Agrimony
Historically recorded as a cure for the gout (Culpeper, 1653)
“must needs be good for the gout, either used outwardly in oil or ointment, or inwardly in an electuary, or syrup, or concerted juice”
From the old books
Historical Remedies
What the old herbalists actually wrote, quoted word for word. 85 entries from Nicholas Culpeper's Complete Herbal (1653), Felter & Lloyd's King's American Dispensatory (1898) and the King James Bible.
These are historical records, not modern medical advice. The quotes below show what was written and believed centuries ago, in the words of the time (Culpeper also tied plants to planets and astrology). We present them as history; Healbyology does not claim that any plant cures, treats or prevents any disease today. Some herbs once praised are now known to be unsafe. Please talk to your doctor before using any herb.
From Culpeper's Complete Herbal (1653)
Angelica
Historically recorded as a cure for a cold stomach and times of infection (Culpeper, 1653)
“The stalks or roots candied and eaten fasting, are good preservatives in time of infection; and at other times to warm and comfort a cold stomach.”
Borage
Historically recorded as a cure for fevers (Culpeper, 1653)
“The leaves and roots are to very good purpose used in putrid and pestilential fevers, to defend the heart”
Modern safety note: borage contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can harm the liver.
Caraway
Historically recorded as a cure for wind and weak digestion (Culpeper, 1653)
“The root is better food than the parsnip; it is pleasant and comfortable to the stomach, and helps digestion.”
Chamomile
Historically recorded as a cure for sore mouths and throats (Culpeper, 1653)
“being made into a poultice, are excellently good for hot inflammations, swellings, cankers, sore mouths and throats”
Chickweed
Historically recorded as a cure for itch and redness of the skin (Culpeper, 1653)
“is effectual for all imposthumes and swellings whatsoever, for all redness in the face, wheals, pushes, itch, scabs”
Coltsfoot
Historically recorded as a cure for cough and wheezing (Culpeper, 1653)
“the fresh leaves or juice, or a syrup thereof is good for a hot dry cough, or wheezing, and shortness of breath.”
Modern safety note: coltsfoot contains liver-toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids; it is not considered safe to take by mouth.
Comfrey
Historically recorded as a cure for inward bruises and wounds (Culpeper, 1653)
“The root boiled in water or wine, and the decoction drank, helps all inward hurts, bruises, wounds, and ulcer of the lungs”
Modern safety note: NIH NCCIH warns that comfrey taken by mouth can cause serious liver damage.
Dandelion
Historically recorded as a cure for jaundice and obstructions of the liver (Culpeper, 1653)
“It is of an opening and cleansing quality, and therefore very effectual for the obstructions of the liver, gall and spleen, and the diseases that arise from them, as the jaundice and hypocondriac”
Dill
Historically recorded as a cure for the hiccough (Culpeper, 1653)
“It stays the hiccough, being boiled in wine, and but smelled unto being tied in a cloth.”
Elder
Historically recorded as a cure for hot inflammations of the eyes (Culpeper, 1653)
“The juice of the green leaves applied to the hot inflammations of the eyes, assuages them”
Modern safety note: raw elder berries, leaves and bark can be toxic.
Elecampane
Historically recorded as a cure for cough, shortness of breath and wheezing (Culpeper, 1653)
“to help the cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing in the lungs”
Eyebright
Historically recorded as a cure for dimness of sight (Culpeper, 1653)
“helps all infirmities of the eyes that cause dimness of sight”
Modern safety note: never put homemade preparations in the eyes.
Fennel
Historically recorded as a cure for wind and the hiccough (Culpeper, 1653)
“Fennel is good to break wind, to provoke urine, and ease the pains of the stone, and helps to break it.”
Garlic
Historically recorded as a cure for all diseases and hurts (the 'poor man's treacle') (Culpeper, 1653)
“This was anciently accounted the poor man’s treacle, it being a remedy for all diseases and hurts (except those which itself breed.)”
Horehound
Historically recorded as a cure for cough and short-windedness (Culpeper, 1653)
“is a remedy for those that are short-winded, have a cough, or are fallen into a consumption”
Hyssop
Historically recorded as a cure for coughs and shortness of breath (Culpeper, 1653)
“Dioscorides saith, that Hyssop boiled with rue and honey, and drank, helps those that are troubled with coughs, shortness of breath, wheezing and rheumatic distillation upon the lungs”
Lavender
Historically recorded as a cure for pains of the head (Culpeper, 1653)
“Lavender is of a special good use for all the griefs and pains of the head and brain that proceed of a cold cause”
Lemon Balm
Historically recorded as a cure for melancholy and poor digestion (Culpeper, 1653)
“it causes the mind and heart to become merry, and revives the heart, faintings and swoonings”
Culpeper is quoting Seraphio here.
