each six drams, Amomus, or Cardamoms the less, an ounce and an half, Mastich a dram, Canary Wine as much as is sufficient. Let the Myrrh be dissolved in the wine, then add the Mastich and Saffron well beaten, then the Opobalsamum, then the rest in powder, and with the wine, make them up into troches, and dry them gently.

Culpeper.] They are very seldom or never used but in other compositions, yet naturally they heat cold stomachs, help digestion, strengthen the heart and brain.

Trochisci Hysterici.

College.] Take of Asafœtida, Galbanum, of each two drams and an half, Myrrh two drams, Castoreum a dram and an half, the roots of Asarabacca and long Birthwort, the leaves of Savin, Featherfew, Nep, of each one dram, Dittany half a dram, with either the juice or decoction of Rue, make it into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] These are applied to the fœminine gender, help fits of the mother, expel both birth and after-birth, cleanse women after labour, and expel the relics of a careless midwife.

Trochisci de Ligno Aloes.
Or Troches of Wood of Aloes.

College.] Take of Wood of Aloes, red Roses, of each two drams, Mastich, Cinnamon, Cloves, Indian Spikenard, Nutmegs, Parsnip seed, Cardamoms the greater and lesser, Cubebs, Gallia Moschata, Citron Pills, Mace, of each one dram and an half, Ambergris, Musk, of each half a scruple, with Honey of Raisins make it into troches.

Culpeper.] It strengthens the heart, stomach, and liver, takes away heart-qualms, faintings, and stinking breath, and resists the dropsy.

Trochisci e Mirrha.
Or Troches of Myrrh.

College.] Take of Myrrh three drams, the Meal of Lupines five drams, Madder roots, the leaves of Rue, wild Mints, Dittany of Crete, Cummin seeds, Asafœtida, Sagapen, Opopanax, of each two drams, dissolve the Gums in Wine wherein Mugwort hath been boiled, or else Juniper-berries, then add the rest, and with juice of Mugwort, make it into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] They provoke the menses, and that with great ease to such as have them come down with pain. Take a dram of them beaten into powder, in a spoonful or two of Syrup of Mugwort, or any other composition tending to the same purpose.

Sief de Plumbo.
Or Sief of Lead.

College.] Take of Lead burnt and washed, Brass burnt, Antimony, Tutty washed, Gum Arabic and Tragacanth of each an ounce, Opium half a dram, with Rose-water, make them, being beaten and sifted, into troches.

Trochisci Polyidæ Androm.

College.] Take of Pomegranate flowers twelve drams, Roach Album three drams, Frankincense, Myrrh, of each half an ounce, Chalcanthum two drams, Bull’s gall six drams, Aloes an ounce, with austere Wine, or juice of Nightshade or Plantain, make them into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] They are very good they say, being outwardly applied, both in green wounds and ulcers. I fancy them not.

Trochisci de Rhubarbaro.
Or Troches of Rhubarb.

College.] Take of Rhubarb ten drams, juice of Maudlin made thick, bitter Almonds, of each half an ounce, red Roses three drams, the roots of Asarabacca, Madder, Indian Spikenard, the leaves of Wormwood, the seeds of Annis and Smallage, of each one dram, with Wine in which Wormwood hath been boiled, make them into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] They gently cleanse the liver, help the yellow jaundice, and other diseases coming of choler and stoppage of the liver.

Trochisci de Santalis.
Or Troches of Sanders.

College.] Take of the three Sanders, of each one ounce, the seeds of Cucumbers, Gourds, Citruls, Purslain, Spodium, of each half an ounce, red Roses seven drams, juice of Barberries six drams, Bole-ammoniac half an ounce, Camphire one dram, with Purslain Water make it into troches.

Culpeper.] The virtues are the same with troches of Spodium, both of them harmless.

Trochisci da Scilla ad Theriacam.
Or Troches of Squils, for Treacle.

College.] Take a Squil gathered about the beginning of July, of a middle bigness, and the hard part to which the small roots stick, wrap it up in paste, and bake it in an oven, till the paste be dry, and the Squil tender, which you may know by piercing it with a wooden skewer, or a bodkin, then take it out and bruise it in a mortar, adding to every pound of the Squil, eight ounces of white Orobus, or red Cicers in powder, then make it into troches, of the weight of two drams a piece, (your hands being anointed with Oil of Roses) dry them on the top of the house, opening towards the South, in the shadow, often turning them till they be well dry, then keep them in a pewter or glass vessel.

