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Gerard's Herbal - Part 2

Gerard's Herbal - CHAP. 161. Of the Great Centaury.

CHAP. 161. Of the Great Centaury.


Fig. 820. Great Centaury (1)

Fig. 821. Whole-Leaved Great Centaury (2)

 

The Description.

            1. The Great Centaury bringeth forth round smooth stalks three cubits high: the leaves are long, divided as it were into many parcels like to those of the Walnut tree, and of an overworn grayish colour, somewhat snipped about the edges like the teeth of a saw. The flowers grow at the top of the stalks in scaly knops like the great Knapweed, the middle thrums whereof are of a light blue or sky colour: when the seed is ripe the whole knop or head turneth into a downy substance like the head of an Artichoke, wherein is found a long smooth seed, bearded at one end like those of Bastard Saffron, called Cartamus, or the seed of Cardus Benedictus. The root is great, long, black on the outside, and of a sanguine colour on the inside, somewhat sweet in taste, and biting the tongue.

            2. There is likewise another sort, having great and large leaves like those of the Water Dock, somewhat snipped or toothed about the edges. The stalk is shorter than the other, but the root is more oleous or fuller of juice, otherwise like. The flower is of a pale yellow purplish colour, and the seed like that of the former.

 

The Place.

            The Great Centaury joyeth in a fat and fruitful soil, and in sunny banks full of grass and herbs. It groweth very plentifully, saith Dioscorides, in Lycia, Peloponnesus, Arcadia, and Morea: and it is also to be found upon Baldus a mountain in the territories of Verona, and likewise in my garden.

 

The Time

            It flowereth in summer, and the roots may be gathered in autumn.

 

The Names.

            It is called of Theophrastes Centauris: in divers shops falsely Rha ponticum: for Rha ponticum is Rha growing in the countries of Pontus; a plant differing from great Centaury. Theophrastus and Pliny set down among the kinds of Panaces or All-Heals, this great Centaury, and also the lesser, whereof we will write in the next chapter following. Pliny reciting the words of Theophrastus, doth in his twenty-fifth book and fourth chapter write, that they were found out by Chiron the centaur, and surnamed Centauria. Also affirming the same thing in his sixth chapter (where he more largely expoundeth both the Centauries) he repeateth them to be found out by Chiron: and thereupon he addeth, that both of them are named Chironia. Of some it is reported, That the said Chiron was cured therewith of a wound in his foot, that was made with an arrow that fell upon it when he was entertaining Hercules into his house; whereupon it was called Chironium: or of the curing of the wounds of his soldiers, for the which purpose it is most excellent.

 

The Temperature.

            It is hot and dry in the third degree. Galen saith, by the taste of the root it showeth contrary qualities, so in the use it performeth contrary effects.

 

The Virtues.

            A. The root taken in the quantity of two drams is good for them that be bursten, or spit blood; against the cramp and shrinking of sinews, the shortness of wind or difficulty of breathing, the cough and gripings of the belly.

            B. There is not any part of the herb but it rather worketh miracles than ordinary cures in green wounds; for it joineth together the lips of simple wounds in the flesh, according to the first intention, that is, gluing the lips together, not drawing to the place any matter at all.

            C. The root of this plant (saith Dioscorides) is a remedy for ruptures, convulsions, and cramps, taken in the weight of two drams, to be given with wine to those that are without a fever, and unto those that have, with water.

            D. Galen saith, that the juice of the leaves thereof performeth those things that the root doth; which is also used instead of Lycium, a kind of hard juice of a sharp taste.

 

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