Of Naked Barly.
The description.
Hordeum nudum is also called Zeopyrum and Tritico-Speltum, bicause it is like to Zea, otherwise called Spelta, and is like that which is called French Barly, whereof is made that noble drinke for sicke folks called Ptifana. The plant is altogither like vnto the common Barly, fauing that the eares are rounder, the eiles or beards rougher and longer, and the seede or graine naked without husks.
The vertues.
This Barly boiled in water cooleth vnnaturall and hot burning choler. In vehement feuers you may adde thereto the seedes of white Poppie and Lettufe, not onely to coole, but also to prouoke sleepe. Against the shortnes of breth and pains of the brest, may be added to all the aforesaid, figs, raisons of the sunne, liquerice and annise feede. Being boiled in the whay of milke, with the leaues of Sorrell, Marigolds, and Scabious, it quencheth thirst, and cooleth the heate of the inflamed liuer, being drunke first in the morning, and last to bedward.
Text in Gerard's own spelling (the long s is printed as s), transcribed by the Source Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). A chapter may run onto pages not yet transcribed. Gerard wrote within Galenic medicine; nothing here is advice.