Of Rubarbe.

The description.

This kinde of Rubarbe hath very great leaues, somewhat snipt or indented about the edges like the teeth of a sawe, not vnlike the leaues of Enula campana, called by the vulgar sort Elecampane but greater: among which riseth vp a straight stalke of two cubits high, bearing at the top a scalie head like those of Knappeweede, or Iacea maior: In the middle of which knap or head, thrusteth foorth a faire flower consisting of many purple threddes, like those of the Artichoke; which being past, there followeth a great quantitie of downe, wherein is wrapped long seede like vnto the great Centorie, which the whole plant doth very well resemble. The roote is long and thicke, blackish without, and of a pale colour within: which being chewed maketh the spittle verie yellowe, as doth the Rubarbe of Barbarie. 1 Rha Capitatum L'Obelii. Turkie Rubarbe. 2 Rhabarbarum florens. Flowring Rubarbe. 2 Touching the Rubarbe used in shoppes of the forme or bignesse of the plant it selfe, or of the leaves or flowers, we finde nothing set down in the olde writers: Dioscorides hath expressed a certaine likenesse, substance and colour of the rootes onely: and yet but of that Rubarbe which groweth in those places that are beyonde the streight of Constantinople, called the blacke sea, and Pontus Euxinus, or also Mæotis, called the white sea. The greatnes of the rootes of Rubarbe (and as it is very like of the whole plant it selfe also) doth not a little varie according to the difference of the regions, ground and weather, which (as we must ever nowe and then repeat) be oftentimes great causes of alteration and difference in plants. But seeing there is extant a picture of the greene Rubarbe with his flowers, stalke, and rootes, it shall not be amisse to set foorth his description likewise. Rubarbe hath a greene thicke stalke a foote high, garnished with many leaves, of two spans long, sometimes longer or shorter, according to their age, narrowe toward the stemme, broad and rounde at the top like a peare, bowing backwardes towarde the ground, couered over with a certaine downe or woollines when they be yoong & greene, but when they be olde of a pale yellowish colour: out of the 3 Rhabarbarum siccatum. The dry rootes of Rubarbe. griefes thereof, conuulsions, diseases of the spleene, liuer, and kidneies, gripings and inward gnawings of the guts, infirmities of the bladder and chest, swelling about the hart, diseases of the matrix, paine in the huckle bones, spitting of bloud, shortnesse of breath, yexing or the hicket; the bloudy flixe; the laske proceeding of rawe humours; fits in agues; and against the bitings of venemous beasts. Moreouer he saith, that it taketh away blacke and blew spots, and tetters or ringwoormes, if it be mixed with vineger and the place annointed therewith. Galen affirmeth it to be good for burstings, cramps and conuulsions, and for those that are verie short winded, and that spit bloud. But touching the purging facultie, neither Dioscorides nor Galen hath written any thing, bicause it was not used in those daies to purge with. Galen helde opinion, that the thinne aerious parts doe make the binding qualitie of more force: not bicause it doth resist the colde and earthie substance, but by reason that it carieth the same, & maketh it deeply to pearce, & therby to worke the greater effect, the drie and thinne essence conteining in it selfe a purging force and qualitie to open obstructions, but helped and made more facile by the subtile and aerious parts. Paulus AEgineta seemeth to be the first that made triall of the purging facultie of Rubarbe: for in his first booke 43. chapter he maketh mention thereof, where he reckoneth up turpentine among those medicines, which made the bodies of such as are in health soluble. But when we purpose, saith he, to make the turpentine more strong, we adde unto it a little Rubarbe. The Arabians that followed him, brought it to a further use in phisicke, as chiefly purging downward choler, and oftentimes flegme. The purgation which is made of Rubarbe is profitable and fit for all such as are troubled with choler, and for those that are sicke of sharpe and tertian feuers, for them that haue the yellow iaunders, and bad liuers. It is a good medicine against the pleurisie, inflammation of the lungs, the squinancie or squincie, madnesse, frensie, inflammations of the kidneies, bladder, and all the inwarde parts, and especiallie against Saint Anthonies fire, as well outwardly as inwardly taken. Rubarbe is undoubtedly an especiall good medicine for the liuer and infirmities of the gall, for besides that it purgeth foorth cholericke and naughtie humours, it remooueth stoppings out of the conduits. It also mightily strengthneth the entrailes themselues; insomuch as Rubarbe is iustly tearmed of diuers, the life of the liuer: for Galen in his 11. booke of the methode or manner of curing, affirmeth that such kinde of medicines are most fit and profitable for the liuer, as haue ioined with a purging and opening qualitie, an astringent or binding power. The quantitie that is to be giuen, is from one dram to two: and in the infusion from one and a halfe to three. It is giuen or steeped, and that in hot diseases, with the infusion or distilled water of Cycorie, Endiue, or some other of the like nature; & likewise in Whaie: and if there be no heate it may be giuen in wine. It is also oftentimes giuen being dried at the fire, but so, that the least or no part thereof at all be burned; and being so used it is a remedie for the bloudie flixe, and for all kinds of laskes: for it both purgeth away naughtie and corrupt humours, and likewise withall stoppeth the bellie. The same being dried after the same maner doth also staie the ouermuch flowing of the monthly sicknesse, and stoppeth bloud in anie part of the bodie, especially that which commeth through the bladder; but it shoulde be giuen in a little quantie, and mixed with some other binding thing. Mesues saith, that Rubarbe is an harmelesse medicine, and good at all times and for all ages, and likewise for children and women with childe.