The complete text
of The English physitian: or an astrologo-physical
discourse of the vulgar herbs of this nation. by
Nicholas Culpeper [1652] is available online at
Yale
University's Medical School
Library site (as if they can't
afford more up-to-date texts). Saturn Amaranthus Cudweed Wintergreen Quince-tree Jupiter Agrimony Borrage Endive Quich-grass Mars Aloe Cotton-Thistle Mettles Star-thistle Sun Angelica Chelondine St. Peters wort Tormentil Venus Alehoof, or
Ground-Ivy Cichpease Kidneywort Damask Roses Mercury Azalea Hazel Nut-tree Melilot Sampire Moon Adders Tongue Flower-de-luce Moonwort Yellow
Waterflag This is more-or-less
Culpeper's assignment of planetary rulership to Saturn,
Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Sun and Moon. It is worthwhile to keep
in mind that he was including only plants he was familiar
with (in the 16th century), and native to Britain. (He also
refers to Cancer being ruled by Jupiter, but is considered
ruled by the moon). The purpose of it of course was to
provide medical guidance: once you knew what planet was
causing an affliction, you could prescribe the plant to
counteract it. Nicholas Culpeper was not
the only one devoted to this approach to medicine, but he
was certainly passionate about it -- for example: Not to stray too far from
the purpose of A Beginners Guide, the list is included here
only for those interested in knowing that their cabbages are
Cancers and their figwort's a Libra; it is not necessary to
know what astrological sign a plant is to care for it well.
Notes about the astrological sign and body part the planet
rules (or co-rules) and the growing conditions associated
with it by farmers are included under each planet name.
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Capricorn:
Earth - earthy, dry, semi-productive, F
- governs knees, teeth, and
bones
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Barley
Red Beets
Beech-tree
Bifoyl
Birdsfoot
Bistort
Blackthorn
Blewbottles
Buckshorn-Plantane
Wild Campions
Pilewort
Cetrach
Cleavers
Clowns Woundwort Comfry
Cottonweed
Cresses (Sciatica)
Crosswort
Darnel
Doddar
Epithimum
Elm-tree
Osmond Royal
Fleawort
Flixweed
Fumitory
Gladwin (Stinking)
Goosgrass
Goutwort
Haukweed
Hemlock
Hemp
Henbane
Horsetail
Holly
Ivy
Knapweed
Knotgrass
Medlar-tree
Moss
Mullein
Nightshade
Parkleaves
Polypodium
Poplar-tree
Rupture-wort
Rushes
Solomons-Seal
Sarazens Confound
Service-tree
Snakeweed
Spleenwort, or Tamaris
Thistle
Throughwax
Tutsan
Twayblade
Woad
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Sagittarius:
Fire - fiery, dry, barren,M -
governs the thighs
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Alecost
Alexanders
Asparagus
Avens
Bay-tree
White Beets
Bettony,Water
Bettony,Wood
Bilberries
Bugloss
Chervil
Chestnut
Sweet Cicely
Cinkfoyl
Costmary, or
Dandelyon
Docks
Bloodwort
Dog grass
Fig
Hartstongue
Hysop
Housleek
Jack by the Hedg
Liverwort
Lungwort
Sweet Maudlin
Oak-tree
Peas
Red Roses
Sage
Sauce alone
Scurvy-grass
Sengreen
Succory
Thistles (Milk, Marian)
White beets
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Aries:
Fire - fiery, dry, barren, M -
governs head and face
&
Scorpio (with Neptune): Water -
watery, fruitful, F - governs
reproductive organs
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Arsesmart
Asarabacca
Barberry-bush
Sweet Basil
Bramble-bush
Briony
Brooklime
Butchers-broom
Broom
Broomrape
Crowfoot
Cuckoopint Cranebil
Dittander
Dyers Weed
Flax-weed
Fursebush
Garlick
Hawthorn
Honeysuckle
Hops
Naddir
Masterwort
Mustard
Hedg-Mustard
Onions
Pepperwort
(Pepper)
Carduus Benedictus, in the Epistle
Radish
Horse Rhadish
Rhubarb
Bastard Rhubard Rapontick
Rocket
Thistles (not Milk or Our Lady's)
Toad-flax
Tobacco
Wake-Robin
Wolly Thistle
Treacle Mustard
Mithridate Mustard
Wold, Weld
Wormwood.
