Important: Safety Warning
This page describes preparations historically taken to end pregnancy or "bring on the menses." These substances do not work as claimed and are seriously toxic; their use has caused poisoning and death.
In addition, this page gives first-aid or emergency advice that predates modern medicine and can make an emergency worse. Do not follow it. In any medical emergency, call emergency services and follow current first-aid guidance.
In addition, this page prescribes plants as medicine according to pre-modern medical theory. Several of the plants named are toxic, correct identification is difficult, and the doses given have no scientific basis. Do not ingest or apply any preparation described here.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
Garlick
The offensiveness of the breath of him that hath eaten garlick, will lead you by the nose to the knowledge hereof, and (instead of a description) direct you to the place where it groweth in gardens, which kinds are the best, and most physical.
Government and virtues. Mars own this herb. This was anciently accounted the poor man's treacle, it being a remedy for all diseases and hurts (except those which itself breed.) It provoketh urine and women's courses, helpeth the biting of mad dogs and other venomous creatures; killeth worms in children, cutteth and voideth tough pleghm, purgeth the head, helpeth the lethargy, is a good preservative against, and a remedy for any plague, sore, or foul ulcer; taketh away spots and blemishes in the skin, easeth pains in the ears, ripeneth and breaketh imposthumes, or other swellings. And for all those diseases the onions are as effectual. But the garlick hath some more peculiar virtues besides the former, viz. it hath especial quality to discuss inconveniencies coming by corrupt agues or mineral vapours, or by drinking corrupt and stinking waters; as also by taking wolf-bane, hen-bane, hemlock, or other poisonous and dangerous herbs. It is also held good in hydropic diseases, the jaundice, falling sickness, cramps, convulsions, the piles or haemorrhoids, or other cold diseases. Many authors quote many diseases this is good for; but conceal its vices. Its heat is very vehement, and all vehement hot things send up but ill-favoured vapours to the brain. In choleric men it will add fuel to the fire; in men oppresed by melancholy, it will attenuate the humour, and send up strong fancies, and has many strange visions to the head; therefore let it be taken inwardly with great moderation; outwardly you may make more bold with it.