Medicinal and aromatic plants – industrial profiles

Nicholas Culpeper (1616–54)
He called himself an astrological doctor, physician who was trained as an apothecary and he 
proclaimed that lavender ‘was owned by Mercury, and carries his effects very potently’. ‘Lavender
is of special good use for all the grief’s and pains of the head and brain that proceed from a cold
cause, as the apoplexy, falling sickness, dropsy, sluggish malady, cramps, convulsions, palsies and
faintings’. ‘It strengthens the stomach and frees the liver and spleen from obstructions, provokes
women’s courses and expels the dead child and after birth’. So far he has repeated what was said
by Gerard, but has added the mysterious sluggish malady and cramps and an improbable faith
in Lavender’s ability to expel the dead child and afterbirth from the mother’s body. The same
words are used for pennyroyal, considered to be an abortifacient, and this is perhaps the only 
reference to an abortifacient quality attached to lavender.
‘The flowers of lavender steeped in wine, helps them to make water that are stopped, or are
troubled with the wind and colic, if the place be bathed therewith. A decoction made with the
flowers of lavender, hore-hound, fennel and asparagus root, and a little cinnamon, is very prof-
itable used to help the falling sickness, and the giddiness or turning of the brain: to gargle the
mouth with the decoction thereof is good against the toothache.’ The theme of falling sickness
continues but here we are moving away form Hildegard and Gerard: Culpeper is advocating its
use in wind, colic, and toothache.
He returns to the plot however and says that ‘Two spoonsful of the distilled water of the flow-
ers taken, helps them that have lost their voice, as also the tremblings and passions of the heart,
and the faintings and swoonings, not only being drunk but applied to the temples or nostrils to
be smelled unto’, now we have returned to almost exactly what Gerard said, with a dash of
Hildegard.
Oil of spike
Culpeper particularly warned against ‘The chemical oil (essential oil) drawn from lavender, 
usually called oil of spike, is of so fierce and piercing a quality that it is cautiously to be used.
Some few drops being sufficient to be given with other things, for inward or outward griefs
(troubles)’. Finally, he says that ‘it is not safe to use it where the body is replete with blood and
humours, because of the hot and subtle spirits wherewith it is possessed’.
History of usage of
Lavandula
species
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Jo Castle and Maria Lis-Balchin
He repeats all this information in his ‘the English Physician and Family Dispensatory’ in 
a briefer format. Under ‘Simple Waters Distilled’ he cites Lavender, and under ‘Compounds,
Spirit and Compound Distilled Waters’ he warns ‘Let all young people forbear them whilst they
are in health, for their blood is usually hot enough without them’ and again ‘ … not to be 
meddled with by people of hot constitutions, when they are in health… If they drink of them
moderately now and then for recreation … they may do them good’, we must remember that 
a great debate had already begun a hundred years after spirits of alcohol had become commonplace
as to its use in medicine and recreationally.
He then gives a compound spirit of lavender ascribed to Matthias:
Take of Lavender flowers one gallon, to which pour three gallons of the best Spirits of Wine
(Aqua Vitae), let them stand together in the sun six days, then distil them with an
Alembick with this refrigeratory: Take flowers of Sage, Rosemary and Bettony of each 
a handful. The flowers of Borage, Bugloss, Lilies of the Valley and Cowslips of each two
handfuls. Let the flowers be infused in one gallon of the best spirits of wine. And mingled
with the forgoing Spirit of Lavender flowers, adding the leaves of Bawm (Melissa), Feather-
few (Feverfew), and Orange tree freshly gathered. The flowers of Stoechas (the other type of
Lavender) and Orange tree, May berries (Hawthorn), of each one ounce. After convenient
digestion distil it again, after which add Citron pills the outward bark, Peony seed husked,
of each six drams, Cinnamon, Mace, Nutmegs, Cardamoms, Cubebs, and Yellow Saunders
of each half an ounce. Wood of Aloes one dram, the best Jujubes the stones being taken out
half a pound; digest them six weeks, then strain it and filter, and add to it prepared Pearls
two drams, Emeralds prepared a scruple, Ambergrease, Musk, Saffron of each half a scruple,
Red Roses dryed, Red Saunders of each half an ounce yellow saunders, Citron pills dryed, of
each one dram. Let the species being tyed up in a rag be hung into the afore mentioned
spirit.
Culpeper then gives a list of complaints as to why the College of Physicians has not clarified this
recipe, making clear that he realises the difficulties in getting fresh orange leaves and flowers,
and borage, bugloss and cowslips flowering together and thus fresh. The very lengthy list of
ingredients including tiny amounts of precious stones and pearls is a common format for 
physicians of the late sixteenth century.
He lists the ‘Simple Oils by infusion and Decoction’, but gives neither oil of lavender nor oil
of spike lavender, but only oil of nard or spikenard from India (making it clear which he means).
He does however end this chapter with a statement of interest to modern aromatherapists:
‘That most of these oils, if not all of them, are used only externally, is certain’.
And it is certain that they retain the virtues of the simples wherof they are made, therefore
the ingenious might help themselves.
(Culpeper, 1653)
Culpeper in summary
Lavender for pains in the head and brain from cold cause, apoplexy, epilepsy, dropsy (Oedema or
severe water retention), the sluggish malady, cramps, convulsions, palsies and fainting. It is
strengthening for the stomach and opening for the liver and spleen. It provokes women’s 
periods, and expels dead foetuses and afterbirth. Finally, bathing the skin with a decoction of
lavender is good for wind and colic, gargling for toothache and for voice loss.

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