CULPEPER'S COMPLETE HERBAL

CLOWN'S WOUNDWORT

Description. It groweth up sometimes to three or four feet high, but usually about two feet, with square green, rough stalks, but slender, jointed somewhat far asunder, and two very long, and somewhat narrow, dark-green leaves, bluntly dented about the edges, and ending in a long point. The flowers standing toward the tops, compassing the stalks at the joints with the leaves, and end likewise in a spiked top, having long and much open gaping hoods, of a purplish red colour with whitish spots in them, standing in somewhat rough husks, wherein afterwards stand blackish round seeds. The root is composed of many long strings, with some tuberous long knobs growing among them, of a pale yellowish or whitish colour, yet some times of the year these knobby roots, in many places, are not seen in the plant. The whole plant smelleth somewhat strongly.

Place. It groweth in sundry counties of this land, both north and west, and frequently by path-sides in the fields near about London, and within three or four miles distant about it, yet usually grows in or near ditches.

Time. It floweretj in June or July, and the seed is ripe soon after.

Government and virtues. It is under the dominion of the planet Saturn. It is singularly effectual in all fresh and green wounds, and therefore beareth not this name for nought: And is very available in staunching of blood, to dry up the fluxes of humours in old fretting ulcers, cancers, &c. that hinder the healing of them.

A syrup made of the juice of it is inferior to none for inward wounds, ruptures of veins, bloody flux, vessels broken, spitting, pissing, or vomiting blood: ruptures are excellently and speedily, even to admiration, cured by taking now and then a little of the syrup, and applying an ointment or plaster of the same to the place; and also, if any vein be swelled or muscle cut, apply a plaister of this herb to it, and, if you add a little comfrey to it, it will not do amiss. I assure you this herb deserves commendation, though it have gotten but a clownish name; and whoever reads this, if he try it as I have done, will commend it as welll as me. It is of an earthy nature.