Licorice
Historically recorded as a cure for dry cough and hoarseness (Culpeper, 1653)
“makes a good drink for those that have a dry cough or hoarseness, wheezing or shortness of breath, and for all the griefs of the breast and lungs”
Modern safety note: large amounts of licorice can raise blood pressure.
Marigold (Calendula)
Historically recorded as a cure for hot swellings (Culpeper, 1653)
“The juice of Marigold leaves mixed with vinegar, and any hot swelling bathed with it, instantly gives ease, and assuages it.”
Milk Thistle
Historically recorded as a cure for the jaundice (Culpeper, 1653)
“to open the obstructions of the liver and spleen, and thereby is good against the jaundice.”
Mint
Historically recorded as a cure for the hiccough and vomiting (Culpeper, 1653)
“two or three branches thereof taken in the juice of four pomegranates, stays the hiccough, vomiting, and allays the choler.”
Mullein
Historically recorded as a cure for an old cough and tooth-ache (Culpeper, 1653)
“for those that are troubled with an old cough. The decoction thereof gargled, eases the pains of the tooth-ache.”
Mustard
Historically recorded as a cure for weak stomachs (Culpeper, 1653)
“It is an excellent sauce for such whose blood wants clarifying, and for weak stomachs”
Nettle
Historically recorded as a cure for wheezing and shortness of breath (Culpeper, 1653)
“is a safe and sure medicine to open the pipes and passages of the lungs, which is the cause of wheezing and shortness of breath”
Parsley
Historically recorded as a cure for wind in children's stomachs (Culpeper, 1653)
“The distilled water of Parsley is a familiar medicine with nurses to give their children when they are troubled with wind in the stomach or belly which they call the frets”
Plantain
Historically recorded as a cure for diseases of the head (Culpeper, 1653)
“it cures the diseases of the head and privities”
Rosemary
Historically recorded as a cure for a weak memory (Culpeper, 1653)
“It helps a weak memory, and quickens the senses.”
Sage
Historically recorded as a cure for bleeding wounds and foul ulcers (Culpeper, 1653)
“It stays the bleeding of wounds, and cleanses foul ulcers.”
Self-heal
Historically recorded as a cure for inward and outward wounds (Culpeper, 1653)
“It is a special herb for inward and outward wounds.”
Thyme
Historically recorded as a cure for the chin-cough (whooping cough) and shortness of breath (Culpeper, 1653)
“neither is there scarce a better remedy growing for that disease in children which they commonly call the Chin-cough, than it is.”
Modern note: whooping cough needs a doctor's care; vaccination is available.
Valerian
Historically recorded as a cure for cough and short-windedness (Culpeper, 1653)
“is singularly good for those that are short-winded, and for those that are troubled with the cough, and helps to open the passages, and to expectorate phlegm easily.”
Vervain
Historically recorded as a cure for the yellow jaundice, dropsy and gout (Culpeper, 1653)
“It helps the yellow jaundice, the dropsy and the gout”
Wood Betony
Historically recorded as a cure for weak stomachs and coughs (Culpeper, 1653)
“The powder mixed with pure honey is no less available for all sorts of coughs or colds, wheesing, or shortness of breath”
From King's American Dispensatory (1898)
Aloes
Historically recorded as a cure for constipation (as a purgative) (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“As a laxative and purgative, its applications are unbounded”
Modern safety note: oral aloe latex is not considered safe (NIH NCCIH).
Anise
Historically recorded as a cure for flatulent colic of infants and nausea (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“used in cases of flatulency, flatulent colic of infants, and to remove nausea.”
Bayberry
Historically recorded as a cure for diarrhoea and catarrhal states of the bowels (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“The bark has been successfully employed in scrofula, jaundice, diarrhoea, dysentery, aphthae”
Black Cohosh
Historically recorded as a cure for poor appetite and digestion (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“In small doses the appetite and digestion are improved”
Modern safety note: rare liver injury has been reported with black cohosh (NIH NCCIH).
