Syrups

ALTERING SYRUPS

Culpeper : Reader, before we being with the particular Syrups, I think good to advertise thee of these few things, which concern the nature, making, and use of Syrups in general. 1. A Syrup is a medicine of a liquid body, compounded of Decoction, Infusion, or Juice, with Sugar or Honey, and brought by the heat of the fire, into the thickness of Honey. 2. Because all Honey is not of a thickness, understand new Honey, which of all other is thinnest. 3. The reason why Decoctions, Infusions, Juices, are thus used, is, Because thereby, First, They will keep the longer. Secondly, They will taste the better. 4. In boiling Syrups have a great care of their just consistence, for if you boil them too much they will candy, if too little, they will sour.

All simple Syrups have the virtues of the simples they are made of, and are far more convenient for weak people, and delicate stomachs.

Syrupus de Absinthio simplex
Or Syrup of Wormwood simple

College : Take of the clarified Juice of common Wormwood, clarified Sugar, of each four pounds, make it into a Syrup according to art. After the same manner, are prepared simple Syrups of Betony, Borrage, Bugloss, Carduus, Chamomel, Succory, Endive, Hedge-mustard, Strawberries, Fumitory, Ground Ivy, St. John's Wort, Hops, Mercury, Mousear, Plantain, Apples, Purslain, Rasberries, Sage, Scabious, Scordium, Houseleek, Colt's-foot, Paul's Bettony, and other Juices not sour.

Culpeper : See the simples, and then you may easily know both their virtues, and also that they are pleasanter and fitter for delicate stomachs when they are made into Syrups.

Syrupus de Absinthio Compositus
Or Syrup of Wormwood compound

College : Take of common Wormwood meanly dry, half a pound, red Roses two ounces, Indian Spikenard three drams, old white Wine, juice of Quinces, of each two pounds and an half, steep them a whole day in an earthen vessel, then boil them gently, and strain it, and by adding two pounds of sugar, boil it into a Syrup according to art.

Culpeper : Mesue is followed verbatim in this; and the receipt is appropriated to cold and flegmatic stomachs, and it is an admirable remedy for it, for it strengthens both stomach and liver, as also the instruments of concoction, a spoonful taken in the morning, is admirable for such as have a weak digestion, it provokes an appetite to one's victuals, it prevails against the yellow jaundice, breaks wind, purges humours by urine.

Syrupus de Acetosus simplex
Or Syrup of Vinegar simple

College : Take of clear Water four pounds, white Sugar five pounds, boil them in a glazed vessel over a gentle fire, scumming it till half the water be consumed, then by putting in two pounds of white Wine Vinegar by degrees, perfect the Syrup.

Culpeper : That is, only melt the Sugar with the Vinegar over the fire, scum it, but boil it not.

Syrupus Acetosus simplicior
Or Syrup of Vinegar more simple

College : Take of white Sugar five pounds, white Wine Vinegar two pounds, by melting it in a bath, make it into a Syrup.

Culpeper : Of these two Syrups let every one use which he finds by experience to be best; the difference is but little. They both of them cut flegm, as also tough, hard viscous humours in the stomach; they cool the body, quench thirst, provoke urine, and prepare the stomach before the taking of a vomit. If you take it as a preparative for an emetic, take half an ounce of it when you go to bed the night before you intend it to operate, it will work the easier, but if for any of the foregoing occasions, take it with a liquorice stick.