THE Tormentil us'd in Physick, which C. Bauhinus calls Tormentilla sylvestris, wild Tormentil, is a Plant, whereof the Root is lumpish, of an Inch thick, brown or reddish without, astringent and fibrous. The Leaves are like Cinquefoil, smooth, shining, six or seven supported on a Stalk. The Stalks are low, short, branch'd, charg'd with several Flowers, of four yellow Leaves; after which comes a Bud, in which several Seeds are contain'd.
The best Tormentil Roots come from grassy, wet Places about the Alps and Pyrenees. They use these in alexipharmick Compositions, as sudorifick. They are likewise appropriated for the Bloody-Flux. Chuse the newest, and best dry'd, from the hot Countries, which is better than what grows in our Gardens.
Bistort is a Plant that has a Root an Inch thick, crooked, and roll'd upon itself, with annular Foldings, brown without, and flesh-colour'd within, trim'd with many hairy Fibres, of an astringent Taste. The Leaves are like enough those of wild Patience, of a lively green without, and a Sea-green on the inside. This Plant is in Flower towards the End of May, adorn'd with several long Leaves, which are white at first. The Flowers are of a Flesh Colour, crowded together like an Ear of Corn, but very little, and very thick; after which they bear a three-corner'd Seed sharp pointed enough. This Species is call'd, by C. Bauhinus, Bistorta major radice magis intorta, the larger Bistort with the winding or more crooked Root.
Tormentil is a Plant of two Kinds. The first is call'd Tormentilla, by Ray; Tormentilla sylvestris, by Tournefort; Heptaphyllum, by Fuchsius, by reason it bears seven Leaves on a Stalk, as the Cinquefoil does five. The Flowers are compos'd each of four yellow Leaves, in Form of a Rose, supported by a Cup cut and divided into eight Parts, four larger and four smaller placed interchangeably. The Root is knotty and unequal, and delights to grow in Woods and shady Places, or others well supply'd with Moisture.
The second Sort is call'd Tormentilla Alpina Major, or Tormentilla Alpina vulgaris major, by Tournefort, the common larger Alpine Tormentill: This differs from the former, in that the Leaves are larger, and the Root thicker, more plump, redder, and fuller of Virtue. We have this brought to us ready dry'd from the Alps, &c. The Way to chuse it, is to take the newest, best fed, about an Inch thick, clean, of one Piece, free from the Strings, well dry'd, of a brown Colour, reddish within, and of an astringent Taste. It is binding, vulnerary, proper to stop Loosenesses of the Belly, Hemorrhages, Vomiting, Whites or Reds in Women, and to resist Infection: It is mix'd with cardiack and alexipharmick Medicines.
Bistort, as if you should say twice distorted, because the Root of this Plant is commonly turn'd and wound about itself: They give it the Name of Bistort, from Colubrina, Serpentaria, and Dracunculus, by reason that this Root is twisted like a Serpent: 'Tis also called Britannica, from growing so frequently in England. There grow, towards the Bottom of the Flower of some Bistorts, several Knots or Excrescencies, which some Authors have call'd Fungi Bistortae; but there are a sort of little Roots, which produce each of them a Plant like what these bear. It is cold, dry, astringent, and stops Fluxes of the Bowels, vomiting, and Abortion, and dries up Catarrhs. It is given in Powder, Infusion, or Decoction in Wine and Water, and is good in a Gonorrhea, or Whites in Women.