Category: Herbal This & That

Herbs Listed by Medical Symptom

Herbs Listed by Medical Symptom

by AmberSkyfire


Please refer to the herbs in the list for dosages and instructions
before attempting to take the herb. Some herbs are poisonous!

Aches: rosemary
Acne: rosemary, thyme, witch-hazel
Allergies: nettle
Amenorrhea: chaste tree berry
Antibacterial: lemon, thyme
Antibiotic: calendula, comfrey, garlic, marigold, mullein, raspberry, sweet woodruff, thyme, tumeric
Antiseptic: lavender, lemon, marigold, mint, pine, sweet woodruff, thyme
Antiviral: thyme
Anxiety: valerian
Aphrodisiac: coriander, damiana, hibiscus, lavender
Arthritis: ash leaves, bladderwrack, buckbean, nettles, parsley, rosemary, yarrow
Asthma: coltsfoot, ephedra, ginseng, lobelia, mint, mullein, nettle, sage, wild yam
Astringent: raspberry, rosemary, yarrow
Back Pain: yarrow
Baldness: wild cherry
Bed Wetting: St. Johnswort
Bile: balmony
Bladder: basil, broom, buchu, cornsilk, elder, parsley, saw palmetto, sheep sorrel, shepherd’s purse
Blood: bee balm, burdock, cayenne, chervil, chives, garlic, ginger, ginseng, nettle, plantain, red clover, sheep sorrel, strawberry, valerian, yarrow
Bones: boneset
Breath: lemon
Bronchitis: bay, borage, fenugreek, ginseng, horehound, prickly lettuce, lobelia, peppermint, sage, wild yam
Bruises: burdock
Burns: aloe vera, burdock, lavender, marigold
Cancer: garlic, ginseng, parsley, sheep sorrel, violet
Catarrh: blackcurrant leaves, goldenseal, prickly lettuce, mullein, peppermint, sage
Cellulite: lemon, rosemary
Chapping: marigold
Chest: bay, borage, calendula, cayenne, coltsfoot, ephedra, hollyhock, Irish moss, prickly lettuce, lobelia, lungwort, mullein, pansy, peppermint, sage, solomon’s seal, thyme
Childbirth: raspberry
Chills: cayenne, lavender, lemon
Circulation: mint
Cold: basil, bay, black pepper, blue mallow, cayenne, coltsfoot, elder, hollyhock, Irish moss, lavender, mint, mullein, oregano, pansy, peppermint, pine, sage, slippery elm, thyme, yarrow
Colic: anise, dill, spearmint
Cough: agrimony, bee balm, blackcurrant leaves, blue mallow, boneset, ginseng, horehound, lungwort, mullein, rosemary, slippery elm, thyme
Cramps: basil, bee balm, birch, blackberry, black cohosh, black haw, chaste tree berry, cramp bark, ginger, parsley, pennyroyal, raspberry leaves
Dandruff: sage
Depression: borage, catclaw, cayenne, ginseng, lavender, rosemary, St. Johnswort
Detergent: balmony
Diabetes: ginseng, rosemary
Diarrhea: blackberry, cinnamon
Digestion: agrimony, allspice, anise, aven’s herb, balmony, caraway, cardamom, chervil, cloves, coriander, fennel, ginger, ground ivy, lemon, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, senna leaves, spearmint, thyme, tumeric
Diuretic: thyme
Dysentery: cinnamon
Earache: garlic
Eczema: marigold
Eliminate Toxins: apple, coltsfoot, shepherd’s purse
Exhaustion: catclaw, St. Johnswort, thyme, vitamin B12
Expectorant: bugloss, pine
External Bleeding: cayenne
Eyes: eyebright, greater celandine
Face: brewer’s yeast flower
Fatigue: ginseng, mint, nettle, rosemary
Female Problems: blackberry
Fever: balm, birch, blackcurrant leaves, boneset, borage, calendula, cleavers, elder, ginseng, lemon balm, lemon verbena, marigold, plantain, sage, thyme
Flu: basil, black pepper, boneset, calendula, cayenne, elder, lavender, marigold, mint, rosemary, sage
Gall Stones: broom, cleavers
Gas: bay, cinnamon, dill, ginseng, mint
Gastrointestinal Problems: chamomile
Gout: ash leaves, burdock, burr marigold, strawberry
Gravel: cleavers
Gums: myrrh
Hair: lemon, nettle, rosemary, sage, wild cherry
Headache: birch, cayenne, chamomile, ginger, lavender, lemon, lemon verbena, mint, rosemary, sage, skullcap, thyme, valerian
Heart: cayenne, ginseng, pansy
Heartburn: ginseng
Hemorrhage: shepherd’s purse
Hemorrhoids: witch hazel
Hiccoughs (hiccups): mint
Hot Flashes: black cohosh
Hypertension: lemon
Hysteria: chamomile, tansy
Immune System: ginseng, lavender
Impotence: ginseng
Induce Perspiration: angelica, balm, calendula, lemon balm
Infection: garlic, thyme, yarrow
Inflammation: bugloss, marigold, mint, tumeric
Insect Bites: lavender, lemon, parsley, plantain, witch hazel
Insect Repellent: chamomile, lavender flowers, myrrh, pennyroyal, thyme
Insomnia: lavender, valerian
Internal Bleeding: cayenne
Jaundice: balmony, greater celandine, marigold
Joints: garlic, St. Johnswort, yarrow
Kidneys: angelica, corn silk, elder, ground ivy, parsley, purslane, sheep sorrel, shepherd’s purse
Kidney Stones: birch
Lactation: blessed thistle,caraway, fennel
Laxative: boneset. garlic
Liver: bee balm, buckbean, costmary, goldenrod
Lungs: mint,shepherd’s purse
Menopause: black cohosh, black haw, chaste tree berry, licorice, wild yam
Menstruation: basil, bee balm, birch, blackberry, chaste tree berry, ginger, marigold, pennyroyal, raspberry leaves,tumeric, valerian
Memory: ginko bilboa, rosemary
Miscarriage: black haw
Morning Sickness: tansy
Mouth: blackberry, sage, thyme, witch hazel
Muscles: arnica, pine, rosemary, sage, St. Johnswort, witch hazel, yarrow
Mucus: coltsfoot, comfrey, fennel, fenugreek, prickly lettuce, mullein, pansy, peppermint, sage
Nausea: bee balm, cloves, ginger, rose
Nervousness: valerian
Nettle Rash: nettles
Nosebleed: lemon, nettle
Ovulation: chaste tree berry
Pain Reliever: capsaicin, ginger, ginseng, valerian, willow, yarrow
Parasites: garlic
Piles: lesser celandine, pilewort, witch hazel
PMS: chaste tree berry, valerian
Prolonged Life: ginseng
Prostate: saw palmetto
Rheumatism: birch, bladderwrack, ground ivy, marigold, mint, rosemary, thyme
Scours: purslane
Sedative: anise, black cohosh, celery, chamomile, chicory, lavender, lemon verbena, prickly lettuce, sage, skullcap, valerian, violet
Skin: buckbean, chicory, Irish moss, lemon, marigold, mint, red clover, rosemary, sage, slippery elm, witch hazel
Spleen: bee balm
Sprains: marigold, parsley, rosemary
Stiffness: ginger
Stimulant: angelica, ginseng, rosemary
Stomach: fennel, goldenrod, lemon verbena, mint, pennyroyal, shepherd’s purse
Strength: garlic
Stress: garlic, ginseng
Styptic: aven’s herb
Sunburn: comfrey
Swelling: burdock, pine, yarrow
Teeth: cloves, garlic
Throat: bee balm, blackberry, blackcurrant leaves, horehound, lemon, rose, sage, thyme
Tonics: agrimony, aven’s herb, balmony, black pepper, buckbean, bugloss, cleavers, dandelion, ginseng, rosemary, violet, yarrow
Toothache: cloves, mint
Uterus: basil, bee balm, birch, blackberry, black cohosh, black haw, chaste tree berry, cramp bark, ginger, pennyroyal, raspberry leaves, shepherd’s purse
Varicose Veins: marigold, mint
Vitamins: burdock, strawberry, violet
Warts: bananna peel, dandelion, garlic, lemon, thyme
Weakness: ginseng
Weight Loss: ephedra
Whooping Cough: mouse ear, thyme
Worms: balmony, pumpkin seed, tansy, thyme, wormwood
Wounds: aloe vera, calendula, comfrey, ginseng, Irish moss, lavender, rosemary, witch hazel
Wrinkles: lemon

