Arundinis, Vallanoriæ, and Saccharinæ. Of common reeds and sugar reeds. The roots of common reeds applied to the place draw out thorns, and ease sprains; the ashes of them mixed with vinegar, take scurf, or dandrif off from the head, and prevent the falling off of the hair, they are hot and dry in the second degree, according to Galen. I never read any virtue of the root of sugar cane.
Ari, &c. Of Cuckow-points, or Wake-Robin, hot and dry in the third degree, I know no great good they do inwardly taken, unless to play the rogue withal, or make sport: outwardly applied, they take off scurf, morphew, or freckles from the face, clear the skin, and ease the pains of the gout.
Asclepiadis, vincetoxici. Of Swallow-wort, hot and dry, good against poison, and gripings of the belly, as also against the bitings of mad dogs, taken inwardly.
Asari. Of Asarabacca: the roots are a safer purge than the leaves, and not so violent, they purge by vomit, stool, and urine; they are profitable for such as have agues, dropsies, stoppings of the liver, or spleen, green sickness.
Asparagi. Of Asparagus, or sperage: they are temperate in quality, opening, they provoke urine, and cleanse the reins and bladder, being boiled in white wine, and the wine drank.
Asphodeli, Hastæ Regiæ fœm. Of Kings Spear, or Female Asphodel. I know no physical use of the roots; probably there is, for I do not believe God created any thing of no use.
Asphodeli, Albuci, muris. Of male Asphodel. Hot and dry in the second degree, inwardly taken, they provoke vomit, urine, and the menses: outwardly used in ointments, they cause hair to grow, cleanse ulcers, and take away morphew and freckles from the face.
Bardanæ, &c. Of Bur, Clot-bur, or Burdock, temperately hot and dry. Helps such as spit blood and matter; bruised and mixed with salt and applied to the place, helps the bitings of mad dogs. It expels wind, eases pains of the teeth, strengthens the back, helps the running of the reins, and the whites, being taken inwardly. Dioscorides, Apuleius.
Behen. alb. rub. Of Valerian, white and red. Mesue, Serapio, and other Arabians, say they are hot and moist in the latter end of the first, or beginning of the second degree, and comfort the heart, stir up lust. The Grecians held them to be dry in the second degree, that they stop fluxes, and provoke urine.
Bellidis. Of Dasies. See the Leaves.