Troches of Spodium.

College.] Take of red Roses twelve drams, Spodium ten drams, Sorrel seed six drams, the seeds of Purslain and Coriander, steeped in Vinegar and dried, pulp of Sumach, of each two drams and an half, white Starch roasted, Balaustines, Barberries, of each two drams, Gum Arabic roasted one dram and an half, with juice of unripe Grapes, make it into troches.

Culpeper.] They are of a fine cooling binding nature, excellent in fevers coming of choler, especially if they be accompanied with a looseness, they also quench thirst.

Trochisci de terra Lemnia.
Or Troches of Earth of Lemnos.

College.] Take of Earth of Lemnos, Bole-ammoniac, Acacia, Hypocystis, Gum Arabic toasted, Dragon’s blood, white Starch, red Roses, Rose seeds, Lap. Hematitis, red Coral, Amber, Balaustines, Spodium, Purslain seeds a little toasted, Olibanum, Hart’s-horn burnt, Cypress Nuts, Saffron of each two drams, black Poppy seeds, Tragacanth, Pearls, of each one dram and an half, Opium prepared one dram, with juice of Plantain, make it into troches.

Sief de Thure.
Or Sief of Frankincense.

College.] Take of Frankincense, Lap. Calaminaris, Pompholix, of each ten drams, Cyrus forty drams, Gum Arabic, Opium, of each six drams, with fair water make it into balls: dry them and keep them for use.

Trochisci e Violis solutivi.
Or Troches of Violets solutive.

College.] Take of Violet flowers meanly dry, six drams, Turbith one ounce and an half, juice of Liquorice, Scammony, Manna, of each two drams, with Syrup of Violets, make it into troches.

Culpeper.] They are not worth talking of, much less worth cost, the cost and labour of making.

Trochisci de Vipera ad Theriacum.
Or Troches of Vipers, for Treacle.

College.] Take of the flesh of Vipers, the skin, entrails, head, fat, and tail being taken away, boiled in water with Dill, and a little salt, eight ounces, white bread twice baked, grated and sifted, two ounces, make it into troches, your hands being anointed with Opobalsamum, or Oil of Nutmegs by expression, dry them upon a sieve turned the bottom upwards in an open place, often turning them till they are well dried, then put them in a glass or stone pot glazed, stopped close, they will keep a year, yet is it far better to make Treacle, not long after you have made them.

Culpeper.] They expel poison, and are excellently good, by a certain sympathetical virtue, for such as are bitten by an adder.

Trochisci de Agno Casto.
Or Troches of Agnus Castus.

College.] Take of the seeds of Agnus Castus, Lettuce, red Rose flowers, Balaustins, of each a dram, Ivory, white Amber, Bole-ammoniac washed in Knotgrass Water two drams, Plantain seeds four scruples, Sassafras two scruples, with mussilage of Quince seeds, extracted in water of Water-lily flowers, let them be made into troches.

Culpeper.] Very pretty troches and good for little.

Trochisci Alexiterii. Renodæus.

College.] Take of the roots of Gentian, Tormentil, Orris Florentine, Zedoary, of each two drams, Cinnamon, Cloves, Mace, of each half a dram, Angelica roots three drams, Coriander seeds prepared, Roses, of each one dram, dried Citron pills two drams, beat them all into powder, and with juice of Liquorice softened in Hippocras, six ounces, make them into soft paste, which you may form into either troches or small rolls, which you please.

Culpeper.] It preserves and strengthens the heart exceedingly, helps faintings and failings of the vital spirits, resists poison and the pestilence, and is an excellent medicine for such to carry about them whose occasions are to travel in pestilential places and corrupt air, only taking a very small quantity now and then.

Troches of Annis seed. Mesue.

College.] Take of Annis seeds, the juice of Maudlin made thick, of each two drams, the seeds of Dill, Spikenard, Mastich, Indian leaf or Mace, the leaves of Wormwood, Asarabacca, Smallage, bitter Almonds, of each half a dram, Aloes two drams, juice of Wormwood so much as is sufficient to make it into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] They open obstructions of the liver, and that very gently, and therefore diseases coming thereof, help quartan agues. You can scarce do amiss in taking them if they please but your palate.

Trochisci Diarhodon. Mesue.

College.] Take of the flowers of red Roses six drams, Spikenard, Wood of Aloes, of each two drams, Liquorice three drams, Spodium one dram, Saffron half a dram, Mastich two drams, make them up into troches with white Wine according to art.

