Culpeper's Complete Herbal. Frontispiece of an 1850 edition of Culpeper's Complete Herbal, a major work in herbalism. The author is seen surrounded by signs of the zodiac. Originally published in 1653, Culpeper's manual popularized herbalism, the use of plants and their products in the treatment of disease. It also incorporated aspects of astrology. Culpeper (1616-1654) was also known for his English translation, from Latin, of the College of Physician's Pharmacopoeia, published in 1649.