Hyssop
It is so universally known, that I consider it altogether needless to write any description of it. Its virtues are these:- Temperatures and virtues. The herb is Jupiter's, under the sign Cancer, consequently strengthens such parts of the body as these govern. Dioscorides saith, that hyssop boiled with rue and honey, and drunk, helpeth those who are troubled with coughs, shortness of breath, wheezing, and rheumatic distillations of the lungs; taken with oxymel, it expelleth gross humours by stool, and with honey it killeth worms in the belly; also, with fresh or new figs bruised, it helpeth to loosen the belly, but more effectually if the root of the flower deluce be added thereto. It restoreth the natural colour of the skin when discoloured by the yellow jaundice, and being taken with figs and nitre it helpeth the dropsy and spleen. Being boiled in wine, it is good to wash inflammations, and taketh away black and blue spots and marks proceeding from blows, bruises, or falls, if applied with warm water. Being boiled with figs, it makes an excellent gargle for the quinsey or swelling in the throat; or boiled in vinegar and gargled in the mouth it cureth the tooth-ache; the hot vapours of the decoction, taken by a tunnel in at the ears, easeth the inflammations and singing noise of them; bruised and mixed with salt, honey, and cummin-seed, it is a good remedy for the stinging of serpents; the head being anointed with the oil thereof, it killeth the lice and allayeth the itching of the same: it helpeth the falling sickness, and expelleth tough phlegm, and is effectual in all cold griefs or diseases of the chest and lungs, being taken either as a medicine or syrup. The green herb bruised and a little sugar mixed therewith, will speedily heal up any cut or green wound, being thereto applied.
HOPS.
The matured hops are so well known, that I shall decline writing a description, and shall therefore proceed to that of the wild hops. Description. The wild hop groweth up like the tame, twining upon trees and hedges that stand near it; it hath rough branches and leaves like the former, but much smaller heads; these heads are so scarce, that one stalk seldom produces more than one or two;--in this the chiefest difference consists. Place. They delight to grow on low moist grounds, and are found in most parts of this kingdom.
Time. They spring up in April, and flower about the latter end of June, but the heads are not gathered till the latter end of September. Government and virtues. It is under the dominion of Mars. This physician operates in opening obstructions of the liver and spleen, cleansing the blood, loosening the belly, expelling the gravel, and provoking the urine; the decoction of the tops of hops, whether tame or wild, worketh these effects. In cleansing the blood, they help to cure the French disease, and all manner of scabs, itch, and other breakings-out of the body; also tetters, ringworms, and spreading sores, the morphew, and all discolouring of the skin. The decoction of the flowers and tops helpeth to expel poison that any one hath drank. Half a dram of the seed in powder taken in drink, killeth worms in the body, bringeth down women's courses, and expelleth urine. A syrup made of the juice and sugar, cureth the yellow jaundice, easeth the headache that comes of heat and tempereth the heat of the liver and stomach, and is profitably given in long and hot agues that rise in choler and blood. Both the wild and the manured are of one property, and alike effectual in all the aforesaid diseases. By all these testimonies beer appears to be better than ale. Mars owns the plant, and then Dr. Reason will tell you how it performs these actions.