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ALKANETS (ALKANNA TINCTORIA), Lithosfermum tinctorium
 

Besides the common name, it is called Orchanct and Spanish Bugloss, and by the apothecaries, Enchusa. It has a great and thick root of a reddish colour, long, narrow hairy leaves, and small blue or reddish-purple flowers.
---Medicinal Action and Uses---The red dye is used to colour-ointments. The flowers, roots and seeds have expectorant properties. It is also used by some as a blood purifier. But it is not in general use and not recommended for internal use domestically.

It helps old ulcers, hot inflammations, burnings by common fire and St Anthony's fire, by antipathy to Mars. For these uses your best way is to make it into an ointment. If you make a vinegar of it, as you make Vinegar of Roses, it helps the morphy and leprosy. It helps the yellow jaundice, spleen and gravel in the kidneys. Dioscorides saith, it helps such as are bitten by venomous beasts, whether it he taken inwardly or applied to the wound; nay, he saith further, if any that hath newly eaten it do but spit into the mouth of a serpent, the serpent instantly dies.
It stays the flux of the belly, kills worms and helps the fits of the mother. Its decoction made in wine, and drank, strengthens the back, and easeth the pains thereof. It helps bruises and falls, and is as gallant a remedy to drive out the smallpox and rneasles as any is. An ointment made of it is excellent for green wounds, pricks or thrusts.

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