CULPEPER'S COMPLETE HERBAL

CARRAWAY

Description. It beareth divers stalks of fine cut leaves, lying upon the ground, somewhat like to the leaves of carrots, but not bushing so thick, of a little quick taste in them, from among which riseth up a square stalk, not so high as the carrot, at whose joints are set the like leaves, but smaller and fitter, and at the top small open tufts, or umbels of white flowers, which turn into small blackish seed, smaller than the aniseed, and of a quicker and better taste. The root is whitish, small and long, somewhat like unto a parsnip, but with more wrinkled bark, and much less; of a little hot and quick taste, and stronger than the parsnip, and abideth after seed-time.

Place. It is usually sown with us in gardens.

Time. They flower in June and July, and seed quickly after.

Government and virtues. This is also a Mercurial plant. Carraway seed hath a moderate sharp quality, whereby it breaketh wind, and provoketh urine, which also the herb doth. The root is better food than the parsnips; it is pleasant and comfortable to the stomach and helpeth digestion. The seed is conducing to all cold griefs of the stomach, bowels, or mother; as also the wind in them. The powder of the seed put into a poultice, taketh away black and blue spots of blows and bruises. The herb itself, or with some of the seed bruised and fried, laid hot in a bag or double cloth, to the lower parts of the belly, easeth the pains of the wind cholic.

The roots of carraway eaten as men eat parsnips, strengthen the stomach of ancient people exceedingly, and they need not to make a whole meal of them neither, and are fit to be planted in every garden.

Carraway confects, once only dipped in sugar, and half a spoonful of them eaten in the morning fasting, and as many after each meal, is a most admirable remedy for those that are troubled with wind.