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 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.
Home › Contents › Mountain Arnicia
Mountain Arnicia
Description. This plant is very common upon the northern mountains of Germany and Switzerland, and was first cultivated in this country by Mr. P. Miller, in 1759. The stalk grows above one foot high, erect, roundish, striated, rough, hairy. The radical leaves are oval, narrow at the bases, and more obtusely lanceolated than the cauline leaves. On the stalk they are sessil, entire, oval, obtusely lance-shaped, and stand in pairs; the flowers are large, yellow, radiated, solitary, terminal, appearing in July; the calyx is imbricated, and consists of a single row of narrow, pointed, rough leaflets: the root is perennial, thick, fleshy, and spreading. Virtues. This plant has been resorted to for its virtues in pulmonary complaints, suppression of the menses, and visceral obstructions; and has also been much recommended for the cure of putrid fevers. It is not generally known.
OX-EYE.
Description. It grows a foot and a half high. The stalk is round, firm, and branched; the leaves are numerous; they are divided each into a multitude of fine segments, so that at a distance they somewhat resemble the leaves of yarrow, but they are whitish. The flowers are large and yellow; they somewhat resemble a marigold in form, and they stand at the tops of the branches. Place. It is a very beautiful wild plant, common in the north of England, but not in other parts of the kingdom.
Virtues. The fresh herb is used; they boil it in ale, and give it as a remedy for the jaundice; it works by urine.