Chap. 025. Of Garden Arach.

I. The Names. It is called in Arabick, Cataf, or Caraf: In Greek, 'Ατζάζαξις κ? Χζνσολάχανον, from its yellow Flowers: In Latin, Atriplex, and Olus Aureum: In English, Arach, and Orach.

II. The Kinds. There are four several Kinds thereof,
1. The Garden. (Atriplex hortensis. -Henriette.)
2. The Wild. (Atriplex patula. -Henriette.)
3. Stinking. (Chenopodium vulvaria. -Henriette.)
4. Sea. (Atriplex halimus. -Henriette.)

Of all which in their several Chapters. The White is that we treat of in this Chapter, and that is threefold:
1. Atriplex sativa alba major, The greater White Garden Arrach.
2. Alba minor, The lesser White.
3. Atriplex sativa purpurea, Purple Garden Arrach.

III. The Description. The Great White Garden Arach has a Root growing deep into the Ground, with many small fibres fastned thereto, which fades away as soon as it has born Seed; from whence rises up a Stalk square or cornered, and of a white mealy Colour; out of which comes several Branches, and Leaves: the Leaves are many, standing upon their foot-stalks, broad at bottom, and ending in two Points like an Arrow, with two feathers at the Head, and sharp pointed at the end of the Leaf, of a whitish yellow green Colour, and as it were strewed over with flower or Meal, or rather small white Sand, especially whilst young; the Stalk likewise is Mealy, or rather Sandy, bearing many Branches, with small yellow flowers on them, which turn into small leafie Seed.

IV. The Lesser White Kind is altogether like the former, and differs nothing from it, unless in the magnitude, and the Sandy Flower, which seems to be whiter than the former: but I am apt to believe that these two are but one kind, and differ only in respect of the Ground they grow on, this growing upon a more sandy, lean, or poor Soil: the richer the Earth, the greater the Plant; the poorer the Soil the lesser.

V. The Purple Arrach is in its Roots, Stalks, Branches, Leaves, Flowers, and Seed, and manner of growing, and indeed in all things like unto the White, except only in the Colour, the Stalks, Leaves and Seed being of a Mealy, or Sandy Purplish Colour.

VI. The Places. They grow chiefly in Gardens, as their names do specifie, very rarely Wild.

VII. The Times. They Flower and Seed from June to the beginning of September, their Seed ripening all the time of their Flowering.

VIII. The Qualities. They are Cold and Moist in the second Degree; but Schroder will have it only in the first Degree. They are Alterative, Aperient, Abstersive, Emollient, and Expulsive; and are appropriated to the Lungs, Liver, Womb, and Joints.

IX. The Specification. They are peculiar against the Jaundice, and Diseases of the Brest and Lungs.

X. The Preparations. You may have therefrom,
1. A Juice.
2. An Essence.
3. A Decoction.
4. A Syrup.
5. A Cataplasm.

The Virtues.

XI. The Juice. It cools Inflamations, and is good to be applied in an Erysiepelas, Linen Cloths being dipt therein, and applied thereto; and taken from ij. to iij. or iv. ounces, it loosens the Belly, cleanses the Bowels, and fortifies the Expulsive Faculty.

XII. The Essence. It is good against the Yellow Jaundice, and cleanses the Womb of all Impurities; and is an excellent thing to open Obstructions of the Liver, and help Diseases of the Brest and Lungs. Dose iv. spoonfuls.

XIII. The Decoction, has the same Virtue, but is weaker, and, drunk plentifully, is a singular good thing against the Poison of Cantharides, and Strumatick Tumors, or Swellings in the Throat, or other parts, and admirably represses Choler. Dose from iv. to viij. ounces, twice a day.

XIV. The Syrup of the Juice made with Honey. It is an excellent Pectoral, opens stoppages in the Brest and Lungs, and prevails against Colds, Coughs, Asthma’s, or shortness of Breath, and Difficulty of Breathing. Dose from j. ounce to ij. ounces, Morning and Night.

15. The Cataplasm. The Herb bruised and applied as a Cataplasm, is excellent to ease Pains and Aches, from a hot Cause, and Acrimonious Humors, and to give ease in the Gout. A Cataplasm made of the boiled Herb, is said to be good (being applied) to discuss hard swellings in the Throat.

XVI. Nota. This Herb is used as a Pot-herb, or rather boiled for a Sallet, (as they boil Spinage) and so to be eaten with Butter and Vinegar, Pepper and Salt, in which way it proves very grateful to a hot Stomach. And the Seed drunk with Mead to j. Dram, is good against the Yellow Jaundice: and Matthiolus says, it purges both upwards and downwards.

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