CND-0021Head, mind and nerves
Old claims, quoted verbatim: not medical advice. A warning sits above the claims and never hides them; no warning does not mean safe, only that no source here has flagged the plant.
The leaves and roots being boiled in lye, and the head often washed therewith while it is warm, comforts the head and brain that is ill affected by taking cold, and helps the memory.
The decoction also being drank, comforts the heart, and strengthens the stomach and a cold brain, and therefore is good in the spring times to open obstructions of the liver, and helps the wind cholic;
It is very good to help digestion, and open obstructions of the brain, and hath so much purging quality in it (saith Avicen) as to expel those melancholy vapours from the spirits and blood which are in the heart and arteries, although it cannot do so in other parts of the body.
The juice of it opens obstructions both of the liver and spleen, and is good for the head-ache and swimmings therein, and turnings of the brain;
The seed of Black Cresses strengthens the brain exceedingly, being, in performing that office, little inferior to mustard seed, if at all;
It is an herb of Mercury, and a strong one too, therefore excellent good in all afflictions of the brain.
The flowers boiled in lye, are good to wash the head, and comfort both it and the brain.
The powder of the dried root put into the nose, provokes sneezing, and thereby purges the head and brain of much rheum and corruption.
they are great strengtheners both of the brain and heart, and will therefore serve either for cordials or cephalics, as your occasion will serve.
Because they strengthen the brain and nerves, and remedy palsies, Greeks gave them the name Paralysis.
Mercury has the dominion of this plant, and therefore to be sure it strengthens the brain.
This is accounted the most effectual for melancholy diseases, and to purge black or burnt choler, which is the cause of many diseases of the head and brain, as also for the trembling of the heart, faintings and swoonings.
Being used any of the ways, it also helps a weak brain, or memory.
It is a most prevalent herb of Mercury, and strengthens the brain and apprehension exceedingly when weak, and relieves them when drooping.
It helps also all diseases of the brain, proceeding of cold and phlegmatic humours and distillations, as also for the falling sickness.
It eases also the head-ache, and distempered heat of the brain in frenzies, or through want of sleep, being applied to the temples and forehead.
The juice of the berries or leaves snuffed up into the nose, purges the head and brain of thin rheum that makes defluxions into the eyes and nose, and curing the ulcers and stench therein;
They give safe and speedy delivery to women with child, they strengthen the brain exceedingly, help the memory, and fortify the sight by strengthening the optic nerves;
Lavender is of a special good use for all the griefs and pains of the head and brain that proceed of a cold cause, as the apoplexy, falling-sickness, the dropsy, or sluggish malady, cramps, convulsions, palsies, and often faintings.
GOVERNMENT AND VIRTUES.] It is under the dominion of Mercury, and therefore it strengthens the brain, recruits a weak memory, and makes it strong again:
for the decoction in wine being gargled in the mouth, draws down much water and phlegm, from the brain, purging and easing it of what oppresses it.
as also to strengthen the memory, to comfort the head and brain, and to preserve them from pain, and the apoplexy.
for by the fierce sharpness it purges the brain by sneezing, and drawing down rheum and other viscous humours, which by their distillations upon the lungs and chest, procure coughing, and therefore, with some, honey added thereto, doth much good therein.
Listed in the 1850 index under a name the book has no herbal entry for. No quotation is recorded.
It is under the government of Mercury, and I am persuaded it is one of the best purgers of the brain that grows.
The decoction thereof in wine, helps the cold distillations of rheum into the eyes, and all other cold diseases of the head and brain, as the giddiness or swimmings therein, drowsiness or dullness of the mind and senses like a stupidness, the dumb palsy, or loss of speech, the lethargy, and fallen-sickness, to be both drank, and the temples bathed therewith.
Some of the younger Conserve taken with mithridate mixed together, is good for those that are troubled with distillations of rheum from the brain to the nose, and defluctions of rheum into the eyes;
It quickens the brain, for the Sun is exalted in Aries, as he hath his house in Leo.
It is an herb of Mercury, and under Aries, and therefore is an excellent remedy for the brain and other parts of the body and mind, under the dominion of the same planet.
They wonderfully help all cold and rheumatic distillations from the brain to the eyes, lungs or other parts;
the juice of the leaves snuffed up into the nostrils, purges the tunicles of the brain;
the syrup helps much to procure rest, and to settle the brain of frantic persons, by cooling the hot distemperature of the head.
The juice dropped into the eyes, clears a dull sight, if it proceed of thin cold humours distilled from the brain.
Nicholas Culpeper, The Complete Herbal, a new edition (London: Thomas Kelly, 1850). Project Gutenberg eBook #49513. SRC-CUL-1850