Burdock
Historically recorded as a cure for rheumatic and gouty disorders (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“A decoction of it has been used in rheumatic, gouty”
Calendula
Historically recorded as a cure for ulcers (as a local remedy) (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“Its chief use is as a local remedy.”
Caraway
Historically recorded as a cure for flatulent colic of children (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“Caraway is an aromatic carminative, used in flatulent colic, especially of children”
Catnip
Historically recorded as a cure for fevers, spasms and sleeplessness (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“In warm infusion it is used in febrile diseases as a diaphoretic, and to promote the action of other diaphoretics, as well as to allay spasmodic action and produce sleep”
Cayenne (Capsicum)
Historically recorded as a cure for colds, catarrh and hoarseness (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“The infusion is much used in colds, catarrh, hoarseness, etc.”
Cinnamon
Historically recorded as a cure for weak stomach (as a stomachic) (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“Stimulant, tonic, stomachic, carminative, and astringent”
Cloves
Historically recorded as a cure for vomiting and sickness at stomach (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“Used to allay vomiting and sickness at stomach, to stimulate the digestive functions”
Coriander
Historically recorded as a cure for flatulence (as a carminative) (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“Coriander is a stimulant and carminative”
Dandelion
Historically recorded as a cure for torpor and engorgement of the liver (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“It has long been supposed to exert an influence upon the biliary organs, removing torpor and engorgement of the liver as well as of the spleen.”
Elder Flower
Historically recorded as a cure for fevers (as a diaphoretic) and erysipelas (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“In warm infusion, elder flowers are diaphoretic and gently stimulant”
Fennel
Historically recorded as a cure for flatulent colic (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“Used in flatulent colic, and as a corrigent of unpleasant medicines.”
Feverfew
Historically recorded as a cure for recent colds and poor appetite (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“The warm infusion is an excellent remedy in recent colds, flatulency, worms, atonic dyspepsia”
Modern safety note: avoid feverfew in pregnancy.
Flaxseed
Historically recorded as a cure for coughs, colds and urinary inflammations (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“forms a mucilaginous draught which is much employed in ardor urinae and urinary diseases, nephritic pains, coughs, colds”
Garlic
Historically recorded as a cure for coughs and catarrh (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“It has been beneficially used in coughs, catarrh”
German Chamomile
Historically recorded as a cure for nervous irritability in young children (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“one upon the nervous system, subduing nervous irritability”
Ginger
Historically recorded as a cure for gas in the stomach and bowels (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“when swallowed it acts as a stimulating tonic, stomachic, and carminative, increasing the secretion of gastric juice, exalting the excitability of the alimentary muscular system, and dispelling gases accumulated in the stomach and bowels.”
Horehound
Historically recorded as a cure for coughs, colds and asthma (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“It is used in the form of syrup, in coughs, colds, chronic catarrh, asthma, and all pulmonary affections.”
Hyssop
Historically recorded as a cure for quinsy, sore throats and bruises (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“Principally used in quinsy and other sore throats, as a gargle, combined with sage and alum, in infusion sweetened with honey.”
Juniper
Historically recorded as a cure for dropsy (as a diuretic) (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“Both the berries and oil are stimulating, carminative, and diuretic.”
Modern safety note: avoid juniper in pregnancy and kidney disease.
Lemon Balm
Historically recorded as a cure for fevers and painful menstruation (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“A warm infusion, drank freely, has been serviceable as a diaphoretic in febrile diseases and painful menstruation”
Licorice
Historically recorded as a cure for coughs and catarrhs (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“It acts upon mucous surfaces, lessening irritation, and is consequently useful in coughs, catarrhs”
Modern safety note: large amounts can raise blood pressure.
Mullein
Historically recorded as a cure for coughs, protracted colds and piles (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“The infusion is useful in coughs, protracted colds, catarrh, hemoptysis, diarrhoea, dysentery, and piles.”
Mustard
Historically recorded as a cure for sluggish digestion (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“It is used in small quantities, internally, as a condiment and mild but efficient excitant of the organs of digestion.”
Nettle
Historically recorded as a cure for diarrhoea and hemorrhoids (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“A decoction is valuable in diarrhoea and dysentery, with profuse discharges, and in hemorrhoids”
Nutmeg
Historically recorded as a cure for flatulency, nausea and vomiting (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“are occasionally used to remove flatulency, correct the nausea arising from other drugs, and to allay nausea and vomiting.”
