The Complete Herbal
To which is now added, upwards of one hundred additional herbs, with a display of their medicinal and occult qualities physically applied to the cure of all disorders incident to mankind: to which are now first annexed, the English physician enlarged, and key to Physic.
The Complete Herbal of Nicholas Culpeper has been in print since the 1650s, when its author, an apothecary and astrologer working among the poor of London, published it in English so that patients might treat themselves without paying physicians. Each plant is described with its places, times and, in Culpeper's phrase, its government and virtues: the planet that rules it, the ailments it cures and how to prepare it. The system is astrological and the medicine is pre-scientific, but the plant lore is genuine and the voice is combative and vivid. This edition adds later herbs and includes The English Physician Enlarged and the Key to Physic, as the expanded printings of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries did. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Complete Herbal
The Complete Herbal by Nicholas Culpeper can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Complete Herbal online?
Yes. The Complete Herbal opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Complete Herbal free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Complete Herbal is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Complete Herbal in the public domain?
Yes. The Complete Herbal by Nicholas Culpeper is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Complete Herbal?
About 16 h 34 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Complete Herbal?
The Complete Herbal by Nicholas Culpeper is filed under "Science & Nature" in the Vinteuil library.
