Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
An Irish Materia Medica (Author: Tadhg Ó Cuinn)

subsection 15

15. Alacon, politricum, capillus ueniris: i.e. the three names of the maidenhair spleenwort; it is cold and dry and intemperate; it has an opening and diuretic virtue; it serves well against oppilation of the liver and spleen, and against excessive heat of the same organs; boil


p.462

the same herb in water, give it in a drink, or make a poultice of it and put it on the surface over the liver, and it will help with its excessive heat and its hardness. Platearius says that its efficacy is great when it is fresh and little when it is old and dried; boil this herb well in water, mix sugar with it, and give it as a drink, and it will help with the oppilation and excessive heat of the liver and spleen; pound this herb, put oil through it, and put it on the head, and the hair will grow; boil this herb in wine and it will help with every magic spell and other poison. Take note that the maidenhair spleenwort should not be given when the matter is thin and digested, but when it is gross and undigested, and so it is forbidden to give it in causon and tertian fever and the like.