Modern safety note: large amounts of nutmeg are toxic.
Parsley
Historically recorded as a cure for urinary irritation and dropsy (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“Diuretic, relieving urinary irritation.”
Peppermint
Historically recorded as a cure for colic, cramps of the stomach and nausea (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“Used in the treatment of gastrodynia, flatulent colic, hysteria, spasms or cramps of the stomach, to allay the griping of cathartics, to check nausea and vomiting”
Plantain
Historically recorded as a cure for diarrhoea and dysentery (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“It is likewise reputed beneficial in menorrhagia, leucorrhoea, hematuria, colic, cholera infantum, aphthae, diarrhoea, dysentery”
Red Clover
Historically recorded as a cure for whooping-cough (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“Red clover is an excellent alterative, and one of the few remedies which favorably influences pertussis.”
Modern note: whooping cough needs a doctor's care.
Roman Chamomile
Historically recorded as a cure for weak digestion and irritable stomach (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“The cold infusion has proved useful in dyspepsia, weak digestion, and in all cases of weak or irritable stomach”
Rosemary
Historically recorded as a cure for spasms (as an antispasmodic) (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“Rosemary is stimulant, antispasmodic, and emmenagogue”
Sage
Historically recorded as a cure for flatulence and exhausting sweats (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“An infusion is beneficial in flatulence connected with debility”
Skullcap
Historically recorded as a cure for convulsions, tremors and nervous affections (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“it has proved especially useful in chorea, convulsions, tremors, intermittent fever, neuralgia, and many nervous affections.”
Modern safety note: skullcap products have been linked to liver injury, often due to adulteration.
Slippery Elm
Historically recorded as a cure for sore throat, coughs and mucous inflammations (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“Elm bark is nutritive, expectorant, diuretic, demulcent, and emollient, and is a very valuable remedial agent.”
Spearmint
Historically recorded as a cure for fevers and scalding of urine (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“As a febrifuge, it is superior to peppermint, and may be used freely in warm infusion.”
St. John's Wort
Historically recorded as a cure for nervous affections with depression (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“Used in suppression of the urine, chronic urinary affections, in diarrhoea, dysentery, worms, jaundice, menorrhagia, hysteria, nervous affections with depression”
Modern safety note: St. John's wort interacts with many medicines, including birth control and antidepressants.
Thyme
Historically recorded as a cure for dyspepsia and weak stomach (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“The cold infusion is useful in dyspepsia, with weak and irritable stomach”
Turmeric
Historically recorded as a cure for (used as a mild stimulant) (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“Turmeric is a mild, aromatic stimulant”
Valerian
Historically recorded as a cure for hysteria and nervous excitement (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“In medicinal doses it acts as a stimulant-tonic, antispasmodic and calmative”
Witch Hazel
Historically recorded as a cure for painful swellings and external inflammations (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“It is useful in the form of poultice in swellings and tumors of a painful character, as well as in external inflammations. The American Indians used it for this purpose.”
Yarrow
Historically recorded as a cure for sore throat and small bleeding (King's American Dispensatory, 1898)
“It has been efficacious in sore throat, hemoptysis, hematuria and other forms of hemorrhage where the bleeding is small in amount”
From Scripture (King James Version, 1611)
Figs
Recorded in Scripture for a boil (King Hezekiah) (Isaiah 38:21, KJV 1611)
“For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.”
Balm of Gilead
Recorded in Scripture for the hurt of the people (as a figure of healing) (Jeremiah 8:22, KJV 1611)
“Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?”
Leaves of the riverside trees
Recorded in Scripture for (given as medicine) (Ezekiel 47:12, KJV 1611)
“and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.”
Wine
Recorded in Scripture for the stomach and often infirmities (1 Timothy 5:23, KJV 1611)
“Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.”
Oil and wine
Recorded in Scripture for wounds (the Good Samaritan) (Luke 10:34, KJV 1611)
“And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine”
About the sources
- Nicholas Culpeper, The Complete Herbal (1653), Project Gutenberg #49513: the Gutenberg edition has no page numbers, so each quote cites its entry.
- Harvey Wickes Felter and John Uri Lloyd, King's American Dispensatory (1898), transcribed by Henriette's Herbal; the online edition has no page numbers, so each quote cites its entry and section.
- King James Bible (1611), via Bible Gateway.