Betonica Pauli, &c. Paul’s Betony, or Male Lluellin, to which add Elative, or Female Lluellin, which comes afterwards; they are pretty temperate, stop defluxions of humours that fall from the head into the eyes, are profitable in wounds, help filthy foul eating cankers.
Betonica Coronaria, &c. Is Clove Gilli-flowers. See the flowers.
Bellis. Dasies: are cold and moist in the second degree, they ease all pains and swellings coming of heat, in clysters they loose the belly, are profitable in fevers and inflammations of the testicles, they take away bruises, and blackness and blueness; they are admirable in wounds and inflammations of the lungs or blood.
Blitum. Blites. Some say they are cold and moist, others cold and dry: none mention any great virtues of them.
Borrago. Borrage: hot and moist, comforts the heart, cheers the spirits, drives away sadness and melancholy, they are rather laxative than binding; help swooning and heart-qualms, breed good blood, help consumptions, madness, and such as are much weakened by sickness.
Bonus Henricus. Good Henry, or all good; hot and dry, cleansing and scouring, inwardly taken it loosens the belly; outwardly it cleanseth old sores and ulcers.
Botrys. Oak of Jerusalem: hot and dry in the second degree, helps such as are short-winded, cuts and wastes gross and tough flegm, laid among cloaths they preserve them from moths, and give them a sweet smell.
Branca ursina. Bears-breech.
Brionia, &c. Briony, white and black; both are hot and dry in the third degree, purge violently, yet are held to be wholesome physic for such as have dropsies, vertigo, or swimming in the head, falling-sickness, &c. Certainly it is a strong, troublesome purge, therefore not to be tampered with by the unskilful, outwardly in ointments it takes away freckles, wrinkles, morphew, scars, spots, &c. from the face.