Ὑπέρικον,
Hypericum, St. John’s Wort, consists of two species, the first of which, called Androsæmum or Ascyron, has been treated of. The other is heating and desiccative, consisting of a subtile substance. Hence the whole fruit of it is diuretic and emmenagogue. When applied green along with its leaves it cicatrizes wounds. It cures sores when sprinkled dry upon them. It is also given to drink in ischiatic complaints.
Commentary. There is some difficulty in determining the species. Sibthorp decides in favour of the Hypericum crispum. The other authorities, namely, Dioscorides, Galen, and Aëtius, give it the same characters as our author. Celsus recommends it in calculus. (v, 21.) The Arabians in like manner commend it as being emmenagogue and diuretic. See Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 371); Averrhoes (Collig. v, 42); Avicenna (ii, 2, 354); Serapion (c. 267.) Rhases says it is called “herba sancti Joannis,” and hence the modern term St. John’s wort.
Ὑπήκοον,
Hypecoon, is cooling in the third degree, being nearly like poppy.
Commentary. The Hypecoum procumbens would seem to answer very well with the characters of it given by Dioscorides and the other authorities. It is a genus closely allied to the poppies. The other writers on the Mat. Med. treat of it in the same brief terms as our author. See Dioscorides (iv, 68); Ebn Baithar (i, 63.)
Ὑπόγλωσσον,
Hypoglosson, is a shrub; the root and juice of it are possessed of emollient powers.
Commentary. It is the Ruscus Hypoglossum. It appears to have been little used. We are not sure that it is mentioned at all by the Arabians, except Ebn Baithar, who copies literally from Dioscorides and Galen (i, 98); and the Greeks all treat of it briefly like our author. Dioscorides mentions its being used as an amulet in headache; and that its root and juice formed ingredients in softening plasters. (iv, 130.) It is not even yet wholly unknown to the shops. See Gray (Suppl. to Pharmacop. 24.)