Culpeper.] They wonderfully ease fevers coming of flegm, as quotidian fevers, agues, epiatos, &c. pains in the belly.

Trochisci de Lacca. Mesue.

College.] Take of Gum Lacca cleansed, the juice of Liquorice, Maudlin, Wormwood, and Barberries, all made thick, Rhubarb, long Birthwort, Costus, Asarabacca, bitter Almonds, Madder, Annis, Smallage, Schænanth, of each one dram, with the decoction of Birthwort, Schænanth, or the juice of Maudlin, or Wormwood, make them into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] It helps stoppings of the liver and spleen, and fevers thence coming, it expels wind, purges by urine, and resists dropsies.

Pastilli Adronis. Galen.

College.] Take of Pomegranate flowers ten drams, Copperas twelve drams, unripe Galls, Birthwort, Frankincense, of each an ounce, Alum, Myrrh, of each half an ounce, Misy two drams, with eighteen ounces of austere Wine, make it into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] This also is appropriated to wounds, ulcers, and fistulas, it clears the ears, and represses all excressences of flesh, cleanses the filth of the bones.

Trochisci Musæ. Galen.

College.] Take of Alum, Aloes, Copperas, Myrrh, of each six drams, Crocomagma, Saffron, of each three drams, Pomegranate flowers half an ounce, Wine and Honey, of each so much as is sufficient to make it up into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] Their use is the same with the former.

Crocomagma of Damocrates. Galen.

College.] Take of Saffron an hundred drams, red Roses, Myrrh, of each fifty drams, white Starch, Gum, of each thirty drams, Wine, so much as is sufficient to make it into troches.

Culpeper.] It is very expulsive, heats and strengthens the heart and stomach.

Trochisci Ramich. Mesue.

College.] Take of the juice of Sorrel sixteen ounces, red Rose Leaves, an ounce, Myrtle Berries two ounces, boil them a little together, and strain them, add to the decoction, Galls well beaten, three ounces, boil them again a little, then put in these following things, in fine powder: take of red Roses an ounce, yellow Sanders, ten drams, Gum Arabic an ounce and an half, Sumach, Spodium, of each an ounce, Myrtle berries four ounces, Wood of Aloes, Cloves, Mace, Nutmegs, of each half an ounce, sour Grapes seven drams, mix them all together, and let them dry upon a stone, and grind them again into powder, and make them into small troches with one dram of Camphire, and so much Rose Water as is sufficient, and perfume them with fifteen grains of Musk.

Culpeper.] They strengthen the stomach, heart, and liver, as also the bowels, they help the cholic, and fluxes of blood, as also bleeding at the nose if you snuff up the powder of them, disburden the body of salt, fretting, choleric humours. You may carry them about you, and take them at your pleasure.

Troches of Roses. Mesue.

College.] Take of red Roses half an ounce, Wood of Aloes two drams, Mastich, a dram and an half, Roman Wormwood, Cinnamon, Indian Spikenard, Cassia Lignea, Schœnanth, of each one dram, old Wine, and decoction of the five opening roots, so much as is sufficient to make it into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] They help pains in the stomach, and indigestion, the illiac passion, hectic fevers, and dropsies, in the beginning, and cause a good colour.

Trochisci Diacorallion. Galen.

College.] Take of Bole-ammoniac, red Coral, of each an ounce, Balaustines, Terra Lemnia, white Starch, of each half an ounce, Hypocistis, the seeds of Henbane, Opium, of each two drams, juice of Plantain so much as is sufficient to make them into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] These also stop blood, help the bloody flux, stop the menses, and are a great help to such whose stomachs loath their victuals. I fancy them not.

Trochisci Diaspermaton. Galen.

College.] Take of the seeds of Smallage, and Bishop’s weed, of each an ounce, Annis and Fennel seeds, of each half an ounce, Opium, Cassia Lignea, of each two drams, with rain water, make it into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] These also bind, ease pain, help the pleurisy.

Hæmoptoici Pastilli. Galen.

College.] Take of white Starch, Balaustines, Earth of Samos, juice of Hypocystis, Gum, Saffron, Opium, of each two drams, with juice of Plantain, make them into troches according to art.

Culpeper.] The operation of this is like the former.

Troches of Agarick.

College.] Take of choice Agarick three ounces, Sal. Gem. six drams, Ginger two drams, with Oxymel simplex, so much as is sufficient, make it into troches according to art.