Herbs Listed by Magical Intention

Herbs Listed by Magical Intention

by AmberSkyfire

Anger– alyssum
Animal Magic – cloth of gold
Anti-Theft – Garlic, Juniper,
Arthritis – buckeye
Astral Projection – belladonna, Dittany of Crete
Awareness – anise
Balance – Holly, pine
Banishing – black salt
Beauty – aloe, Avocado, Catnip, Flax, Ginseng, Maidenhair, marigold, passion flower
Binding – black salt, dragon’s blood
Birth – Birch
Blessings – elder flowers, lemon, myrrh
Bullet-Proofing – edelweiss
Business – cinnamon, marigold
Calling Spirits – Dandelion
Calm – valerian
Catalysts – Dragon’s Blood, Mandrake, Mistletoe
Cat Magic – Catnip
Centering – chamomile, pine
Chastity – cactus, camphor, Coconut, Cucumber, Fleabane, Hawthorn, Ivy, witch hazel
Clarity – jasmine
Cleansing – anise, black salt, cinnamon, collander, pine
Comfort – cypress
Confidence – marigold
Consecration – myrrh, sage
Contemplation – myrrh
Courage – basil, Black Cohosh, Borage, Columbine, garlic, Mullein, Ragweed, Rose, Sweet pea, Thyme, Yarrow
Depression – jasmine
Desire – ginseng
Determination – allspice
Divination – Black Willow, bracken, Broom, buckeye, camphor, Cherry, Clove, Corn, Dandelion, Dodder, Fig, Goldenrod, Ground Ivy, Hibiscus, Ivy, Jasmine, Meadowsweet, mugwort, Orris, rose, yarrow
Dogs – Houndstongue,
Dreams – Anise, bay, bracken, buchu, camphor, Cinnamon, Cinquefoil, clary sage, Heliotrope, Holly, Huckleberry, Jasmine, Juniper, lavender, life everlasting flowers, Marigold, Mugwort, Yarrow
Eloquence – aspen
Employment – Devil’s Shoestring, Lucky Hand, Pecan
Energy – allspice, blessed thistle, dragon’s blood, marigold, myrrh, pennyroyal
Escape – Celandine
Evil – arabic gum
Exorcism – angelica, arbutus, Asafoetida, Avens, basil, bean, birch, boneset, buckthorn, clove, clover, Cumin, Devil’s Bit, Dragon’s Blood, Elder, Fern, Fleabane, Frankincense, Fumitory, Garlic, Heliotrope, Horehound, Horseradish, Juniper, myrrh, St. Johnswort
Faeries and Elves – Daisy, elder flowers, Foxglove, Ragweed, Shamrock, Wood Sorrel
Familiars – catnip
Favors – chicory
Fear – yarrow
Fertility – agaric, banana, basil, bistort, bodhi, carrot, Chickweed, Cuckoo Flower, Cucumber, Cyclamen, Daffodil, Dock, Fig, Geranium, Ginseng, Grape, Hawthorn, Hazel, Horsetail, Mandrake, Mistletoe, Mugwort, Oak, Patchouli, Poppy, Rice, sage, Sunflower, Wheat
Fidelity – Chili Pepper, clover, Cumin, Ivy,
Finding Treasure – Cowslip
Fire – cinquefoil, mistletoe
Fishing Magick – Cotton, Hawthorn,
Flying – basil
Focus – myrrh
Friendship – catnip, Lemon, Loveseed, passion flower, rose, Sweet pea, valerian
Gambling – Devil’s Shoestring, High John,
Gardening – Grapes,
Good Luck – Allspice, Aloe, bamboo, banyan, be-still, Bluebell, buckeye, cabbage, calamus root, caper, China Berry, Cinchona, Clover, Corn, Cotton, Daffodil, Daisy, Devil’s Shoestring, Dill, Eryngo, Fern, Goldenrod, Grains of paradise, Hazel, Heather, Holly, Honeysuckle, Houseleek, Huckleberry, Irish Moss, Job’s Tears, Moss, Nutmeg, Rose, Sandalwood, Strawberry, Violet
Gossip – collander
Happiness – adam and eve roots, Catnip, Celandine, Cyclamen, Hawthorn, High John, Hyacinth, Lavender, Marjoram, Meadowsweet, Saffron, Witch Grass
Harmony – Dulse, valerian
Healing – adder’s tongue, Allspice, amaranth, Anemone, Angelica, Apple, balm of Gilead, barley, Bay, Bittersweet, Blackberry, bracken, Burdock, calamus, camphor, Carnation, Cedar, chamomile, cinnamon, Citron, comfrey, Coriander, Cotton, Cowslip, Cucumber, Cypress, Dock, Elder, Eucalyptus, fennel, Flax, Gardenia, Garlic, Ginseng, Goat’s Rue, Goldenseal, Groundsel, Heliotrope, Hemp, Henna, Hops, Horehound, Horse Chestnut, Hyssop, Ivy, Job’s Tears, Lemon Balm, marjoram, Mint, Mugwort, Myrrh, nettle, Oak, Peppermint, Pine, Potato, Rose, Rosemary, sage, Sandalwood, Thistle, Thyme, Violet, Willow
Health – Anemone, Ash, Caraway, carob, cinquefoil, Coriander, Fern, Figwort, Galangal Root, Geranium, Ginseng, Goat’s Rue, Groundsel, Hops, Juniper, Marjoram, Mistletoe, Nutmeg, Oak, Rose, Thyme
Heartache – witch hazel
Heart Chakra – Jasmine,
Hexes – angelica, bamboo, blessed thistle, Chicory, Datura, Galangal Root, Huckleberry, Hydrangea,
Home – passion flower
Hunting – Fuzzy weed
Image Magic – briony
Immortality – sage, apples
Invincibility – St. Johnswort
Invisibility – amaranth, Chicory, Edelweiss, Heliotrope,
Joy – anise, blessed thistle, catnip
Knot Magick – Dodder
Legal Matters – Buckthorn, cascara sagrada, Celandine, Hickory, Marigold
Lightening – Hazel, Holly, Mistletoe
Longevity – coriander, Cypress, lavender, sage
Love – adam and eve roots, Apple, Apricot, Almond, aster, avens, avocado, bachelor’s buttons, balm of Gilead, Barley, Basil, bean, bedstraw, beet, betony, Black Cohosh, bleeding heart, bloodroot, Brazil Nut, caraway, Cardamon, catnip, Chamomile, Cherry, Chestnut, Chickweed, Chicory, Cinnamon, cinquefoil, Clove, Clover, Coltsfoot, Columbine, Copal, Coriander, Crocus, Cubeb, Cuckoo Flower, Daffodil, Daisy, Damiana, Devil’s Bit, Dodder, Dogbane, Dragon’s Blood, Duchman’s Breeches, Elecampane, Elm, Endive, Eryngo, Fig, Fuzzy weed, Gardenia, Gentian, Geranium, Ginger, Ginseng, Grains of Paradise, Hemp, Hibiscus, High John, Houseleek, Hyacinth, Indian paintbrush, Jasmine, Joe-Pye Weed, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon, Lemon Balm, marigold, Marjoram, Meadowsweet, Mistletoe, mugwort, Orange, Plum, Poppy, Raspberry, Rose, Rosemary, Senns, Strawberry, Tansy, Thyme, Valerian, Vanilla, Violet, Willow, Yarrow
Lucid Dreaming – jasmine
Luck – (see GOOD LUCK)
Lust – avocado, caper, caraway, cardamon , carrot, cattail, Celery, Cinnamon, Cyclamen, Daisy, Damiana, Deerstongue, Devil’s Bit, Dill, Dulse, Endive, Eryngo, Galangal root, Garlic, Ginseng, Grains of Paradise, Hemlock, Hibiscus, Jasmine,
Manifestations – balm of Gilead, Dittany of Crete
Marriage – yarrow
Meditation – bodhi, Gotu Kola, Hemp, myrrh
Mental Powers – chamomile, Caraway, Celery, Eyebright, Grape, Horehound, Rosemary, Walnut
Memory – caraway
Money and Wealth – alfalfa, Almond, Basil, Blackberry, bladderwrack, blessed thistle, blue flag, briony, bromeliad, buckeye, buckwheat, calamus, camellia, cascara sagrada, cashew, Cedar, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Cinquefoil, Clove, Clover, collander, Comfrey, Dill, Dock, fennel, Fenugreek, Fern, Flax, Fumitory, Galangal root, Ginger, Goldenrod, Goldenseal, Gorse, Grains of Paradise, Grape, Heliotrope, High John, Honesty, Honeysuckle, Horse Chestnut, Irish Moss, Jasmine, Lucky Hand, Mint, Moss, Myrtle, Nutmeg, Oak, Orange, orange bergamot, Patchouli, Pine, Rice, sage, Snapdragon, Tea, Vervain Wheat
Nature – pine
Negativity – arabic gum, collander, yarrow
New Beginnings – birch
Nightmares – anise, lavender, thyme
Obstacles – Chicory
Offerings – hawthorn berries, lavender
Passion – caraway, cinnamon
Peace – aloe, chamomile, coriander, Eryngo, Gardenia, Lavender, Meadowsweet, myrrh, passion flower, Pennyroyal, valerian, Violet
Poppets – black salt, grave dirt, mandrake
Potency – banana, bean, Black Cohosh, caper, Dragon’s Blood
Power – cinnamon, cinquefoil, Club Moss, Devil’s Shoestring, Ebony, Gentian, Ginger, hawthorn berries, mint
Productivity – pine
Prophecy – camphor, cinquefoil
Prosperity – alfalfa, Almond, Ash, Banana, Basil, Benzoin, Bergamot, Cinnamon, Cinquefoil, chamomile, Elder, Lemon Balm, Mint, Oak, Poppy, Tulip
Protection – Acacia, agrimony, agure root, Alyssum, Aloe, althea, amaranth, Anemone, Angelica, Anise, arbutus, asafoetida, Ash, balm of Gilead, bamboo, barley, Basil, Bay, bean, betony, Birch, bittersweet, Blackberry, Black Cohosh, Black Hellebore, bladderwrack, bloodroot, Blueberry, bodhi, boneset, briony, bromeliad, Broom, Buckthorn, buckwheat, burdock, cactus, calamus, Caraway, Carnation, carob, cascara sagrada, Castor, Cedar, Celandine, chamomile, Chrysanthemum, Cinchona, Cinquefoil, Clove, Clover, Club Moss, Coconut, collander, Comfrey, coriander, Corn, Cotton, Cumin, Curry, Cyclamen, Cypress, Datura, Devil’s Bit, Devil’s Shoestring, Dill, Dogwood, dragon’s blood, Ebony, Elder, Elecampane, Eucalyptus, Euphorbia, Fennel, Fern, Feverfew, Figwort, Flax, Fleabane, Foxglove, Frankincense, Galangal root, Garlic, Geranium, Ginseng, Grass, Gorse, Gourd, Grain, Grass, Hazel, Heather, High John, Holly, Honeysuckle, Horehound, Houseleek, Huckleberry, Hyacinth, Hyssop, Irish Moss, Ivy, Juniper, Juniper berries, lavender, life everlasting flowers, Lilac, Mandrake, Marigold, marjoram, Mistletoe, Mugwort, Mulberry, Mullein, myrrh, nettle, Oak, Olive, passion flower, Pine, Primrose, Raspberry, Rice, Rose, Rosemary, Rue, Sandalwood, Spanish Moss, Sunflower, Thistle, Valerian, Violet, White Sage, Willow, witch hazel, wormwood
Psychic Ability – acacia, Angelica, althea, anise, Bay, bistort, bladderwrack, Borage, bracken, buchu, camphor, Celery, Cinnamon, Citron, collander, Deerstongue, Elecampane, Eyebright, Fennel, Flax, Galangal root, Grass, High John, Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Marigold, Mugwort, Rose, Thyme, Yarrow
Purification – Anise, arabic gum, asafoetida, avens, Bay, benzoin, betony, birch, bloodroot, Broom, Cedar, Chamomile, Clove, Coconut, Copal, dragon’s blood, Euphorbia, Fennel, frankincense, Horseradish, Hyssop, Iris, Juniper, Lavender, lemon, life everlasting flowers, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Valerian, Vervain, White Sage
Rain – Cotton, Fern, Heather,
Reconciliation – bean
Recuperation – rosemary
Relationships – basil
Relaxation – chamomile
Remembrance – mullein, rosemary
Respect – Joe-Pye Weed,
Scrying – mugwort
Seasickness – pennyroyal
Self-esteem – jasmine
Sex – blessed thistle, Jasmine,
Sleep – agrimony, Chamomile, Cinquefoil, clary sage, Datura, Elder, Hops, Lavender, passion flower, Peppermint, Rosemary, Thyme, Vervain
Snakes– Centaury, Horsetail,
Spirit Questing – Juniper,
Spirits – wormwood
Spirituality – blessed thistle, Cinnamon, Frankincense, Gardenia, Heather, Myrrh, Sandalwood, violet
Staffs – blessed thistle
Strength – Bay, Carnation, hawthorn berries, mint, Mugwort, Mulberry, Thistle
Strengthening Spells – Echinacea
Success – aloe, Cinnamon, Clover, Ginger, High John, Mistletoe, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vanilla
Tension – jasmine
Theft – aspen, caraway, juniper berries
Thought – jasmine, myrrh, pennyroyal
Travel – Comfrey, Eryngo
Truth – bluebell
Understanding – passion flower
Understanding Animal Languages – cloth of gold
Visions – angelica, bay leaf, Coltsfoot, Crocus, Damiana, Hemp, juniper berries
Wands – blessed thistle
War – High John,
Warts – bean
Weather – bladderwrack, broom, garlic, yarrow
Wisdom – almond, bay leaf, Bodhi, cinquefoil, Iris, Sage, Sunflower
Wishes – Bamboo, Beech, Buckthorn, Dandelion, Dogwood, Ginseng, Grains of Paradise, Hazel, Job’s Tears, lavender, Sage, Sandalwood, Sunflower, Violet
Youth – Cowslip, Fern, life everlasting flowers

