Plums

Prunus domestica

HRB-0231Entry “PLUMS” 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.

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: 9, under 9 headings

  1. The dried fruit sold by the grocers under the names of Damask Prunes, do somewhat loosen the belly, and being stewed, are often used, both in health and sickness, to relish the mouth and stomach, to procure appetite, and a little to open the body, allay choler, and cool the stomach.
    QUO-000092Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  2. CholicCLM-000477
    And that five ounces of the said oil taken with one ounce of muskadel, drives forth the stone, and helps the cholic.
    QUO-000404Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  3. HoarsenessCLM-000843
    Matthiolus saith, The oil preserved out of the kernels of the stones, as oil of almonds is made, is good against the inflamed piles, the tumours or swellings of ulcers, hoarseness of the voice, roughness of the tongue and throat, and likewise the pains in the ears.
    QUO-000650Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  4. PilesCLM-001372
    Matthiolus saith, The oil preserved out of the kernels of the stones, as oil of almonds is made, is good against the inflamed piles, the tumours or swellings of ulcers, hoarseness of the voice, roughness of the tongue and throat, and likewise the pains in the ears.
    QUO-000650Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  5. StomachCLM-001632
    As there is great diversity of kinds, so there is in the operation of Plums, for some that are sweet moisten the stomach, and make the belly soluble;
    QUO-001075Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  6. StoneCLM-001734
    The gum of the tree is good to break the stone.
    QUO-001119Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  7. SwellingsCLM-001827
    Matthiolus saith, The oil preserved out of the kernels of the stones, as oil of almonds is made, is good against the inflamed piles, the tumours or swellings of ulcers, hoarseness of the voice, roughness of the tongue and throat, and likewise the pains in the ears.
    QUO-000650Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  8. TumoursCLM-001882
    Matthiolus saith, The oil preserved out of the kernels of the stones, as oil of almonds is made, is good against the inflamed piles, the tumours or swellings of ulcers, hoarseness of the voice, roughness of the tongue and throat, and likewise the pains in the ears.
    QUO-000650Papers and the EMA’s verdict, in the Concordance
  9. UlcersCLM-001986
    Matthiolus saith, The oil preserved out of the kernels of the stones, as oil of almonds is made, is good against the inflamed piles, the tumours or swellings of ulcers, hoarseness of the voice, roughness of the tongue and throat, and likewise the pains in the ears.
    QUO-000650Papers 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.