Culpeper's Complete Herbal

What it is

An English herbal first published in 1652 and reprinted for two centuries. It describes each plant, where it grows, its astrological ruler and its Galenic qualities, and how it was used.

Whose knowledge it records

Written by a London apothecary who translated physicians' Latin into English so ordinary people could treat themselves. It records English and wider European herbal practice.

Passages transcribed

• BARBERRY (p. 16)
• BILBERRIES, CALLED BY SOME WHORTS, AND WHORTLE-BERRIES (pp. 23–24)
• BUTCHER'S BROOM (pp. 31–32)
• CARDUUS BENEDICTUS (p. 41)
• CARRAWAY (p. 42)
• CHERVIL (pp. 46–47)
• CIVES (p. 50)
• COMFREY (p. 54)
• DILL (p. 63)
• FENNEL (pp. 73–74)
• FRUITS AND THEIR BUDS. Cubebs (p. 248)
• GARDEN BAZIL, OR SWEET BAZIL (pp. 17–18)
• GARLICK (p. 82)
• HAWTHORN (p. 90)
• HERBS AND THEIR LEAVES. Euphragia. Eyebright (p. 237)
• HERBS AND THEIR LEAVES. Muscus. Mosse (p. 241)
• HERBS AND THEIR LEAVES. Oleæ folia. Olive leaves (p. 242)
• HERBS AND THEIR LEAVES. Plantago. Plantain (p. 243)
• HERBS AND THEIR LEAVES. Rubus, Idæus (p. 244)
• HERBS AND THEIR LEAVES. Tussilago. Colt's-foot (p. 246)
• MOTHERWORT (p. 121)
• MUGWORT (pp. 122–123)
• NETTLES (p. 127)
• PARSLEY (p. 131)
• PERIWINKLE (pp. 138–139)
• QUEEN OF THE MEADOWS, MEADOW SWEET, OR MEAD SWEET (p. 147)
• ROOTS. Rhodie Rad. Rose Root (p. 225)
• ROSEMARY (pp. 155–156)
• ROSES (closing paragraph) (p. 154)
• SAFFRON (pp. 161–162)
• SEEDS OR GRAINS (pp. 249–251)
• SHEPHERD'S PURSE (p. 171)
• SOLOMON'S SEAL (pp. 163–164)
• SWEET MARJORAM (p. 113)
• THE BAY TREE (p. 18)
• THE BURDOCK (pp. 36–37)
• THE BUTTER-BUR, OR PETASITIS (pp. 35–36)
• THYME (p. 183)
• VIOLETS (pp. 188–189)
• WIND MARJORAM (pp. 112–113)
• WOOD BETONY (pp. 21–23)