Disoscorides on Sage
Jan. 4th, 2005 10:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bunnyjadwigaDioscordies Pedanius of Anazarbos was the most famous and most revered classical botanist in the middle ages. John Goodyer translated his Herbal into English in 1655, but it was used in Latin and Greek long before then.
On sage, the Herbal says:
"Elelisphakon. [Salvia officinalis]
Sage, which some call Elaphoboscon, some Sphagnon, some Ciosmin, some Phagnon, some Becion, ye Egyptians Apusi, the Romans, Cosalon, others Salvia, is a shrub somewhat long, much branched, having stalks 4-square, & somewhat white, but leaves like to Malicottoon, but yet longer & sharper & thicker, hidden by hairs, like as of outworn garments, whitish, exceeding odoriferous, poisonous, but it hath ye seed on ye top of the stalks, as of wild Horminum. But it grows in rough places. But ye decoction of the leaves, & of ye branches hath the power being drank, to move ye urine & ye menstrua, & to draw out ye Embrya, & to help ye strokes of ye Pastinaca marina. It dyes ye hair black also, & it is a wound-herb, & a blood stancher, & a cleanser of ye wild ulcers. But ye decoction of ye leaves, and of the branches of them with wine being fomented on, assuageth ye itchings about ye privities. [Elelisphacon dissolves chilliness, ye cough and it is good being taken with Rosaceum, and Cerat for all ye bad ulcers, & being drank with white wine it cures ye paine of ye spleen, and ye Dysenterie. In like sort being given to drink, it cures blood-spitters & is available for all cleansings of a woman, but most wicked women making a Pessun of it, do apply it, & cast out ye Embrya]" (p. 274)
Now, Dioscorides calls it poisonous, but the description does sound like sage. He also says it is used as a pessary (vag. suppository) to induce abortion; I've never heard of Sage being a reliable abortifacent when applied. He says it's a diuretic but helps with dysentery, 'itchings about the privities' and a blood stauncher and cleanser. He also mentions the traditional use of sage as a rinse for dark hair.
On sage, the Herbal says:
"Elelisphakon. [Salvia officinalis]
Sage, which some call Elaphoboscon, some Sphagnon, some Ciosmin, some Phagnon, some Becion, ye Egyptians Apusi, the Romans, Cosalon, others Salvia, is a shrub somewhat long, much branched, having stalks 4-square, & somewhat white, but leaves like to Malicottoon, but yet longer & sharper & thicker, hidden by hairs, like as of outworn garments, whitish, exceeding odoriferous, poisonous, but it hath ye seed on ye top of the stalks, as of wild Horminum. But it grows in rough places. But ye decoction of the leaves, & of ye branches hath the power being drank, to move ye urine & ye menstrua, & to draw out ye Embrya, & to help ye strokes of ye Pastinaca marina. It dyes ye hair black also, & it is a wound-herb, & a blood stancher, & a cleanser of ye wild ulcers. But ye decoction of ye leaves, and of the branches of them with wine being fomented on, assuageth ye itchings about ye privities. [Elelisphacon dissolves chilliness, ye cough and it is good being taken with Rosaceum, and Cerat for all ye bad ulcers, & being drank with white wine it cures ye paine of ye spleen, and ye Dysenterie. In like sort being given to drink, it cures blood-spitters & is available for all cleansings of a woman, but most wicked women making a Pessun of it, do apply it, & cast out ye Embrya]" (p. 274)
Now, Dioscorides calls it poisonous, but the description does sound like sage. He also says it is used as a pessary (vag. suppository) to induce abortion; I've never heard of Sage being a reliable abortifacent when applied. He says it's a diuretic but helps with dysentery, 'itchings about the privities' and a blood stauncher and cleanser. He also mentions the traditional use of sage as a rinse for dark hair.
