Chap. 005. Of Water Agrimony the Female Kind.

I. The Names. It is called in Greek, Ευπατόρειον ένυδρον τό θήλυ γένος, In Latin by Fuschius, Eupatorium Adulterinum; by Gesner, Eupatorium Aquaticum; by Matthiolus, Eupatorium Vulgare; by Lobel, Eupatorium Cannabinum Fæmina; by Bauhinus, Cannabina aquatica folio tripartito diviso; by Tabermontanus, Eupatorium Cannabinum Chrysanthemum; by Dodoneus, Pseudo-hepatorium Fæmina; by Sardus, Terzola; and by Camerarius, Eupatorium Avicennæ; in English, Female Water Agrimony, and Hemp-like Agrimony.

II. The Kinds. This is the second Species of Water Agrimony; to wit, the Female Kind, as you may see, chap. 3. Sect. 2. aforegoing.

III. The Description. The Root consists of many long slender Strings, and is of long continuance, from whence Stalks grow up about two Foot high, or higher, and are of a dark purple Color. The Branches are many; growing at distances nearly equal one from the other; the one from one side of the Stalk, the other from the opposite Point. The leaves are winged, and much Indented on the edges. The Flowers grow at the Tops of the Branches, of a brown yellow Color, spotted with black spots, having a Substance within the midst of them, like that of a Daisy. If you rub them between your Fingers, they will smell like to gum Elemi, Rosin or Cedar, when they are burnt. The Seeds are long, and easily stick to any Woollen thing. It plainly differs from our Common Agrimony because it wants the interposed little Leaves: and its flowers are much unlike. (Bidens tripartita, I think. -Henriette).

IV. The Places. It grows in cold Grounds, by Ponds and Ditch sides, as also by running Waters; and sometimes you shall find it to grow in the very Water it self.

V. The Times. It Flowers in July and August; and the Seed is ripe not long after the fading of the Flower.

VI. The Qualities. It is hot and dry in the first Degree: it is opening, cleansing, Pectoral, and Traumatick; and by appropriation is Hepatick, and Pulmonick, or Pectoral; it is Sudorifick and Alterative.

VII. The Specification. It is said to be a peculiar cleanser of the Blood; and restorer of its Crasis; and has a singular Property in curing of old Ulcers and Fistula's.

VIII. The Preparations. The Shops prepare nothing from it; but there may be made thereof,
1. A Decoction.
2. A Juice.
3. A Balsam of the Juice.
4. An Essence.
5. A Spirituous Tincture.
6. A Saline Tincture.
7. An Oily Tincture.
8. Ashes.

The Virtues.

IX. The Decoction in Wine. It is Traumatick, and a restorer of the Blood; attenuates and makes thin, gross, tough, and viscous Humors; and is a singular thing against Scabs, Itch, and other Salt Humors, being given from ij. ounces to vj. morning, noon, and night.

X. The Juice. It provokes the Terms in Women; and taken with the Juice of Fumitory, rectifies the saltness and sharpness of the Blood: it is good against Scabs, Itch, fast and sharp Humors, Apostems, &c. Dose from j. ounce to ij. morning, noon, and night.

XI. The Balsam. Take of the Juice vj. ounces, Turpentine iij. ounces, Oil ij. ounces, Bees Wax j. ounce, Rosine half an ounce, mix and make a Balsam, by Evaporating to a Consistence, or till the watry part of the Juice is gone. It is an excellent thing, for the curing of Wounds, Ulcers, old running Sores and Fistula's: Fills Ulcers with Flesh, and brings them to a speedy healing: Applied also in the Gout, it abates the Tumor, and gives ease in a little time.

XII. The Spirituous Tincture. It is singular good against Agues, taken to the quantity of an ounce: It also heals all green Wounds and old Sores, inwardly taken, and outwardly washt therewith.

XIII. The Saline Tincture. Taken inwardly it is good against the Stone, opens Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen, and is good against Leprosies, Cachexies, Dropsie and Yellow Jaundice: It removes stoppages of the Lungs, provokes Urine, and prevails against Gravel and Tartarous Matter, whether in the Reins or Bladder. Dose from j. dram to ij. or more, in Ale or Wine.

XIV. The Oily Tincture. It is good against the Stone in the Reins, being taken from iv. drops to xx. in a Glass of Ale, Wine, or some Nephritick Water, as Parsly, or Arsmart water. Outwardly used, it is of Excellent Service against a Cold Gout, and all manner of Aches and Pains proceeding from a Cold Cause, in what part of the Body so-ever; it warms and Comforts the Part, and prevents a Gangrene and Sphacelus and is good against Scurf, Morphew, Itch and the like, being anointed on the Part.

XV. The Essence. It is Traumatick, and an excellent thing to open Obstructions of the Visera, cleanse the Blood, and heal Ulcers of the Lungs, and has been approved of by some to be good against the Leprosie, inwardly taken from j. ounce to ij. twice a day in some proper Vehicle: things proper being also outwardly applyed for the same purpose.

XVI. The Fixed Salt. It Dissolves Tartar in the Blood, and Urinary Passages, absorbs and evaporates sharp and malign Humors, which are the cause of Scabs, Itch, Leprosy, and other breakings out of the Skin: it also cuts and makes thin those Humours which are tough and thick. Dose j. Scruple in a Glass of White Wine.

Botanologia, or The English Herbal, was written by William Salmon, M.D., in 1710.
This chapter has been proofread by Lisa Haller.