Unguentum Pectorale._ Or, A Pectoral Ointment

Documented historical use

The extracted preparation passage does not state a specific intended use. Related use records, when shown above, come from separate same-plant documentation.

Preparation summary

Materials as extracted

• College._] Take of fresh Butter washed in Violet Water six ounces, oil of Sweet Almonds four ounces, oil of Chamomel and Violets, white Wax, of each three ounces, Hen’s and Duck’s grease, of each two ounces, Orris roots two drams, Saffron half a dram:
• College._] Take of Hog’s grease three ounces, the grease of Hen’s, Geese, and Ducks, of each two ounces, Oesipus half an ounce, oil of Violets, Chamomel, and Dill, fresh Butter a pound, white Wax six ounces, mussilage of Gum Tragacanth, Arabic, Quince seeds, Lin-seeds, Marsh-mallow roots, of each half an ounce

Method as extracted

1. Let the mussilages be made in Rose water, and adding the rest, make it into an ointment according to art.

Preparation

Ointment

Route

Topical use

Plant part

Root · Seed

Primary-source transcription

College._] Take of fresh Butter washed in Violet Water six ounces, oil of Sweet Almonds four ounces, oil of Chamomel and Violets, white Wax, of each three ounces, Hen’s and Duck’s grease, of each two ounces, Orris roots two drams, Saffron half a dram: The two last being finely powdered, the rest melted and often washed in Barley or Hyssop water, make an ointment of them according to art.

Culpeper._] It strengthens the breast and stomach, eases the pains thereof, helps pleurises and consumptions of the lungs, the breast being anointed with it.

Unguentum Resumptivum.

College._] Take of Hog’s grease three ounces, the grease of Hen’s, Geese, and Ducks, of each two ounces, Oesipus half an ounce, oil of Violets, Chamomel, and Dill, fresh Butter a pound, white Wax six ounces, mussilage of Gum Tragacanth, Arabic, Quince seeds, Lin-seeds, Marsh-mallow roots, of each half an ounce. Let the mussilages be made in Rose water, and adding the rest, make it into an ointment according to art.

Culpeper._] It mightily molifies without any manifest heat, and is therefore a fit ointment for such as have agues, asthmas, hectic fevers, or consumptions. It is a good ointment to ease pains coming by inflammations of wounds or aposthumes, especially such as dryness accompanies, an infirmity wounded people are many times troubled with. In inward aposthumes, as pleurises, one of them to anoint the external region of the part, is very beneficial.

Unguentum Splanchnicum.

Safety and interpretation

External use only. Historical ingredient identity, strength, contamination risk, terminology and route may differ from modern practice. This archive record is educational and is not dosage or treatment guidance.

• Historical formula: ingredient identity, strength, contamination risk and terminology may differ from modern practice.
• Do not use this record as dosage or treatment guidance. Every ingredient, route and contraindication requires qualified editorial verification.
• The historical use wording does not establish modern clinical effectiveness.

Source record

The Complete Herbal by Nicholas Culpeper. Published 1653. paragraph-4439.

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