Herbal Etiquette

Herbal Etiquette

by Amber S.

When studying herbology within witchcraft, it is important to learn about how plants work and the best ways to gather our stores, whether they come from wild plants or plants in our garden. There is more to herbs and trees than meets the eye.
All things have a soul: rocks, trees, animals and people. The soul is the energy of an object that exists in the same place and time as the physical body. Things that exist on the physical plane can be seen on the astral plane because of their energy. When you remove part of a plant, it is customary and proper to ask before you take any part of it and thank the plant once you have finished.
Plants that you grow and raise in your garden do not need to be asked for their permission to take leaves and flowers. Because they depend on you for protection and sustenance, you can remove what you need when you need it. It is an understood relationship between the grower and the plants. They give their leave and fruit in exchange for protection and care. Prayers and spells should be said over the crop at significant times such as planting, watering, pruning, and harvesting.
Wild plants are a little different. these plants are dependant on themselves for their health and survival. When you remove part of a plant, you must first ask the plant. Do this by closing your eyes and imagine just for a moment what you want from the tree. Normally, you will get no answer in return or a feeling of acceptance, in which case, you may remove what you need. Occasionally, however, you will receive a feeling of mistrust or an uncomfortable feeling telling you that you may not remove any part of the plant, in which case, you must move on.

