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

College.] Take of Agrimony, Mugwort, wild Angelica, St. John’s Wort, Mousear, of each two handfuls, Wormwood half a handful, Southernwood, Bettony, Bugloss, Comfrey the greater and lesser, roots and all, Avens, both sorts of Plantain, Sanicle, Tormentil with the roots, the buds of Barberries and Oak, of each a handful, all these being gathered in May and June and diligently dried, let them be cut and put up in skins or papers against the time of use, then take of the forenamed herbs three handfuls, boil them in four pounds of conduit water and two pounds of white Wine gently till half be consumed, strain it, and a pound of Honey being added to it, let it be scummed and kept for use.

Culpeper.] If sight of a medicine will do you good, this is as like to do it as any I know.

SYRUPS.

ALTERING SYRUPS.

Culpeper.] Reader, before we begin with the particular Syrups, I think good to advertise thee of these few things, which concern the nature, making, and use of Syrups in general. 1. A Syrup is a medicine of a liquid body, compounded of Decoction, Infusion, or Juice, with Sugar or Honey, and brought by the heat of the fire, into the thickness of Honey. 2. Because all Honey is not of a thickness, understand new Honey, which of all other is thinnest. 3. The reason why Decoctions, Infusions, Juices, are thus used, is, Because thereby, First, They will keep the longer. Secondly, They will taste the better. 4. In boiling Syrups have a great care of their just consistence, for if you boil them too much they will candy, if too little, they will sour. 5. All simple Syrups have the virtues of the simples they are made of, and are far more convenient for weak people, and delicate stomachs.

Syrupus de Absinthio simplex.
Or Syrup of Wormwood simple.

The College.] Take of the clarified Juice of common Wormwood, clarified Sugar, of each four pounds, make it into a Syrup according to art. After the same manner, are prepared simple Syrups of Betony, Borrage, Bugloss, Carduus, Chamomel, Succory, Endive, Hedge-mustard, Strawberries, Fumitory, Ground Ivy, St. John’s Wort, Hops, Mercury, Mousear, Plantain, Apples, Purslain, Rasberries, Sage, Scabious, Scordium, Houseleek, Colt’s-foot, Paul’s Bettony, and other Juices not sour.

Culpeper.] See the simples, and then you may easily know both their virtues, and also that they are pleasanter and fitter for delicate stomachs when they are made into Syrups.