Chap. 082. Blood-wort.

Botanical name: 
Rumex sanguineus

Blood wort. I. The Names. It is called in Greek ******: In Latin, Lapathum Sanguineum, as Parkinson: Sanguis Draconis Herba, as J. Bauhin: Lapathum folio acuto rubente, as C. Bauhin: In English, Blood-wort.

II. The Kinds. It is a Species of the Dock, and differs little but in its color. (Rumex sanguineus. -Henriette.)

III. The Description. It has a Root not great, but something long, and very red, abiding many Years, yet sometimes killed by the extream hardness of the Winter: And as it is one of the sort of Docks, so has it long Leaves, like unto the smaller yellow Dock, but overspread with many red Veins, and over-shadowed with red upon the green leaf, that it seems sometimes almost wholly red. The Stalk is red or Reddish, bearing such like Leaves, but smaller, up to the Top, where it is divided into divers small Branches, on which grow purplish Flowers; after which come three square, dark, red Seed, like unto other Docks.

V. The Places. It grows chiefly in Gardens, as a Pot-herb, almost throughout the Kingdom: but Parkinson says, it is sometimes found growing Wild.

V. The Times. It rises up in the Spring of the Year; Flowers through all June and July and the Seed is ripe in August.

VI. The Qualities. Blood-wort in respect to heat or cold is temperate, and dry in the second Degree: It is astringent, Digestive, Discussive, and Traumatick; Stomatick, Hepatick, Splenetick, and Alterative.

VII. The Specification. It is peculiar for cleansing the Blood, and strengthening it in its Crafts, and therefore powerful against the Scurvy.

VIII. The Preparations. You may make thereof

  • 1. A Liquid juice.
  • 2. An Essence.
  • 3. A Decoction in Red Wine.
  • 4. An Acid Tincture.
  • 5. A Syrup.
  • 6. A Saline Tincture.
  • 7. A Balsam.
  • 8. A Cataplasm.
  • 9. A Pouder of the Seed.

The Virtues.

IX. The Liquid juice. Taken from one ounce to four, either alone by it self, or mixed with Wine, it removes the Discrasie of the Blood and Humors, cleanses it, and renews the whole Bloody Mass, like to the Blood of a young Child: It ought to be given Morning and Night for several Days.

X. The Essence. It has the Virtues of the Juice, strengthens the Stomach, Liver, and other Bowels, stops Fluxes of the Belly, chiefly the Bloody Flux, helps Spitting of Blood, and the Subversion or Loathing of the Stomach through Choler: It opens Obstructions, and is profitable against the Jaundice. Dose four or fix Spoonfuls, or more.

XI. The Decoction. It has the Virtues of the Essence, but not full out so powerful; and being outwardly used it is good against Freckles, Tannings, Sun-burnings, Morphew, and other like defilements of the skin. Taken inwardly to six ounces, it opens Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen, strengthens the Viscera, and stops all Fluxes of Blood. It may be made both of Roots and Leaves in Red Port Wine.

XII. The Acid Tincture. This is more stomatick than any of the former, purifies the Blood, rectifies the Humors, and cures the Scurvy whether in Old or Young: The Dose is from a quarter of a spoonful to half, in Wine, or any proper Vehicle. Besides all this, it kills Worms in Children, and is good against the Dropsie quenches Thirst, restores lost Appetite, and takes away the Praeternatural heat of Fevers: A Julep may be made of it, with the Syrup thereof, to be given in all malign and burning Fevers.

XIII. The Syrup It is Pectoral, good against Coughs, Colds, Wheezings, and shortness of Breath.

XIV. The Saline Tincture. It purifies the Blood by the Urinary Passages, allays the heat of Fevers, is prevalent against Jaundice and Dropsie, and loosens the Belly: Outwardly used, it is good against Pimples, Scurf, Morphew, and other breakings out of the Skin.

XV. The Balsam. It eases Pains, being anointed upon any Part, speedily cures Green Wounds, cleanses Ulcers, incarnates, and heals them.

XVI. The Cataplasm. It is Discussive, and somewhat Repercussive, is profitably applied to Contusions, and other Tumors, and gives ease in the Gout.

XVII. The Pouder of the Seed. It is drying and binding, stops Fluxes of all sorts, and bleedings of the Viscera: and taken in Wine to one dram, it is good against the wounds of the Scorpion, Mad-Dogs, and of other Venomous Beasts.

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