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Fluxweed

Description. It riseth up with a round, upright, hard stalk, four or five feet high, spreading into sundry branches, whereon grow many greyish green leaves, very finely cut and severed into a number of short and almost round parts. The flowers are very small and yellow, growing spike fashion, after which come small long pods, with small yellowish seed in them. The root is long and woody, perishing every year.

There is another sort, differing in nothing, save only it hath somewhat broader leaves; they have a strong evil flavour, being smelled unto, and are of a drying taste.

Place. They grow wild in the fields by hedge-sides, and high-ways, and among rubbish and other places.

Time. They flower and seed quickly after, namely in June and July. Government and virtues. This herb is Saturnine also. Both the herb and the seed of fluxweed is of excellent use to stay the flux or lask of the belly, being drank in water wherein gads of steel heated have been often quenched: and is no less effectual for the same purpose than plantain or comfrey, and to restrain any other flux of blood in man or woman, as also to consolidate bones broken or out of joint. The juice thereof drank in wine, or the decoction of the herb drank, doth kill the worms in the stomach or belly, or the worms that grow in putrid and filthy ulcers; and made into a salve doth quickly heal all old sores how foul or malignant soever they be. The distilled water of the herb worketh the same effects, although somewhat weaker, yet it is a fair medicine, and more acceptable to be taken. It is called fluxweed because it cures the flux, and for its uniting broken bones, &c. Paracelsus extols it to the skies. It is fitting that syrup, ointment, and plaisters of it were kept in your houses.