When gathering wild herbs:- Never remove the bark from a tree. Bark covers a tree to keep out disease and fungus just the way our skin does for us. removing the bark can result in infection and the death of the tree. If you need bark for a recipe, remove twigs instead and strip the bark from the removed twigs with a knife.
– Try not to remove the entire plant. If possible, take only a few leaves or flowers and move on.
-Always ask a plant before you remove any part of it.
-Always thank plants after you have taken from them.

Plants are very sacred to witches. All plants should be given homage when we take something from them. There are many different ways of giving thanks. Any act of devotion is acceptable. Traditionally, gifts of apple cider, milk, honey, tobacco, or prayer are given. You can also give shiny coins or fertilizer as a gift. If you have nothing to give, a prayer for the health and well-being of the plant is more than sufficient. Leaving gifts for the tree spirits is also a good thank-you idea. Fairies enjoy music. Performing a song and dance for them is also a good thing to do if you have not brought any gifts with you.

A SIMPLE HERBAL LIST

A SIMPLE HERBAL LIST

I’ve compiled a short list of some very beneficial herbs to keep in your Witches’ Cupboard if you have one, or if you want to start one.

I’ve also listed “The Witches’ 3 X 3” – a list of nine healing herbs, indicated by an (***) sign.

CAMPHOR

Pain reliever, heals skin – lips, nose, burns. Sacred to the Godess, used in full moon rituals as an offering to the Goddess, purification, promotes celibacy, heightens physical energy.

CATNIP***

treats colds, reduces fever, aids indigestion, curbs flatulence. Strengthens the psychic bond between humans and animals; for courage, true love, lasting happiness.

CAYENNE***

Very important first aid herb. Does not burn the skin or inner tissues, but feels hot. Helps coagulate blood, internally and externally. Can be sprinkled directly onto a bleeding cut. Good for heart disease.

CHAMOMILE***

Soothing to the body & mind, sedative before bed as a tea, mind pain reliever as a compress/ For good luck or changing your luck, prevents lightning strikes to your house or person, prosperity, meditation aid.

CLOVE

Eases toothache pain, calms stomach pain, relieves gas. Banishes hostility or negative energy, increases personal gain, clears a cloudy mind, increases friendship or love.

COLTSFOOT***

Pain relief, allergy & cough suppressant. Used in spells for wealth, prosperity & love.

COMFREY***

Very nutritious. Sooths the stomach, heals sprains, strains, fractures, sores, arthritis. Used in protection spells and safety when travelling.

DIAMIANA

Aphrodisiac, improves digestion, relieves cough. Use in sex magick spells, for clairvoyance, divination.

DEVIL’S SHOESTRING

Protection, luck, for a raise or new job; invisibility.

FENNELL

Aids digestion, can be chewed or brewed to tea for weight loss, gas relief, halitosis. Imparts strength & sexual virility. Prevents curses.

GALANGAL ROOT

Cleanses system internaly. Take at the onset of colds or flu. Doubles money in gambling, use to win in court. Sex magick, hex breaking, aids psychic powers.

GARLIC***

Good for hair, skin, digestion, lungs, blood health. Lowers cholesterol & blood pressure. Good for ear infections. Heals colds, flu. Tincture by steeping in olive oil. Use for magickal healing, protection, exorcism.

GINGER***

Relaxing stimulant! Use after large meals to settle stomach, induces perspiration while sweating out a fever, aids the liver. Powerful aphrodisiac when sprinkled in steeping raspberry leaf tea.

GINSING

Rejuvenates & promotes longevity. Andi-depressant. Use with St. John’s Wort. Equalizes blood pressure & digestion. For use in love spells, beauty & healing spells.

HEAL ALL

All purpose healing. Gargle with cold brew for a sore throat, use as a poultice for cuts, abrasions, minor contusions. Use in spells for success in gambling.

HIBISCUS

Anti-spasmodic. Remedy for itchy-skin or mild hives. Apply fresh brew or tonic to skin. Sweetens breath. Attracts love. Use for dream work or divination.

HIGH JOHN THE CONQUEROR

To conquer any situation. To win at gambling, in court. For good luck, money, love, health, protection. To find lost items.

JASMINE

Calmes nervous tic, use as a poultice for snakebite. Attracts money & love. For use in divination, charging crystals, moon magick.

KAVA KAVA

Powerful when used as an aphrodisiac. Potion to induce visions, use in astral travel work, for protection in travelling.

LAVENDER

ALL PURPOSE. Stomach problems, nausea & vomiting (used as a tonic) healing, inner peace, peace of mind, anti-stress, finding love, money, protection, attracting good spirits & faeries, purification, peaceful sleep, headache relief, menstrual cramp relief (when inhaled).

LOBELIA***

~~POISONOUS – USE EXTREME CAUTION~~ FOR USE IN SMALL DOSES ONLY!

Anti-spasmodic, anti-convulsive for epileptic seizures or temper tantrums. Calms pain in small doses, muscle spasms, tension headaches, menstrual cramps. Helps to end addictions & sooth withdrawls symptons.

MUGWORT

Appetite stimulant, digestive aid. Visions, dreams, clairvoyance, protection, strength in travelling. To consecrate divination tools, to add or boost power in tools of scrying.

PATCHOULI

Reverses spells, peacefully gets rid of trouble makers. Use in clairvoyance, divination, sex magick. Use to manifest & draw money.

PENNYROYAL

~~CAUTION – USE IN SMALL DOSES ONLY~~

Repels insects, calms skin itch or nervous itch. Treats & soothes nausea, treats colds & flu. Use in consecration rituals, exorcism.

PEPPERMINT

Soothes nausea & upset stomach, heartburn, colds, flu. Calming, good for motion sickness. Promotes peaceful sleep, visionary dreams. Boosts psychic abilities.

PLANTAIN***

Blood detoxifier for treatment of poison ivy, snakebite, bee stings, mosquito bites, etc. Apply juice of crushed leaves to bites & stings. Reapply often, drink brew of leaves made into tea, eat & chew on fresh leaves.

RASPBERRY LEAF

for kidney strength, infections. Diarreah, nausea, colds and flu. Calming to the nerves as a tonic. Promotes peaceful sleep. Use for visionary work, protection, love spells.

ROSEMARY

Nerve stimulant, digestive aid. Aids memory, soothes headache, eases depression when inhaled. Use for protection, exorcisms, purification, healing, stimulate lust. Powerful fumitory.

ROSE HIPS

Very nutritious, high in Vitamin C. Take for colds or flu, reduces fever. Mild laxative, good for acne. For spells concerning good luck, use to summon good spirits.

SAGE

Use as an antiperspirant, healing to wounds. Aids digestion, relieves muscle and joint pain. Gargle to heal sores of the mouth & gums. Healing to colds & flu, reduces fever, preservative. For use in spells for wisdom, healing, money, protection, longevity, powerful fumitory for ritual.

SANDALWOOD

Use a poultice for bruises & minor contusions, reduces fever. For use in clairvoyance & protection spells, purification, meditation. Burned in rituals, aids in magickal work, stimulates sexual urges, aids in healing spells.

SKULLCAP

Tranquilizer & anti-insomniatic. Sedative (mild to moderate) Eases nervous tension, drug & alcohol withdrawl symptoms, eases menstrual symdrome. Use for fidelity, commitment. Relieves anxiety. Promotes relaxation & peaceful feeling.

ST. JOHN’S WORT

Wound healing, immune system booster. Anti-insomniatic, headache relief, eases menstrual cramps. Powerful anti-depressant. Use for protection, exorcism, courage, divination rituals.

