The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 5 (of 6)

Chapter 351: CHAP. 27.—THE AMPELOS AGRIA, OR WILD VINE: FOUR REMEDIES.

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This volume catalogs remedies derived from forest trees and wild plants, presenting systematic entries for dozens of species with prescribed treatments and applications. It enumerates specific uses for resins, barks, leaves, berries, and sap, and gives instructions on preparation, dosage, and testing of potency. The text also records variations among species, regional observations on growth and harvesting, and anecdotes on how certain plants were discovered or associated with animals and human practices. Overall it functions as a practical herbal compendium combining botanical description with medicinal recipes and empirical notes.

CHAP. 27.—THE AMPELOS AGRIA, OR WILD VINE: FOUR REMEDIES.

Ampelos agria, or wild vine, is the name of a plant with leaves of an ashy colour, as already 1794 stated in our description of the cultivated plants, and long, tough twigs of a red hue, like that of the flower which we have mentioned,1795 when speaking of violets, under the name of “flame of Jove.” It bears a seed which resembles the grains of the pomegranate. The root, boiled in three cyathi of water, with the addition of two cyathi of Coan wine, is slightly laxative to the bowels, and is consequently given for dropsy. It is curative also of uterine affections, and of spots upon the face in females. It is found a good plan for patients afflicted with sciatica to use the juice of this plant, bruised, applied topically, with the leaves.