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Leo:
Fire - fiery,dry,barren, M -
governs the heart and small of the
back
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Ash-tree
Bawm (Balsam)
One-blade
Burner
Butter-bur
Chamomile
Centaury
Eyebright
St. Johns wort
Lovage
Marigolds
Misleto
Olive
Peony
Pimpernel
Rosa Solis
Rosemary
Rhue
Saffron
Turnsole, or Heliotropium
Vipers Bugloss
Walnut-tree
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Taurus:
Water - earthy,moist,productive, F
- governs neck & throat &
Libra: Air - moist,
semi-fruitful,M - governs liver and
kidneys
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Black Alder-tree
Alter-Tree (Alder)
Apple-Tree
Stinking Arrach
Arch-Angel, or Dead Nettles
Beans
Ladies Bedstraw
Birch-tree
Bishops Weed
Blites
Bugle
Burdock
Bramble
Cherry-tree
Winter Cherries
Chickweed
Clary
Cocks-head
Columbine
Coltsfoot
Cowslips
Currant
Cumin
Daisies
Devils-bit
Elder
Dwarf Elder
Eringo
Featherfew
Figwort
Filipendula
Foxgloves
Golden-rod
Gooseberry
Gromwel
Groundsel
Herb Robert
Herb Truelove
Ladies Mantle
Mallows
Marsh-Mallows
Mints
Motherwort
Mugwort
Nep, or Catmint
Parsnip
Peach-tree
Pear-tree
Penyroyal
Plantane
Plum-tree
Primroses
Ragwort
Rocket
Winter-Rocket
Wood Sage
Sanicle
Selfheal Sopewort, or Bruisewort
Sorrel
Wood Sorrel
Sowthistles
Spignel
Strawberries
Sycamore
Garden Tansy
Wild Tansy, or Silver-weed
Teazles
Vervain
Vine-tree
Violets
Wheat
Yarrow
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Gemini:
Air - dry, barren M - governs arms,
chest, lungs & Virgo: Earth -
dry, barren, F - governs bowels
& intestines
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Calaminth, or Mountain Mint
Carrots
Carraway
Dill
Elicampane
Fern
Fennel
Hogs Fennel
Germander
Horehound
Houndstongue
Lavender
Lily of the Valley
Liquoris
Wall-Rhue
Maidenhair
Golden Maidenhair
Sweet Marjoram
Moneywort
Mulberry-tree
Oats
Parsley
Cow Parsnep
Pellitory of the Wall
Pomegranate
Groundpine, or Chamepitys
Rest-Harrow, or Chamock
Summer and winter Savory
Scabious
Smallage
Southernwood
Meadow Trefoyl
Garden Valerian
Woodbind, or Honey-Suckles
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Cancer:
Water - watery, fruitful, F -
governs stomach and breast
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Cabbages
Coleworts
Sea Coleworts
Columbines
Cucumber
Duckmeat
Fluellin
Ivy
Lettice
Water-Lillies
Loosestrife, with, and without spiked
Heads
Mousear
Mushroon
Orpine
Poppies
Purslain
Privet
Pumpkin
Rattle-grass
Turnip
Water chestnut
Watercresses
White Roses
White Saxifrage
Burnet Saxifrage
Wall-flowers, or Winter-gilliflowers
Willow-tree![]()
It
[Agrimony] is an Herb under Jupiter, and the Sign
of Cancer, and therfore strengthens those parts under
that Planet and Sign, and removes Diseases in them by
Sympathy, and those under Saturn, Mars, and Mercury, by
Antipathy. If they happen in any part of the Body
governed by Jupiter, or under the Signs, Cancer,
Sagitary, or Pisces, and therfore must needs be good for
the Gout, either used outwardly in an Oyl or Oyntment, or
inwardly in an Electuary or Syrup, or concreated
Juyce....