TONKA BEANS

~~CAUTION! USE EXTERNALLY!~~

For guud luck, draws money, attracts material desires. Wish magick.

VALERIAN

Calms nerves, sleep aid. Treats nervous conditions. Antispasmodic. Reduces blood pressure. Use in love magick, purification, divination, black magick.

VERVAIN

For minor pains and headache, tooth ache, arthritis, other inflammations. For restful sleep, calming nerves. For protection, purification, consecration, potions for love, creativity.

***************************************************************

Because so many herbs are potentially poisonous in various amounts, take extreme caution when dealing with a plant or herb you’re unsure of. Consult a physician, pharmacist or horticulturist before ingesting anything you are uncertain of!

Plant Kingdom Helps and Hints

Plant Kingdom Helps and Hints

The fresher a plant (or a plant preparation) is the better it responds to magical energy, unless you leave that item where it  will receive constant charging.

Dry plants and plant parts are fine for convenience, but they don’t have the magical vitality fresh ones do because the vital oils (and life energy) are  also “dry.” Mind you, there are cases when the dry quality may help your magic, such as when performing a good-weather spell!

The essential oil from a plant is a perfectly good substitute for fresh parts. Just be careful–these oils can be harsh on the skin, and some are toxic to  pets.

Growing your own magical plants and harvesting them at a traditional tie (e.g., Midsummer’s Day) does seem to boost the magical energy within.

If you have to buy plants from a supplier, organic plants have the best magical potential (chemicals can obscure magical intention). Also, find a supplier  you can trust. One green leafy thing looks a lot like another, and not all companies are honest in their packaging.

Along the same lines, as you collect plants for magical work make sure to carefully label everything both inside and outside the container. Always trust this  rule: If you’re not sure what it is, don’t use it!

Herbal Magickal Correspondences

Herbal Magickal Correspondences

The power behind herb magic is formless, shapeless, eternal. It doesn’t care whether you call on it in the name of a Witch Goddess or the Virgin Mary – or tap it within no religious framework at all. It is always there, present in abundance no matter where we are or where we travel in the universe.
Though the power is formless, some materials contain higher concentrations of power than others; these include plants, gems, and metals. Each substance also contain different types of power, or vibrational rates. The vibrations of a piece of pine wood, for example, are far different from those of a perfect, faceted diamond.
This vibratory rate is determined by several factors: chemical make-up, form, density, and so on. The powers resident in herbs are determined by the plant’s habitat, scent, color, form, etc. Similar substances usually possess similar vibrations.
Herb magic, then, is the use of herbs to cause needed changes. These plants contain energies – each as distinct as human faces. For maximum effect, the herbs chosen for a spell should possess vibrations that match your need. Cedar is fine for attracting money, but wouldn’t be of help in a fertility spell.
How does herbal magic work? First, there must be a need. A desire often masquerades as a need, but in magic a “desire” is not enough; there must exist an all-encompassing need.
The nature of the need determines which plants are used. Attracting love, for example, is a common magical need and several dozen plants do the job. (A comprehensive list of plants and their corresponding magical needs is coming up…)
Next, a spell or ritual may need to be devised; much herb magic doesn’t need a complete spell, but some of it does. This spell may be as simple as tying up the herbs in a piece of cloth, or placing them around the base of a candle, lighting the wick, and visualizing your need.
If you wish, your spell can be complex, involving boiling water in a cauldron over a mesquite-wood fire at the edge of the desert while waiting for the Moon to rise, before throwing roots and leaves into the pot.
Third, the herbs can be enchanted to ensure that their vibrations are attuned to the need. To do this, you can simply hold the plant material in your hands and visualize aligning the vibrations of the plant(s) with your magical need.
For example: “I gather you, rosemary, herb of the sun, to increase my mental powers and concentration.”
Fourth, the spell is worked, if you choose to perform this step.
Fifth, once the spell has been worked, or the herbs enchanted and the need visualized, it should be forgotten. This allows it to “cook” and bring your need into manifestation.
When baking a cake, if you look into the oven every few minutes the cake will be spoiled. In magic, as in cooking, keep the oven door shut!
And there you have it. This is how herb magic is worked. Does it sound basic? It is. These are the first steps. As with any art, the student may take herb magic further, exploring new territories. For instance, you may wish to incorporate planetary and days-of-the-week correspondences into your herbal magic workings as well.

 

 

Agrimony Protection, banishes negative energy,        sleep(air)
Allspice Prosperity, courage, energy, strength (fire)
Almond Money, wisdom (air)
Angelica Protection, exorcism, health, meditation, divination         (fire)
Anise Protection, psychic awareness, repels evil spirits         (air)
Basil Mend        quarrels, sympathy, happiness (fire)
Benzoin resin Prosperity, astral projection, purification         (air)
Betony Protects against nightmares and despair         (fire)
Borage Psychic abilities, financial gain
Broom Used        to bless weddings (air)
Carnation Feminine energy, healing, strength (water)
Cedar Home        purification, good fortune, luck (fire)
Chamomile Love, meditation, peace (water)
Cinnamon Energy, creativity, financial matters (fire)
Clove Banishing, love (fire)
Copal resin Purification, cleansing (fire)
Damiana Love, lust (fire)
Dill Money, luck, protection (fire)
Fennel Protection, healing (fire)
Frankincense resin Exorcism, purification, spirituality (fire)
Galangal Psychic abilities, luck, money (fire)
Gardenia Love, peace, healing (water)
Ginger Success, courage, strength (fire)
Hazel Divination, psychic abilities, dreams (air)
Holly Protection, luck (fire)
Honeysuckle Healing, love, creativity (earth)
Horehound Protection, exorcism, mental clarity (air)
Hyssop Purification, repel negativity (fire)
Jasmine Dreams, sexuality (water)
Lavender Love, sleep, dreams, meditation, protection         (air)
Lemongrass Psychic abilities (air)
Lilac Protection, divination (water)
Marigold Legal matters, dreams, divination (fire)
Meadowsweet Love, peace (air)
Mint Healing, prosperity, creativity (air)
Mistletoe Protection, fertility, exorcism (fire)
Mugwort Psychic abilities, divination, protection         (earth)
Myrrh resin Purification, healing, spirituality (water)
Orris Root Love         (water)
Patchouli Money, lust, fertility (earth)
Pine Prosperity, fertility, healing (air)
Rose Love, healing, friendship (water)
Rosemary Cleansing, purification, exorcism (fire)
Rue Banishing, protection (fire)
Sage Purification, repels negativity, wisdom (air)
Sandalwood Spirituality, exorcism, healing (water)
Thyme Sleep, protection, courage (water)
Valerian Love, sleep, protection (water)
Vanilla Lust, love, courage (water)
Vervain Love, prosperity, sleep, healing, creativity         (earth)
Wormwood Scrying, divination, exorcism (fire)
Yarrow Love, psychic abilitities, banishing (water)

Herbs and Such – HAZEL NUTS

Herbs and Such – HAZEL NUTS

Hazel nuts were also believed to possess mystical powers and could be used in divining. The nut is believed to be at its
strongest on Hallowe’en night, which was traditionally called ‘Nutcrack Night’ in England (UK). Lovers were recommended to use
this to gain foresight into the relationship.

‘Two hazel nuts I threw into the flame,
And to each nut I gave a sweetheart’s name.
This, with the loudest bounce me sore amazed,
That, with a flame of brightest colour blazed.
As blazed the nut, so may thy passion grow,
For ’twas thy nut that did so brightly glow.’
~Gray

‘Some merry, friendly, countra folks
Together did convene,
To burn their nits, an’ pu their stocks,
An’ haud their Halloween
Fu’ blithe that night.’
~R. Burns.

