Chap. 017. Of Water Angelica.

I. The Names. It is called in Greek, ’Αγγελιχη ενυδζα: in Latin, Angelica Aquatica, Archangelica: And in English, Water Angelica.

II. The Kinds. It is the third Species of Angelica aforementioned, in chap. 15. sect. 2. above: of which there is known to us, this singular kind only. And it is by some called Wild Angelica, whence the Name upon the Cut, which is the first Cut in the former Chapter, and was placed there by a mistake, and Answers only to the following Description.

III. The Description. The Root of this Plant is great according to its kind and magnitude, thick and White, with some strings hanging to it, and endures many years without perishing: from whence arises Leaves like unto the Garden Angelica, more in number, and smaller divided, which are set upon a great Stalk gross and thick, which is much taller and greater than the Garden kind, and somewhat Redish at the Joynts, from whence the Leaves by a large Foot-Stalk rise, whose lower part seems to enclose the whole Joynt, and to be of a redish Color also the Leaves are of as deep a green Color as those of the Garden sort: from this Stalk also rises up several long Branches, coming forth of an Husk or Case, not much unlike the common Garden Parsnip; at the top of which Branches come forth Tufts or Umbles of white Flowers, very like to those of the Garden kind: After the Flowers come the Seed, broader, longer, thicker, and of a much darker Color than the Garden Angelica: and the smell of the Plant is much like the same.

IV. The Places. It grows naturally in England, in moist and watery Ditches and Places, from whence it took its Name; and in particular in the Marsh-Ditches by Redriff. (Angelica archangelica. -Henriette)

V. The Times. It Flowers also in July and August, and its Seed is ripe not long after: but its Root is in its prime in March and April.

VI. The Qualities. It is hot and dry in the second Degree: is Inciding, Attenuating, Aperitive, Digestive, Discussive, Attractive and Abstersive: it is Cephalick, Stomatick, Cardiack, Uterine and Vulnerary.

VII. The Specification. It is a thing peculiar against the Scurvy in a cold habit of Body, and one of the greatest Vulneraries among Vegetables.

VIII. The Preparations. The Shops keep nothing hereof, yet you may make therefrom,
1. An Essence.
2. A Liquid Juyce.
3. A Decoction in Wine and Water.
4. A Saline Tincture.
5. A Diet Drink.
6. A Cataplasm.
7. A Balsam.
8. A Cerote or Emplaster.

The Virtues.

IX. The Essence. Setting Scurvy-Grass aside, I can speak by singular Experience, that I know nothing among Vegetables so effectual for the curing or the Scurvey in a cold habit of Body: and as a Vulnerary, I have used it I believe above an Hundred times, with such a success as is admirable. Again in Diseases of the Womb, I know this to be more prevalent than the Garden, in cleansing it, in repressing the Vapors, and helping fits of the Mother. I remember I once gave this to a Woman who had a kind of a stoney hardness with a Tumor as big as a small Ostriches egg almost continually bled with very great pain, but not continual: this some Physicians and Chirurgians determined to be a Cancer of the Womb, and so incurable: it was dubious what to say and the Disease seemed difficult to cure if at all curable: however I advised her to the Plentiful use of it for some time: She took iv. ounces of it morning, noon and night, and continued it for six Weeks, at the end of which time she became perfectly well and by the use thereof, she voided large quantities of hard clotted Blood.

X. The Liquid Juice. Either alone, or with a little Nitre dissolved in it, it is an excellent Errhine, to be snufft Blood-warm up the Nostrills, till it comes out of the Mouth: it purges the Head and Brain of much cold, flegmatick Humors, taking away sleepiness and heaviness of the head.

XI. The Decoction in Wine and Water. It is an excellent Hysterick and Vulnerary, and may be of good use to such, who cannot be obliged to take either the Juyce or Essence. Dose viij. Ounces twice a day.

XII. The Saline Tincture. It is an excellent thing in a Scorbute, where the whole Mass of Blood is tainted, and the Patient breaks forth into Botches, Boyls, Scabs, Leprosy &c. depurates the Humors, and carries off their Faeculencies effectually by Urine. Dose from j. dram ij.

XIII. The Diet Drink. Tho this is chiefly intended for Wounded People and such as have inveterate and running Sores, Ulcers, and Fistula's; yet it is of as great service for such as are afflicted with the Scurvy, have an obstruction, pain or tumor of the Spleen, or any grand disaffection of the Womb. It is drunk daily Spring and Fall as ordinary Drink: and at any other seasons when necessity requires it. It is also found by experience to be good against Hypochondriack Melancholy.

XIV. The Cataplasm. It is used against a cold Gout, to discuss tumors, ease pains, and absterge filthy running Sores and Ulcers.

XV. The Balsam. It cures simple Wounds (which are without fracture of the Bone or Contusion) by the first intention: It also cleanses foul Ulcers, incarnates and heals them.

XVI. The Cerote or Emplaster. It has an attractive force, incarnates and heals ; eases pain, and strengthens the part it is applyed to.

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