Bugle

Ajuga reptans

HRB-0052Entry “BUGLE” in the 1850 textIn Culpeper’s 1652 first edition

Open in the Concordance

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.

Substance of concernEFSA: iridoidsEFSA’s list of substances, not a danger rating. Checked 26 October 2026.

Historical correspondence. Ruled by Venus, by Culpeper. A traditional astrological assignment, kept apart from the modern evidence; it is not a finding.

Culpeper’s claims about it: 7, under 7 headings

  1. Bowels (obstructions of)CLM-000279
    The decoction of the leaves and flowers made in wine, and taken, dissolves the congealed blood in those that are bruised inwardly by a fall, or otherwise is very effectual for any inward wounds, thrusts, or stabs in the body or bowels;
    QUO-000116Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  2. BruisesCLM-000138
    The decoction of the leaves and flowers made in wine, and taken, dissolves the congealed blood in those that are bruised inwardly by a fall, or otherwise is very effectual for any inward wounds, thrusts, or stabs in the body or bowels;
    QUO-000116Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  3. FistulasCLM-0007821850 index
    yea, gangrenes and fistulas also, if the leaves bruised and applied, or their juice be used to wash and bathe the place;
    QUO-000608Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  4. LiverCLM-001166
    and it is an especial help in all wound-drinks, and for those that are liver-grown (as they call it.) It is wonderful in curing all manner of ulcers and sores, whether new and fresh, or old and inveterate;
    QUO-000833Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  5. MelancholyCLM-001307
    I take the reason of this to be (according to Fernelius) a melancholy vapour made thin by excessive drinking strong liquor, and, so flies up and disturbs the fancy, and breeds imaginations like itself, viz. fearful and troublesome.
    QUO-000891Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  6. UlcersCLM-001913
    and it is an especial help in all wound-drinks, and for those that are liver-grown (as they call it.) It is wonderful in curing all manner of ulcers and sores, whether new and fresh, or old and inveterate;
    QUO-000833Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  7. WoundsCLM-002166
    The decoction of the leaves and flowers made in wine, and taken, dissolves the congealed blood in those that are bruised inwardly by a fall, or otherwise is very effectual for any inward wounds, thrusts, or stabs in the body or bowels;
    QUO-000116Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance

Source

Nicholas Culpeper, The Complete Herbal, a new edition (London: Thomas Kelly, 1850). Project Gutenberg eBook #49513. SRC-CUL-1850

Quotations are verbatim from the 1850 text, line breaks joined. Modern research and the European regulator’s verdict on each claim are on the Concordance page, kept apart from this historical record.