The Herbal First Aid Kit

The Herbal First Aid Kit

Remember when dealing with serious injuries, first aid is a temporary solution to proper medical attention can be obtained. Serious injuries need to be treated by a doctor.

Aloe

Break off an aloe leaf and scrape the gel to soothe minor burns, scalds and sunburns. Aloe has tissue regenerative properties and will help heal all wounds.

Arnica

Arnica cream or oil can be used on bruises or sprains where the skin is not broken. Caution should be used with Arnica since it can become toxic in high doses.

Calendula Cream

Homemade or store-bought, this is antiseptic and antifungal. If you make it, try adding comfrey to the cream; it will help speed the healing process.

Clove Oil

Clove oil is an excellent antiseptic for cuts and is also useful for treating toothaches. It should be cut with a carrier oil when used on the skin since irritation can occur.

Compresses

Keep squares of gauze or cheesecloth on hand to make compresses. Use comfrey, witch hazel, or arnica for sprains; St. John’s Wort for deep cuts; comfrey or witch hazel for burns.

Crystallized Ginger

Chew for motion sickness or morning sickness.

Eucalyptus Oil

This is a good inhalant for colds, coughs, and respiratory infections.

Rescue Remedy

This combination of 5 of the Bach Flower Remedies is effective for shocks and emotional upsets, especially in children.

St. John’s Wort Infused Oil

Excellent for minor burns and sunburns.

Slippery Elm

Slippery elm powder is used to make poultices for drawing out splinters and bringing boils to a head.

Tea Tree Oil

Use as an antiseptic and antifungal. It is useful for cleansing wounds.

Witch Hazel Extract

Use it to treat minor burns, sunburn, and insect bites. Apply to nasal passages to stop nosebleeds. Wash cuts with it to help cleanse them.

The Baneful Herbs

The Baneful Herbs

Belladonna = Also known as deadly nightshade, Belladonna is a source of the poisonous drug atropine. In minute quantities, atropine, in the form of a sulfate, is used to dilate the pupils of the eye, to relieve pain, to diminish secretions, and to relieve spasms. In greater quantities, it was used to kill. Belladonna was believed to have been used in flying potions.

Cinquefoil = In folklore, cinquefoil was used in flying potions. Found in many old recipes & Grimores.

Deadly Nightshade = Deadly nightshade was ingested by those who wished to foresee the future.

Foxglove = Many of the common names of this plant pertain to its toxic nature (Witches’ glove, Dead Man’s Bells, Bloody Fingers). Foxglove belongs to the Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae) and the whole plant is toxic. It contains various cardiac glycosides. Foxglove also went by the names Goblin’s Gloves (in Wales), Throttle-wort, Thimble Flower, Finger Flower, Ireland it was also known as Fairy Cap, Lunsmore, and the Great Herb. Foxglove was also considered dear to faeries. If a plant was harmed, the faeries would bring retribution.

Hemlock= Hemlock is an extremely poisonous cousin of parsley. The juice from hemlock’s tiny white flowers was believed to be used to make men impotent. “The plant was an ingredient in many Witches’ Ointments…. According to German folk tradition, the hemlock was home to a toad, which lived beneath it and sucked up its poisons.

Hemp = Hemp was used in many old spells and Incense. I do not consider this plant poisonous, and believe it is quite a magical plant when the female flowers are smoked. Mother earth gave us this plant for a reason. Not to mention what we could do with the fibers and just about every other part of this plant. We could feed and cloth the world.(end rant).

Mandrake = Another plant with a narcotic effect, mandrake or the mandragore (Mandragora officinarum L.) was thought to be a potentially lethal herb to harvest from the earth. For this reason, great caution was used in gathering these magical roots. Many people believed that the mandrake shrieked when harvested and that anyone hearing the piercing cry would die. The root of the mandrake resembles a phallus or a human torso, and for this reason was believed to have occult powers. In some areas of Europe, possession of the root was punishable by death. The crushed root was purported to have caused hallucinations followed by a death-like trance and sleep. The root was also said to have caused insanity and was believed to have been used in flying potions Mandrake root makes a powerful addition to any “Binding spell” and works as a great “Witches” protector.

Tools Necessary for Herbalism

Tools Necessary for Herbalism

 
The first step in herbalism is to gather the tools you will need, and that is the main point of this first message. I have found the following useful and in many cases vital to learn and practice the use of herbs.

1) A Good mortar and Pestile, one of stone or metal is
prefered. If wood is used you will need two, one for
inedibles and one for edibles – make sure they do not
look identical, as you do not want to accidentally
poison anyone!!!
2) Containers. Although you can buy dried herbs over the
counter in many places these days, do not store them
in the plastic bags they come in, as these are usually
neither reuseable nor perfectly airtight. Rubbermaid
style plastic containers are good, but expensive. I
have used glass coffee and spice jars/bottles to good
effect, as well as some medicine bottles. The more you
recycle the better ecologically, just make sure they
have been thoroughly washed and dried before placing
anything inside them.
3) Labels. This is vital! None of us in this day and age
can possibly recognize each herb in its various forms
simply by sight. Always label your containers as you
fill them, and if possible date them when they were
filled so you don’t keep spoiled stock on the shelf.
4) Tea Ball. A good metal teaball of the single cup
size can be very useful in the longrun when your are
experimenting, and when you are making single person
doses of teas and tonics.
5) CheeseCloth : Useful for straining a partially liquid
mixture and occasionnally for the making of sachets.
6) A Good sized teakettle. Preferably one that will hold
at least a quart of water.
7) A Good teapot for simmering mixtures. I use one from
a chinese import store that has done me well.
8) A good cutting board and a SHARP cutting knife for just
herbal work.
9) A notebook of some sort to record the information in
as you go, both successes and failures. Always record
anything new you try that may or may not work, and
also and research information you get from various
sources (like this echo!)
10) An eyedropper.
11) White linen-style bandages. Some ace bandages are also
useful in the long run.
12) A metal brazier of some sort, or a metal container
that can withstand heavy useage and heat from within
or without, useful for several things including the
making of your own incenses.
13) Reference sources. Shortly you should see a list of
books that I have read from in the past that I
consider useful, build from this as a starting point
to others and to your teachers help.

Thats it to start, you’ll pick the rest up as you go. Take your time studying, take lots of notes, compare your sources and your own personal results on each herb and on herbal mixtures of any kind.

Magickal Herbs Used for Money/Wealth/Riches

MONEY/WEALTH/PROSPERITY/RICHES

* Alfalfa
* Allspice
* Almond
* Basil
* Bergamot, Orange
* Blackberry
* Bladderwrack
* Blue Flag
* Briony
* Bromeliad
* Buckwheat
* Calamus
* Camellia
* Cascara Sagrada
* Cashew
* Cedar
* Chamomile
* Cinnamon
* Cinquefoil
* Clove
* Clover
* Comfrey
* Cowslip
* Dill
* Dock
* Elder
* Fenugreek
* Fern
* Flax
* Fumitory
* Galangal
* Ginger
* Goldenrod
* Golden Seal
* Gorse
* Grains of Paradise
* Grape
* Heliotrope
* High John the Conqueror
* Honesty
* Honeysuckle
* Horse Chestnut
* Irish Moss
* Jasmine
* Lucky Hand
* Mandrake
* Maple
* Marjoram
* May Apple
* Mint
* Moonwort
* Moss
* Myrtle
* Nutmeg
* Oak Oats
* Onion
* Orange
* Oregon Grape
* Patchouly
* Pea
* Pecan
* Periwinkle
* Pine
* Pineapple
* Pipsissewa
* Pomegranate
* Poplar
* Poppy
* Rattlesnake Root
* Rice
* Snapdragon
* Sassafras
* Sesame
* Snakeroot
* Snakeroot, Black
* Squill
* Tea
* Tonka
* Trillium
* Vervain
* Vetivert
* Wheat
* Woodruff

Plant Kingdom Helps and Hints

Plant Kingdom Helps and Hints

The fresher a plant (or a plant preparation) is the better it responds to magical energy, unless you leave that item where it will receive constant charging.

