Fig. 1287. White Bryony

The Kinds.

            There be two kinds of Bryony, the one white, the other black: of the White Bryony as followeth.

The Description.

            White Bryony bringeth forth divers long and slender stalks with many clasping tendrils like the Vine, wherewith it catcheth hold of those things that are next unto it. The leaves are broad, five-cornered, and indented like those of the Vine; but rougher, more hairy, and whiter of colour. The flowers be small and white, growing many together. The fruit consisteth in little clusters, the berries whereof are at the first green, and red when they be ripe. The root is very great, long, and thick, growing deep in the earth, of a white yellowish colour, extreme bitter, and altogether of an unpleasant taste. The Queen's Chief Surgeon Mr. William Godorous, a very curious and learned gentleman showd me a root hereof, that weighed half an hundred weight, and of the bigness of a child, of a year old.

The Place.

            Bryony groweth almost everywhere among pot-herbs, hedge-bushes, and such like places.

The Time.

            It flowereth in May and bringeth forth his grapes in autumn.

The Names.

            Bryony is called in Latin, Vitis alba or white Vine, and it is named Ampelos in Greek, because it is not only like the Vine in leaves, but also for that it bringeth forth his fruit made up after the likeness of a little cluster, although the berries stand not close together: it is called of Pliny, Bryonia, and Madon: of the Arabians, Alphesera: of Matthæus Sylvaticus, Viticella: in the Poor Man's Treasure, Rorastrum: of Apuleius, Apiastellum, Vitis taminia, Vitis alba, and Vitalba: in High Dutch, Suchwurtz: in Low Dutch, Brionie: in English, Bryony, White Bryony, and Tetter Berry: in French, Coulevree: in Italian, Zucca sylvatica: in Spanish, Nueza blanca.

The Temperature.

            White Bryony is in all parts hot and dry, exceeding the third degree, especially of heat, with an exceeding great force of cleansing and scouring, by reason whereof it purgeth and draweth forth, not only choleric and phlegmatic humours, but also watery.

The Virtues.

            A. Dioscorides writeth that the first springs or sproutings being boiled and eaten, do purge by siege and urine. Galen saith, that all men use accustomably to eat of it in the spring time, and that it is a nourishment wholesome, by reason of the binding quality that it hath; which is to be understood of those of the wild Vine, called in Latin, Tamus; and not of the sproutings of this plant; for the sproutings of the first springs of White Bryony are nothing binding at all, but do mightily purge the belly, and torment the stomach.

            B. Dioscorides also affirmeth, that the juice of the root being pressed out in the spring, and drunk with mead or honeyed water, purgeth phlegm: and not only the juice, but also the decoction of the root draweth forth phlegm, choler, and waterish humours, and that very strongly; and it is withal oftentimes so troublesome to the stomach, as it procureth vomit.

            C. This kind of strong purgation is good for those that have the dropsy, the falling sickness, and the dizziness and swimming of the brain and head, which hath continued long, and is hardly to be removed: yet notwithstanding it is not daily to be given (as  Dioscorides admonisheth) to them that have the falling sickness, for it will be troublesome enough to take it now and then: and it is (as we haute said) an exceeding strong medicine, purging with violence, and very forceable for man's nature.

            D. The root put up in manner of a pessary bringeth forth the dead child and afterbirth: being boiled for a bath to sit in, it worketh the same effect.

            E. It scoureth the skin, and taketh away wrinkles, freckles, sun-burning, black marks, spots, and scars of the face, being tempered with the meal of Vetches or Tares, or of Fenugreek: or boiled in oil till it be consumed; it taketh away black and blue spots which come of stripes: it is good against whitlows: being stamped with wine and applied it breaketh boils, and small apostumes; it draweth forth splinters and broken bones, if it be stamped and laid thereto.

            F. The same is also fitly mixed with eating medicines, as Dioscorides writeth.

            G. The fruit is good against scabs and the leprosy, if it be applied and anointed on, as the same author affirmeth.

            H. Galen writeth, that it is profitable for tanners to thicken their leather hides with.

            I. Furthermore, an electuary made of the roots and honey or sugar, is singular good for them that are short-winded, troubled with an old cough, pain in the sides, and for such as are hurt and bursten inwardly: for it dissolveth and scattereth abroad congealed and cluttered blood.

            K. The root stamped with salt is good to be laid upon filthy ulcers and scabbed legs. The fruit is likewise good to the same intent if it be applied in manner aforesaid.

            L. The root of Bryony and of Wake-Robin stamped with some sulphur or brimstone, and made up into a mass or lump and wrapped in a linen clout, taketh away the morphew, freckles, and spots of the face, if it be rubbed with the same, being dipped first in vinegar.