Fig. 1022. Kinds of Calamint (1-4)

The Description.

            1. Mountain Calamint is a low herb, seldom above a foot high, parted into many branches: the stalks are four-square, and have joints as it were, out of every one whereof grow forth leaves something round, lesser than those of Basil, covered with a very thin hairy down, as are also the stalks, somewhat whitish, and of a sweet smell: the tops of the branches are gallantly decked with flowers, somewhat of a purple colour; then groweth the seed which is black: the roots are full of strings, and continue.

            2. This most excellent kind of Calamint hath upright stalks a cubit high, covered over with a woolly mossiness, beset with rough leaves like a Nettle, somewhat notched about the edges; among the leaves come forth bluish or sky-coloured flowers: the root is woody, and the whole plant is of a very good smell.

            3. There is another kind of Calamint which hath hard square stalks, covered in like manner as the other with a certain hoary or fine cotton. The leaves be in shape like Basil, but that they are rough; and the flowers grow in roundels toward the tops of the branches, sometimes three or four upon a stemme, of a purplish colour. The root is thready, and long lasting.

            4. There is a kind of strong smelling Calamint that hath also square stalks covered with soft cotton, and almost creeping by the ground, having evermore two leaves standing one against another, small and soft, not much unlike the leaves of Pennyroyal, saving that they are larger and whiter: the flowers grow about the stalks like whorls or garlands, of a bluish purple colour; the root is small and thready: the whole plant hath the smell of Pennyroyal; whence it hath the addition of pulegii odore.

The Place.

            It delighteth to grow in mountains, and in the shadowy and gravelly sides thereof: it is found in many places of Italy and France, and other countries: it is brought into gardens, where it prospereth marvellous well, and very easily soweth itself. I have found these plants growing upon the chalky grounds and highways leading from Gravesend unto Canterbury, in most places, or almost everywhere. So saith our author, but I have only observed the third and fourth to grow wild with us in England.

The Time.

            It flourisheth in summer, and almost all the year through: it bringeth forth flowers and seed from June to autumn.

The Names.

            It is called in Greek Kalaminthe, as though you should say, Elegans aut utilis Mentha, a gallant or profitable Mint: the Latins keep the name Calamintha: Apuleius also nameth it amiss, Mentastrum, and confoundeth the names one with another: the apothecaries call it Montana Calamintha, Calamentum, and sometime Calamentum montanum: in French, Calament: in English, Mountain Calamint. The fourth is certainly the second Calamint of Dioscorides, and the true Nepeta of the ancients.

The Temperature.

            This Calamint which groweth in mountains is of a fervent taste, and biting, hot and of a thin substance, and dry after a sort in the third degree, as Galen saith: it digesteth or wasteth away thin humours, it cutteth, and maketh thick humours thin.

The Virtues.

            A. Therefore being inwardly taken by itself, and also with mead, or honeyed water, it doth manifestly heat, provoketh sweat, and consumeth superfluous humours of the body; it taketh away the shiverings of agues that come by fits.

            B. The same also is performed by the salad oil in which it is boiled, if the body be anointed and well rubbed and chafed therewith.

            C. The decoction thereof drunk provoketh urine, bringeth down the monthly sickness, and expelleth the child, which also it doth being but only applied.

            D. It helpeth those that are bruised, such as are troubled with cramps and convulsions, and that cannot breathe unless they hold their necks upright (that have the wheezing of the lungs, saith Galen) and it is a remedy saith Dioscorides for a choleric passion, otherwise called the felony.

            E. It is good for them that have the yellow jaundice, for that it removeth the stoppings of the liver and gall, and withal cleanseth: being taken aforehand in wine, it keepeth a man from being poisoned: being inwardly taken, or outwardly applied, it cureth them that are bitten of serpents: being burned or strewed it drives serpents away: it takes away black and blue spots that come by blows or dry beatings, making the skin fair and white; but for such things (saith Galen) it is better to be laid to green than dry.

            F. It killeth all manner of worms of the belly, if it be drunk with salt and honey: the juice dropped into the ears doth in like manner kill the worms thereof.

            G. Pliny saith, that if the juice be conveyed up into the nostrils it stancheth the bleeding at the nose, and the root (which Diorcorides writeth to be good for nothing) helpeth the squincy, if it be gargarised, or the throat washed therewith, being used in cuit, and Myrtle seed withal.

            H. It is applied to those that have the Sciatica or ache in the huckle bone, for it draws the humour from the very bottom. Paulus Ægineta saith, that for the pain of the haunches or huckle bones it is to be used in clysters.

            I. Being much eaten it is good for them that have the leprosy, so that the patient drink whey after it, as Dioscorides witnesseth.

            K. Apuleius affirmeth, that if the leaves be often eaten, they are a sure and certain remedy against the leprosy.

            L. There is made of this an antidote or composition, which Galen in his fourth book Of the Government of Health describes by the name of Diacalaminthos, that doth not only notably digest or waste away crudities, but also is marvellous good for young maidens that want their courses, if their bodies be first well purged; for in continuance of time it bringeth them down very gently without force.