Herb True-Love, Or One-Berry

Paris quadrifolia

HRB-0154Entry “HERB TRUE-LOVE, OR ONE-BERRY” 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.

⚠ Poisonous · Berries, rootSaponins that break down red blood cells; the berries and root are the most toxic parts. Cramps, vomiting, dizziness and headache; an old herbal says overdoses have killed children.EFSA: pennogenin tetraglycoside · Culpeper doses the seeds or berries daily for 20 days, after Matthiolus.

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

What it does, in Culpeper: Counter-poison

Culpeper’s claims about it: 8, under 8 headings

  1. CholicCLM-000468
    The roots in powder taken in wine eases the pains of the cholic speedily.
    QUO-000396Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  2. ImposthumesCLM-000861
    The juice of the leaves applied to felons, or those nails of the hands or toes that have imposthumes or sores gathered together at the roots of them, heals them in a short space.
    QUO-000665Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  3. InflammationsCLM-000919
    and is very powerful to discuss all tumours and swellings in the privy parts, the groin, or in any part of the body, and speedily to allay all inflammations.
    QUO-000702Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  4. Poison (to expel)CLM-001400
    the leaves or berries hereof are effectual to expel poison of all sorts, especially that of the aconites;
    QUO-000952Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  5. SwellingsCLM-001803
    and is very powerful to discuss all tumours and swellings in the privy parts, the groin, or in any part of the body, and speedily to allay all inflammations.
    QUO-000702Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  6. TumoursCLM-001875
    and is very powerful to discuss all tumours and swellings in the privy parts, the groin, or in any part of the body, and speedily to allay all inflammations.
    QUO-000702Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  7. UlcersCLM-001961
    The leaves are very effectual as well for green wounds, as to cleanse and heal up filthy old sores and ulcers;
    QUO-001238Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  8. WoundsCLM-002196
    The leaves are very effectual as well for green wounds, as to cleanse and heal up filthy old sores and ulcers;
    QUO-001238Papers 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.