Herbal & Animal Medicines — Medieval Manuscript

m Mix with vinegar and apply and bind it; it will be healed in three days.
m For pain or swelling of the nerves: grind the herb Artemisia with lard and oil, mix well, and apply; it will heal wonderfully.
m For pain in the feet, if anyone is heavily afflicted: give them the root of the herb artemisia with honey to chew. Furthermore, if taken after a meal, it will purge so effectively that one would scarcely believe such power could exist in it.
v If anyone is afflicted with fevers: anoint them with the juice of the herb artemisia mixed with rose oil; it will remove the fevers. This herb has an excellent scent if preserved. to be painted: the herb artemisia.

A botanical illustration of the Artemisia (Mugwort) plant, featuring a central stalk with yellow, feathery flowers and serrated green leaves, with a detailed brown root system.

f It grows around ditches and mounds; if its flower is crushed, it retains its scent.
f For pain in the stomach: the herb artemisia ground with almond oil, mixed well into a poultice, and applied; it will be healed on the fifth day.
v If the root of this Artemisia is hung over the threshold of a building, no one will harm that house.
m For trembling of the nerves: mix the juice of the herb artemisia with rose oil and anoint the trembling parts; it will take away all infirmity. For it is said that Diana discovered these three artemisias and handed down their power and that of the medicines to Chiron the Centaur, who first instituted medicine from these herbs. He named these herbs artemisia after the name of Diana. to be painted: the herb lapatium dock.

A botanical illustration of the Lapatium (Dock) plant, showing broad, dark green oval leaves radiating from a central point with reddish-brown roots.

It grows in sandy places and mounds. For tumors that grow in the groin: cut the herb lapatium, mix it with twice the amount of lard so that the herb is well incorporated, make small balls, wrap them in cabbage leaves, and place them under hot ashes; when it is warm, apply it over the tumor and bind it with a cloth; this is an excellent remedy.
ph. to be painted: the herb Dracontea Dragon Arum.

A botanical illustration of the Dracontea plant, featuring three large green leaves with dark spots and a central red spadix/flower, with a bulbous root.

f By the Greeks it is called Draconthea.
Others asclepios.
Others stichomanis.
Others sircomion.
Others tanchometon.
Others affrilla.
Others corcachon.
Others corcodillion.
Others elieorio.
Others ischeon.
Others ostanes zorastres.
Others therofonon. Siri paminon.
Italians call it the herb dracontea.

This aforementioned herb, that is, dracontea, is said to be of the nature of dragon's blood. It grows on the highest mountains where the light is greatest, in holy places, in the land of Apulia, upon rocks. It is soft to the touch, sweet to the taste, having the flavor of a green chestnut, and its root has the shape of a dragon's head. to be painted: a serpent, an asp, and the dracontea.

A botanical illustration of a brown and black spotted serpent positioned next to the Dracontea plant.

f For the bites of all serpents, and especially the asp: give the root of the herb dracontea ground in wine as a drink; it expels the poison. For fractured bones in the body: place the root of the herb dracontea with lard as a poultice; it soon draws out the fractured bones from the body. You gather it in the month of July.
v Agreas is called sarpion.
Others gonos.
Others euraticon.
Others eriton.
Others panion.
Others sempon.
Others cachis.
Egyptians, imene.
Italians, papieus.
Others, testiculos.
It grows in mountains, in solid root-bearing places, away from the sea.

A botanical illustration of a plant with a tall central stalk ending in a red conical flower head, with long green leaves and a bulbous root.