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.
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Rock-Parsley
Description. This has a long striated stalk, with small grassy leaves, of a pale green, and they are in a very elegant manner divided into narrow and pointed segments. It grows about a foot or more high, upright, and very much branched. The flowers stand at the top of all the branches, so that the plant appears covered with them: they are small and yellow. The seed is brown, and the root is long and slender, and hung about with several fibres. This has been called by some hog's-fennel.
Place. It is frequent upon the hills and exposed situations of this country, particularly in the north, and upon St. Vincent's rock at Bristol. Time. It flowers in August.
Virtues. The seeds of this plant is all that is used of it in medicine. They are milder and less acrid than the tall fennel seed, and are therefore oftener used; it is best given in powder. It increases the secretion by the kidneys, promotes the menstrual discharge, and is good in the cholic and gravel. It likewise stands recommended for the dropsy and jaundice.