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CHIVES ALLIUM SCHOENOPRASUM 1 confess 1 had not added these had it not been for a country gentleman, who by a letter certified to me that amongst other herbs 1 had left these out. They are indeed a kind of leeks, hot and dry in the fourth degree. A hardy perennial, Chives (or Cives) belong to the Onion family which includes Shallots and Garlic. It bears a purple flower. Where to find it. Not often found growing in the wild, being a cultivated herb, but it prefers the banks of ponds and streams, damp pastures and woodland edges. Flowering time. Summer. Astrology: Under the dominion of Mars. Medicinal virtues: If they be eaten raw they send up very hurtful vapours to the brain, causing troublesome sleep and spoiling the eyesight. Yet when prepared by the alchymist they make an excellent remedy for the stoppage of urine. Modern uses: The plant is regarded as a culinary herb and is not used medicinally. It contains an essential oil rich in sulphur, similar to that found in Onion and Garlic. As a medicine it would be milder in action to these, both of which are antiseptic and tend to lower the blood pressure. Garlic oil is now obtainable in capsule form. |