Mugwort
Description. Common mugwort hath divers leaves lying upon the ground very much divided, or cut deeply in about the brims, somewhat like wormwood, but much larger, of a dark green colour on the upper side, and very hoary white underneath. The stalks rise to be four or five feet high, having on it such like leaves as those below, but somewhat smaller branching forth very much towards the top, whereon are set very small, pale, yellowish flowers like buttons, which fall away and after them come small seeds inclosed in round heads. The root is long and hard, with many small fibres growing from it, whereby it taketh strong hold on the ground; but both stalks and leaves do lie down every year, and the root shooteth anew in the spring. The whole plant is of a reasonable scent, and is more easily propogated by the slips than the seed.
Place. It groweth plentifully in many places of this land, by the water sides: as also by small water courses and in divers other places. Time. It flowereth and seedeth in the end of summer. Government and virtues. This is an herb of Venus, therefore maintaineth the parts of the body she rules remedies the diseases of the parts that are under her signs Taurus and Libra. Mugwort is with good success put among other herbs that are boiled for women to sit over the hot decoction to draw down their courses, to help the delivery of their birth, and expel the after-birth. As also for the obstructions and inflammations of the mother. It breaketh the stone, and causeth one to make water where it is stopped. The juice thereof made up with myrrh, and put under as a pessary, worketh the same effects, and so doth the root also. Being made up with hog's grease into an ointment, it taketh away wens and hard knots and kernels that grow about the neck and throat, and easeth the pains about the neck more effectually, if some field daisies he put with it. The herb itself being fresh, or the juice thereof taken, is a special remedy upon the over-much taking of opium. Three drams of the powder of the dried leaves taken in wine, is a speedy and the best certain help for the sciatica. A decoction thereof made with camomile and agrimony, and the place bathed therewith while it is warm, taketh away the pains of the sinews and the cramp.