CULPEPER'S COMPLETE HERBAL

COLTSFOOT

Names. Called also cough-wort, foals's-foot, horse-hoof, and bull's-foot.

Description. This shooteth up a slender stalk with small yellowish flowers, somewhat early, which fall away quickly; after they are past, come up somewhat round leaves, sometimes dented a little about the edges, much less, thicker, and greener, than those of butter-bur, with a little down or freeze over the green leaf on the upper side, which may be rubbed away, and whitish or mealy underneath. The root is small and white, spreading much under ground, so that where it taketh root it will hardly be driven away again, if any little piece be abiding therein; and from thence spring fresh leaves.

Place. It groweth as well in wet grounds as in drier places.

Time. It flowereth in the end of February, the leaves beginning to appear in March.

Government and virtues. The plant is under Venus. The fresh leaves, or juice, or a syrup made thereof, is good for a hot dry cough, for wheezings and shortness of breath: the dry leaves are best for those that have thin rheums, and distillations upon their lungs, causing a cough, for which also the dried leaves taken as tobacco or the root is very good. The distilled water hereof simply, or with elderflowers and nightshade, is a singular remedy against all hot agues, to drink two ounces at a time, and apply cloths wet therein to the head and stomach, which also doth much good being applied to any hot swellings or inflammations; it helpeth St. Anthony's fire and burnings, and is singular good to take away wheals and small pushes that arise through heat; as also the burning heat of the piles, or privy parts, cloths wet therein being thereunto applied.