Dry plants and plant parts are fine for convenience, but they don’t have the magical vitality fresh ones do because the vital oils (and life energy) are also “dry.” Mind you, there are cases when the dry quality may help your magic, such as when performing a good-weather spell!

The essential oil from a plant is a perfectly good substitute for fresh parts. Just be careful–these oils can be harsh on the skin, and some are toxic to pets.

Growing your own magical plants and harvesting them at a traditional tie (e.g., Midsummer’s Day) does seem to boost the magical energy within.

If you have to buy plants from a supplier, organic plants have the best magical potential (chemicals can obscure magical intention). Also, find a supplier you can trust. One green leafy thing looks a lot like another, and not all companies are honest in their packaging.

Along the same lines, as you collect plants for magical work make sure to carefully label everything both inside and outside the container. Always trust this rule: If you’re not sure what it is, don’t use it!

Drying Herbs

Drying Herbs

Any fresh Herbs can be dried. They should be picked and tied in small bunches. Hang them in the kitchen or a well-ventilated shed to dry. As soon as they are dried out, they should be crumbled into jars and stored in a dark place–they might look decorative hanging up, but will soon become dusty and begin to deteriorate.

A SIMPLE HERBAL LIST

A SIMPLE HERBAL LIST

I’ve compiled a short list of some very beneficial herbs to keep in your Witches’ Cupboard if you have one, or if you want to start one.

I’ve also listed “The Witches’ 3 X 3” – a list of nine healing herbs, indicated by an (***) sign.

CAMPHOR

Pain reliever, heals skin – lips, nose, burns. Sacred to the Godess, used in full moon rituals as an offering to the Goddess, purification, promotes celibacy, heightens physical energy.

CATNIP***

treats colds, reduces fever, aids indigestion, curbs flatulence. Strengthens the psychic bond between humans and animals; for courage, true love, lasting happiness.

CAYENNE***

Very important first aid herb. Does not burn the skin or inner tissues, but feels hot. Helps coagulate blood, internally and externally. Can be sprinkled directly onto a bleeding cut. Good for heart disease.

CHAMOMILE***

Soothing to the body & mind, sedative before bed as a tea, mind pain reliever as a compress/ For good luck or changing your luck, prevents lightning strikes to your house or person, prosperity, meditation aid.

CLOVE

Eases toothache pain, calms stomach pain, relieves gas. Banishes hostility or negative energy, increases personal gain, clears a cloudy mind, increases friendship or love.

COLTSFOOT***

Pain relief, allergy & cough suppressant. Used in spells for wealth, prosperity & love.

COMFREY***

Very nutritious. Sooths the stomach, heals sprains, strains, fractures, sores, arthritis. Used in protection spells and safety when travelling.

DIAMIANA

Aphrodisiac, improves digestion, relieves cough. Use in sex magick spells, for clairvoyance, divination.

DEVIL’S SHOESTRING

Protection, luck, for a raise or new job; invisibility.

FENNELL

Aids digestion, can be chewed or brewed to tea for weight loss, gas relief, halitosis. Imparts strength & sexual virility. Prevents curses.

GALANGAL ROOT

Cleanses system internaly. Take at the onset of colds or flu. Doubles money in gambling, use to win in court. Sex magick, hex breaking, aids psychic powers.

GARLIC***

Good for hair, skin, digestion, lungs, blood health. Lowers cholesterol & blood pressure. Good for ear infections. Heals colds, flu. Tincture by steeping in olive oil. Use for magickal healing, protection, exorcism.

GINGER***

Relaxing stimulant! Use after large meals to settle stomach, induces perspiration while sweating out a fever, aids the liver. Powerful aphrodisiac when sprinkled in steeping raspberry leaf tea.

GINSING

Rejuvenates & promotes longevity. Andi-depressant. Use with St. John’s Wort. Equalizes blood pressure & digestion. For use in love spells, beauty & healing spells.

HEAL ALL

All purpose healing. Gargle with cold brew for a sore throat, use as a poultice for cuts, abrasions, minor contusions. Use in spells for success in gambling.

HIBISCUS

Anti-spasmodic. Remedy for itchy-skin or mild hives. Apply fresh brew or tonic to skin. Sweetens breath. Attracts love. Use for dream work or divination.

HIGH JOHN THE CONQUEROR

To conquer any situation. To win at gambling, in court. For good luck, money, love, health, protection. To find lost items.

JASMINE

Calmes nervous tic, use as a poultice for snakebite. Attracts money & love. For use in divination, charging crystals, moon magick.

KAVA KAVA

Powerful when used as an aphrodisiac. Potion to induce visions, use in astral travel work, for protection in travelling.

LAVENDER

ALL PURPOSE. Stomach problems, nausea & vomiting (used as a tonic) healing, inner peace, peace of mind, anti-stress, finding love, money, protection, attracting good spirits & faeries, purification, peaceful sleep, headache relief, menstrual cramp relief (when inhaled).

LOBELIA***

~~POISONOUS – USE EXTREME CAUTION~~ FOR USE IN SMALL DOSES ONLY!

Anti-spasmodic, anti-convulsive for epileptic seizures or temper tantrums. Calms pain in small doses, muscle spasms, tension headaches, menstrual cramps. Helps to end addictions & sooth withdrawls symptons.

MUGWORT

Appetite stimulant, digestive aid. Visions, dreams, clairvoyance, protection, strength in travelling. To consecrate divination tools, to add or boost power in tools of scrying.

PATCHOULI

Reverses spells, peacefully gets rid of trouble makers. Use in clairvoyance, divination, sex magick. Use to manifest & draw money.

PENNYROYAL

~~CAUTION – USE IN SMALL DOSES ONLY~~

Repels insects, calms skin itch or nervous itch. Treats & soothes nausea, treats colds & flu. Use in consecration rituals, exorcism.

PEPPERMINT

Soothes nausea & upset stomach, heartburn, colds, flu. Calming, good for motion sickness. Promotes peaceful sleep, visionary dreams. Boosts psychic abilities.

PLANTAIN***

Blood detoxifier for treatment of poison ivy, snakebite, bee stings, mosquito bites, etc. Apply juice of crushed leaves to bites & stings. Reapply often, drink brew of leaves made into tea, eat & chew on fresh leaves.

RASPBERRY LEAF

for kidney strength, infections. Diarreah, nausea, colds and flu. Calming to the nerves as a tonic. Promotes peaceful sleep. Use for visionary work, protection, love spells.

ROSEMARY

Nerve stimulant, digestive aid. Aids memory, soothes headache, eases depression when inhaled. Use for protection, exorcisms, purification, healing, stimulate lust. Powerful fumitory.

ROSE HIPS

Very nutritious, high in Vitamin C. Take for colds or flu, reduces fever. Mild laxative, good for acne. For spells concerning good luck, use to summon good spirits.

SAGE

Use as an antiperspirant, healing to wounds. Aids digestion, relieves muscle and joint pain. Gargle to heal sores of the mouth & gums. Healing to colds & flu, reduces fever, preservative. For use in spells for wisdom, healing, money, protection, longevity, powerful fumitory for ritual.

SANDALWOOD

Use a poultice for bruises & minor contusions, reduces fever. For use in clairvoyance & protection spells, purification, meditation. Burned in rituals, aids in magickal work, stimulates sexual urges, aids in healing spells.

SKULLCAP

Tranquilizer & anti-insomniatic. Sedative (mild to moderate) Eases nervous tension, drug & alcohol withdrawl symptoms, eases menstrual symdrome. Use for fidelity, commitment. Relieves anxiety. Promotes relaxation & peaceful feeling.

ST. JOHN’S WORT

Wound healing, immune system booster. Anti-insomniatic, headache relief, eases menstrual cramps. Powerful anti-depressant. Use for protection, exorcism, courage, divination rituals.

