Of Dodder.
The description.
Cuscuta, or Dodder, is a strange herbe, altogither without leaues or roote, like vnthreds very much snarled or wrapped togither, confusedly winding it selfe about bushes and hedges, and sundrie kindes of herbes. The threds are somewhat red: vpon which grow heere and there little rounde heads or knops, bringing foorth at the first slender white flowers, afterward a small seed.
The place.
This herbe groweth vpon sundrie kindes of herbes, as vpon Time, Winter Sauorie, Germander, and such like, taking his name from the herbe whereupon it doth growe, as that vpon Time is called Epithymum, vpon Line or flaxe Epilinum, and so of others, as Dodonaeus setteth foorth at large: yet hath he forgotten one among the rest, which groweth very plentifully in Sommersetshire vpon nettles: neither is it the least among manie, either in beautie or operation, but comparable to the best Epithymum: following therefore the example of Dioscorides, I haue thought good to call it Epiurtica, and so of the rest according to the herbe whereon they do growe.
The names.
The greatest is called in shops euery where Cuscuta: and of diuers bicause it groweth vpon flaxe or Lyne, Podagra Lini; the better learned do name it Cassutha, or Cassytha: and Gesnerus λινοδεσμον: the Arabians Kessuth, and Chasuth: in Dutch Schockte, and Wranghe; in high Dutch Filtkraut: in French Goute d'Lin, and Tigne de Lin: in English Dodder. That lesser and slenderer which wrappeth it selfe vpon Time and Sauorie, is called of Dioscorides επιθυμον, the apothecaries keepe the name Epithymum: others, among whom is Actuarius, name that Epithymum which groweth vpon Time onely, and that which groweth on Sauorie Epithymbrum, and that also which hangeth vpon Stæbe, or Scabious, they terme Epistaben, giuing a peculiar name to euery kinde.
The temperature.
The nature of this herbe changeth and altereth, according to the nature and qualitie of the herbes wherupon it groweth: so that by searching of the nature of the plant you may easilie finde out the temperament of the laces growing vpon the same. But more particularly: it is of temperature somewhat more drie then hot, and that in the seconde degree: it also clenfeth with a certaine astrictiue or binding qualitie, and especially that which is founde growing vpon the bramble: for it also receiueth a certaine nature from his parents on which it groweth; for when it groweth vpon the hotter herbes, as Time and Sauorie, it becommeth hotter and drier, and of thinner parts: that which commeth of Brome prouoketh vrine more forcibly, and maketh the bellie more soluble: and that is moister which groweth vpon flaxe: that which is founde vpon the bramble hath ioined with it, it, as we haue saide, a binding qualitie, which also by reason of this facultie ioyned by good right cure other infirmities of the liuer and milt: for seeing that it hath both a purging and binding facultie vnited to it, it is most singular good for the entrals: for Galen in his 13. booke of the methode of curing, doth at large declare that such medicines are fittest of all for the liuer and milt.
The vertues.
This kinde of Dodder remooueth the stoppings of the liuer and of the milt or spleene, it disburdeneth the veines of flegmatike, cholericke, corrupt and superfluous humours: prouoketh vrine gently, and in a meane openeth the kidneies, cureth the yellowe iaundise which are ioined with the stopping of the liuer and gall: it is a remedie against lingring agues, corrupt and long tertians, quartains also, and properly agues in infants and yoong children, as Mesues saith in Serapio: who also teacheth, that the nature of Dodder is to purge choler by the stoole, and that more effectually if it haue Wormewoode ioined with it; but too much vsing of it, is hurtfull to the stomacke: yet Auicen writeth that it doth not hurt it, but strengtheneth a weake or feeble stomacke; which opinion also we do better allowe of. Epithymum, or the Dodder which groweth vpon Time, is hotter and drier then the Dodder that groweth vpon flaxe, that is to saie, euen in the thirde degree, as Galen saith. It helpeth all the infirmities of the milt: it is a remedie against obstructions and hard wennie swellings: it taketh awaie olde head aches, the falling sicknesse, madnesse that commeth of melancholie, and especially that which proceedeth from the spleene and parts thereabout: it is good for those that haue the French disease, and such as be troubled with contagious vlcers, the leprosie, and the scabbie euill. It purgeth downwards blacke and melancholicke humours, as Aetius, Actuarius, and Mesues write; and also flegme as Dioscorides noteth: that likewise purgeth by stoole which groweth vpon Sauorie and Scabious, but more weakly, as Actuarius saith. Cuscuta, or Dodder that groweth vpon flaxe, boiled in water or wine and drunk, openeth the stoppings of the liuer, the bladder, the gall, the milt, the kidneies and veines, and purgeth both by siege and vrine cholericke humours. It is good against the ague which hath continued a long time, and against the iaundise, I meane that Dodder especially that groweth vpon brambles. Epiurtica or Dodder growing vpon nettles, is a most singular and effectual medicine to prouoke vrine, and to loose the obstructions of the body, and is prooued oftentimes in the west parts to haue good successe against many maladies.
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.