A Diuretic Aromatic Julep.
Take White Wine 8 ounces; Fennel Water 4 ounces; Radish Water compound 3 ounces; Tincture of Salt of Tarter half an ounce; Oil of Juniper 24 drops; Oil of Aniseed, Oil of Nutmeg, each 8 drops; White Sugar 1 ounce. mix.
Aromatics, considered as Diuretics, do not operate so much upon the Blood, as upon the Organs themselves: For it seemeth not to be in any wise their Business to unlock the too close Contexture of the Blood, and liquifie it, till it lets go its hold of the Serum. But their principal Ratio Operandi (most assuredly) consists in this, that by their Volatility, Tenuity, and Heat or Activity, they open, deterge and comfort the Reins and Ureters, and encourage and stimulate them to the Performance of their Office.
And therefore this Medicine hath place, not in a Fever, Scurvy, &c. to fuse, and (by that means) depurate the Blood, but most chiefly in Fits of Gravel, to remove Sand and Slime obstructing the Urinary passages, and so to regain a Freedom of making Water. But in a Nephritic Fit, where there's great Incalescence and Dolour in the Kidneys, we must wholly forbear such hot and stimulating things, left to the Membranes and Ureters be driven into spasms and strong Constrictions, and so the Descent for Sand and Stones be quite shut up and stopt.
But it's a good serviceable Medicine in other Cases also besides Gravel and Sand; for being 'tis of subtle Parts and endowed with a Faculty of opening, stimulating and comforting, it liquifies the congealed Lympha, scours out feculent Rubbish deposited in the Recesses of the Canalicular Habit of the Body, sweeps it into the Common-Sewer of the Circulating Blood; and so (though but secondarily) evacuates by Diuresis, and is profitable in the Dropsie; and that it is eminently so also in Obstructions of the Menses, hath been found by good Experience.
The Dose is four or six ounces twice or thrice a day.
Thomas Fuller
Pharmacopeia Extemporanea 1710