CULPEPER'S COMPLETE HERBAL

ROMAN WORMWOOD

Description. This Wormwood is much lesser than the former, only about two feet and a half high, the leaves are great deal smaller and finer, the divisions narrower and slenderer, hoary, and white both above and underneath. The leaves that grow on the upper part of the branches, are long, narrow, and undivided, resembling more the leaves of the common southernwood in figure, than either of the other Woomwoods. The flowers are numerous, growing on the tops of the branches as the former, of a darker colour, but vastly smaller. The root is creeping ad spreading, and composed of fibres; it is in all respects a more neat and elegant plant. This has neither so strong a smell, nor so bitter a taste as the common Wormwood, and scarce any of its aromatic flavour.

Place. This species is a native of the warmer parts of Europe, and grows with us only in gardens.

Time. Like all the Wormwoods it flowers in July.

Government and virtues. It is also a martial plant. The fresh tops are used, and the whole plant dried. It is excellent to strengthen the stomach; but that is not all its virtues, the juice of the fresh tops is good against obstructions of the liver and spleen, and has been known singly to cure the jaundice. For this purpose the conserve of the leaves is recommended; and indeed this is the sort of Wormwood that conserve ought to be made of only; whereas, folks generally make it of Sea Wormwood, because more pleasant and palatable. The flowery tops are the right part. These made into a light infusion, strengthen digestion, correct acidities, and supply the place of gall, where, as in many constitutions, that is deficient. Once ounce of the flowers and buds should be put into a vessel, and a pint and a half of boiling water poured on them, and thus to stand all night. In the morning, the clear liquor, with two spoonfuls of wine should be taken at three draughts, an hour and a half distance from one another. This regularly observed for a week, will cure all the complaints arising from indigestion and wind; and a fourth part of the dose repeated afterwards, will make the cure more lasting. An ounce of these flowers put into a pint of brandy, and steeped there for the space of six weeks, will produce a tincture of which a table-spoonful taken in a glass of water twice a day, will, in a great measure, prevent the increase of the gravel, and give great relief in the gout. Medicines prepared in the shops from Wormwood are - A simple water. A greater and a lesser compound water. A simple and a compound syrup. An oil by infusion and decoction. An oil by distillation. An extract. And a fixt salt.

The Roman Wormwood differs not much from the Sea Wormwood (See the following.) The leaves are finer cut, and less wooly. This is the most delicious kind, but of least strength. The Wormwood wine, so famous with the Germans, is made with this Roman Wormwood, put into the juice, and worked with it; it is a strong and an excellent wine, not unpleasant, yet of such efficacy to give an appetite, that the Germans drink of it so often, that they are capable to eat for hours together, without sickness or indigestion.