CULPEPER'S COMPLETE HERBAL

STAR THISTLE

Description. A common Star Thistle has divers narrow leaves lying next the ground, cut on the edges, somewhat deeply into many parts, soft, a little woolly, all over green, among which rise up divers weak stalks, parted into many branches, all lying down to the ground, that it seems a pretty bush, set with divers the like divided leaves up to the tops, where severally stand small whitish green heds, set with sharp white pricks, (no part of the plant else being prickly) which are somewhat yellowish; out of the middle whereof rises the flowers composed of many small reddish purple threads: and in the heads, after the flowers are past, come small whitish round seedlying down as others do. The root is small, long, and woody, perishing every year, and rising again of their own sowing.

Place. It grows wild in the fields about London in many places as at Mile-End green, in Stepney fields, beyond the Windmill, and many other places.

Time. It flowers early, and seeds in July, and sometimes in August.

Virtues. The seed of this Star Thistle made into powder, and drank in wine, provokes urine, and helps to break the stone, and drives it forth. The root in powder, and given in wine, and drank, is good against the plague and pestilence: and drank in the morning fasting for some time together, it is very profitable for a fistule in ay part of the body. Baptista Sardas does much commend the distilled water hereof, being drank, to help the venereal disease, to open the obstructions of the liver, and cleanse the blood from corrupted humours; and it is profitable against the quotidian or tertain ague.