TONKA BEANS

~~CAUTION! USE EXTERNALLY!~~

For guud luck, draws money, attracts material desires. Wish magick.

VALERIAN

Calms nerves, sleep aid. Treats nervous conditions. Antispasmodic. Reduces blood pressure. Use in love magick, purification, divination, black magick.

VERVAIN

For minor pains and headache, tooth ache, arthritis, other inflammations. For restful sleep, calming nerves. For protection, purification, consecration, potions for love, creativity.

 

***************************************************************

Because so many herbs are potentially poisonous in various amounts, take extreme caution when dealing with a plant or herb you’re unsure of. Consult a physician, pharmacist or horticulturist before ingesting anything you are uncertain of!

An List of Some Poisonous Plants

Some spells & concoctions were writtern with out modern facts we have learned a great deal over the years. Though many of the old ways are superior to some new science. This list should be a help to you to discover how to protect yourself from some mistakes. This is not a complete list but a good start. I will add to it as the info comes my way. BEWARE! Aconite Ilex

Apple (balsam) Impaatiens Pallida
Apple (bitter) Indian Arrowroot
Baneberry Inbberry
Bittersweet Jack-In-The-Pupit (root)
Black Nightshade Jurusalem Cherry
Bloodroot Jimson Wood
Blueflag Labumum (seeds)
Burning Bush Laurel (seeds)
Bryony Mandrake
Black Brynoy May Apple (roots, Leaves, seeds)
Europeon White Brynoy Mistetoe (seeds)
Calabar Bean Oak
Calotropis Poinsetta
Cherry Laurel Poison Dogwood
Camphor Poke Root
Castor Oil Plant (seeds only) Rosebay
Cowbane Sumac
Daffodils Springle Tree (seeds)
Deadly Nightshade Spurge
Dog’s Mercury Swollow Wort
Elf Wood Thorn Apple
Ergot Tobacca (concentrated tobacca is
Flag Lily Poison when Eaten!)
Foxglove Wahoo
Gelsemium Wake – Robin
Hemlock Water Drop Wort
Hellebore White Hemlock
Henbane White Rose
Holly (seeds) Wood Anermone (seeds)
Honeysuckle (vines & fruit) Yellow Jasmine
Horse Balm Yew (seeds & berries)
Perwinkle
 
STAY AWAY FROM THE FOLLOWING HERBS!!!!!
Boldo Leaf Sassafras
Calamus Savin
Yellow Comphor Southernwood
Mug Wort Transy
Pennyroyal Wintergreen
Rue Wormwood
Wormseed

CAUTIONS ABOUT HERBAL MEDICINE

CAUTIONS ABOUT HERBAL MEDICINE

by Camilla Cracchiolo

There is nothing about herbs that automatically makes them non-toxic just
because they are natural. Ever hear of deadly nightshade or poisonous mushrooms?
They are drugs, like other drugs and should be approached with the same caution.

This means, for example, that pregnant women should be as careful about
medicinal herbs as they are about conventional medicines. Some medicinal herbs
are clearly linked to birth defects. People on certain medications, like anti-
coagulants or psychiatric drugs, can have serious problems from interactions
between the herb and the medicine they’re taking. In the US, herb labels do not
list information about side effects, dangers and contraindications on the label
(which I think they should). Many physicians are not well informed about herbs,
and so you cannot always rely on your doctor to know about potential problems.
And if you have or suspect you have a serious illness, it is very important to
be under a doctor’s care. Self diagnosis is not always accurate and self
treatment doesn’t always work.

I believe it is vital for any person who wishes to try herbs to be very well
read before attempting them. I strongly recommend The Honest Herbal by Varro
Tyler to anyone who is considering or using herbal medicines. It is the one
herb book that I have ever found that relies solely on scientific studies
instead of anecdotes and which provides references. Tyler himself has
impressive credentials, being a tenured professor of pharmacognosy (the branch
of pharmacy that deals with herbal medicine) in the school of pharmacy at Purdue
University. The ISBN # is 1-56024-287-6 and it is published by the Haworth
Press, 10 Alice Street, Binghamton NY 13904-1580. It is in print, costs about
$20 and I got mine through a regular bookstore which special ordered it for me.

I personally regard herbal medicine as useful primarily in two situations:
* when a basically healthy person uses an herbal compound for a short, self
limiting condition such as a cold or the flu, where over-the-counter remedies
would normally be appropriate.

AND
* in the case of serious illness, where no effective standard treatment exists
and where there is some evidence from the scientific literature that a
particular herbal compound may help.

An example of this would be the use of silymarin (an extract from milk thistle)
in the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis. In this kind of situation, I
regard it as extremely important that the person be under the close supervision
of a physician well versed in the disease in question and who has reviewed the
available studies on the herb to be used.

Herbal medicine has some very big problems. The most important is probably that
herbs often have not been subjected to thorough testing. Even when an herb has
many studies published about it, almost always the studies are on animals; human
studies are quite unusual. Studies to determine whether the compound can cause
birth defects are vanishingly rare, as are studies to determine whether the
compound can cause cancer. Relying on traditional folklore is not much help;
very obvious or dramatic adverse effects may be caught this way, but it doesn’t
tell us much about either long term effects or problems caused in only a small
percentage of people.

Another major problem is that the amount of pharmacologically active ingredient
available varies widely from plant to plant, so accurately regulating dosage is
difficult. The pharmacologically active ingredient may also occur in conjunction
with other toxic compounds. Examples of toxic agents often found in herbs
include pyrrolizadine alkaloids (very toxic to the liver and cause both benign
and malignant liver tumors); coumarins (which decrease the ability of the blood
to clot); and allergens. The latter can be quite important to people who are
allergic to ragweed; some herbs in the ragweed family (chamomile and yarrow are
examples) can cause severe allergic reactions in these folks.) Most companies
do not list the source of their herbs or how they were grown. Pesticide
contamination is a possibility and heavy metal contamination of some herbs has
been reported in the scientific literature.

Because of the problems mentioned above, I believe it is often better to rely on
an extracted and standardized compound (conventional drugs) when possible.
However, some of the active ingredients of herbs cannot be found in this form.

Yet another problem is with herb labeling. Very few herbal medicines marketed
in the US have both the Latin name of the herb and an expiration date marked on
the bottle. Often, this is deliberate: fraud is rampant among companies
marketing herbs. One brand that does have good labeling is Nature’s Way.
Alternatively, if you live in a city with a large Chinese, Japanese or Korean
population, you can try the herb sellers in that district. I’ve personally
found the herb sellers in Chinatown here in L.A. to be very honest and
knowledgeable (although language is often a problem, alas. Gotta learn to speak
Chinese one of these days.) 🙂

If you decide, after your research, to try herbal medicines, you may wish to
consult a trained herbalist. Unfortunately, in the US anyone can hang out a
shingle and call themselves an herbalist. Lots of these people have no idea what
they’re doing. I have found practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine to be
the best trained. I don’t accept the model that traditional Chinese
practitioners use to explain the effects of herbs (yin/yang, hot/cold, damp/dry,
etc.). I also have problems with the amount of unsupported anecdotal info mixed
in with scientific studies. But traditional Chinese doctors treat herbs with a
lot of respect and caution. They are well up on the side effects and
counterindications.

And finally, very few herb books contain dosage information. I have a lot of
problems with Michael Tierra’s herb books. I don’t accept the medical models he
endorses (traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda). I also don’t like the
fact that Tierra doesn’t distinguish between scientifically validated
information and folklore. But Tierra’s books are among the very few herbal
medicine books that discuss dosage. Just making up a weak tea is usually not
enough to get a pharmacologically effective dose. Tierra is the author of The
Way Of Herbs and Planetary Herbology.

Warning: Tierra’s books should be used as supplemental sources only and never as
your primary source of information on herbs. I have spotted several places
where he has left out important information on toxicity.