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Common Pilewort

Description. This small plant, besides the slender, white, fibrous root, that spreads and fastens itself in the ground, has several small, oval, whitish tubercles, somewhat resembling the piles, or the swellings of the haemorrhoids, whence it takes its name. The leaves grow upon long foot-stalks, smooth and shining, in shape of ivy-leaves, but less rounder pointed, and of not so firm a texture, sometimes spotted with whitish spots. The flowers grow upon pretty long stalks, inclining to the earth, with a leaf or two on them more angular, sharper pointed, and smaller than the other; they consist of eight or nine narrow sharp-pointed petala, of a shining yellow colour, with a few yellow stamina in the middle, set about a greenish head that is composed of small naked seeds.

Place. It grows in meadows and moist pastures, and by hedge-sides. Time. It flowers in April.

Government and virtues. This herb, on account of its signature, is accounted to be good for the haemorrhoids or piles, to ease their pain and swelling, and stop their bleeding; the roots being taken inwardly, and an ointment made of the leaves and roots, is cooling and good for angry and inflamed sores and ulcers. The expressed juice of the plant is frequently made use of by country people, for internal wounds, bruises, and spitting of blood, with good success. The leaves bruised and boiled in a sufficient quantity of hog's lard, until they become crisp, and then strained, afford an excellent cooling ointment.