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Magickal and Medicinal Herbalism

Herblore From a Green Witch

DISCLAIMER: The following is a list of herbs that can be used for magickal and/or medicinal purposes. Medicinal herbs should NOT substitute treatment from an otherwise qualified health care professional! If you wish to employ these herbs medicinally, please notify your physician in the event that they may cause adverse reactions with any medications that you may be taking.

Some of these herbs are not to be used in the event that you have a pre-existing medical problem (i.e., do NOT take garlic if you have abnormally low blood pressure. Do not take Saint John's Wort if you are taking antidepressents, MAO inhibitors, L-dopamine, any foods containing tryptophan, or if you are fair-skinned as it may cause photosensitivity. Do not ingest licorice root if you have hypertension or diabetes and note that long-term use of this herb may deplete potassium levels and may cause sodium retention.)

While some of the more toxic herbs have been used throughout history either medicinally or in rituals, NEVER, EVER USE THEM INTERNALLY OR EXTERNALLY! THEY CAN CAUSE VERY UNPLEASANT SIDE EFFECTS AND THEY CAN ULTIMATELY CAUSE DEATH!!! Such herbs WILL be marked. While non-toxic herbs are okay, please note that they may cause dermatitis when they come in contact with skin. This is why the use of gardening gloves is a good idea if you are harvesting your own herbs. Others may burn your eyes and irritate the mucous membranes. Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your eyes, nose, mouth, etc. if you have been handling herbs.

If you decide to throw caution to the wind and ingest a handful of datura, henbane or other toxic herb, please note that no lawyer will aid you in filing a law suit against me. Don't say that this Witch didn't warn you!

ACACIA (Acacia senegal): protection, psychic awareness, meditation, burned
as an offering on the altar.
 
ALFALFA (Medicago sativa): prosperity, anti-hunger, money.
 
ALLSPICE (Pimenta officinalis or P. dioica): money, luck, healing, prosperity.  The powder is rubbed along the gumline to treat a sore tooth.
 
ALMOND (Prunus dulcis): money, wisdom, prosperity.  Sweet almond oil is used as a base for anointing and massage oils.
 
ALOE (Aloe vera, A. spp.): protection, luck.  The gel is used to heal minor cuts, scrapes, burns, and sunburn.
 
AMBER: protection, sex magick, drawing in nature energies.  The oil is used for spells involving happiness.
 
ANGELICA (Angelica archangelica): exorcism, protection, healing, visions.  Purifies the blood, improves circulation, and treats the following: allergies, bronchitis, colds, flu, digestive problems, gas, heartburn, rheumatism, skin conditions, and water retention.
 
ANISE (Pimpinella anisum): protection, youth, purification, prevents nightmares when sewn into a pillow, entices spirits to aid in spellwork.  Treats the following: colds, flu, coughs, colic, digestive problems, gas, motion sickness, nausea, problems in breastfeeding, sinusitis, and water retention.
 
APPLE (Pyrus spp.): love, healing, garden magick, immortality, buried on Samhain (October 31st) to feed departing spirits.
 
APRICOT (Prunus Armeniaca): love, attaining a sweet disposition.  Apricot oil is used as a base in anointing and massage oils.
 
ARABIC (Acacia vera): spirituality, purification.
 
ASH (Fraxinus excelsior or F. americana): protection, health, sea rituals, prosperity.  The leaves are placed under pillows to promote prophetic dreams.
 
AVOCADO (Persea americana): beauty, love, lust.
 
BALM, LEMON (Melissa officinalis): love, success, healing.  Drinking a tea of lemon balm can help dispel the blues.
 
BALM OF GILEAD (Commiphora opobalsamum): love, manifestations, protection, healing.
 
BANANA (Musa sapientum): fertility, potency, prosperity.  The flowers are hermaphroditic, so they can be used to symbolize hermaphroditic deities.  An excellent source of potassium.
 
BASIL (Ocimum Basilicum): love, exorcism, wealth, flying, protection.  Sprinkle in the corners of rooms to remove all traces of negativity.
 
BAY (Laurus nobilis): protection, healing, psychic powers, purification, strength, wish magick, stops interference.  Want to dress up as Julius Caesar or as an ancient Olympian for that costume party?  Wear a crown of bay leaves.
 
BELLADONNA (Atropa belladonna): POISON!!!!! DO NOT USE!!!! Back in the day, belladonna was used to produce visions, promote astral projection, and to invoke the aid of Bellona (Roman Goddess of war.)
 
BENZOIN (Styrax benzoin): purification, prosperity, consecration,  ritual, attracting "sacred and divine love," balancing male and female energies.
 
BERGAMOT, ORANGE (Mentha citrata): money, success.  I've noticed that orange bergamot, along with other citrus-like scents, can dispel sadness when inhaled.
 
BETONY, WOOD (Betonica officinalis): purification, love, protection, eradicates dispair when sprinkled around windows and doors, psychic awareness, burned at Litha, rids one of nightmares when sewn into a pillow.
 
BIRCH (Betula alba): protection, purification, exorcism, wards negativity.
 
BLACKBERRY (Rubus villosus): healing, money, protection, prosperity.  The berries can be eaten to prevent anemia.  Make a tea with the leaves to treat fevers and colds.
 
BLUEBERRY (Vaccinum frondosum): protection.  A tea made with the leaves reduces mood swings, balances glucose levels, and helps varicose veins.
 
BLUE FLAG (Iris versicolor): POISON!!! DO NOT INGEST!!! The root can be carried with you to attract money.
 
BODHI (Ficus religiosa): fertility, wisdom, protection, meditation.
 
BORAGE (Borago officinalis): courage, psychic powers, protection.
 
BURDOCK (Articium lappa): protection, healing, purification, wards negativity.  Wash floors with an infusion of burdock to protect your home.
 
CALAMUS (Acorus calamus): POISON!!! DO NOT INGEST!!! healing, luck, money, protection.
 
CAMPHOR (Cinnamomum Camphora):  divination, health, chastity.  Add to Full Moon incenses to honor the Moon Goddess (unless you're working on a lust spell, of course.)  It can be used to treat cold sores, but YOU MUST TAKE TO CARE NOT TO INGEST CAMPHOR!!!
 
CARAWAY (Carum carvi): lust, protection, health, mental powers, anti-theft, fidelity, love.
 
CARDAMON (Elettario Cardamomum): lust, love.
 
CARNATION (Dianthus carophyllus): protection, strength, healing, offering to the Goddess.
 
CATNIP (Nepeta cataria): cat magick, happiness, beauty, love, peace, courage.  Large catnip leaves were used as bookmarks in old grimoires and metaphysical texts.  A tea made with catnip enables you to sleep and is excellent for menstrual cramps... just keep it away from the kitties. ;o)
 
CEDAR (Cedrus libani or C. spp.): healing, purification, protection, money.  Inhaling cedar oil is good for head colds.
 
CELANDINE (Chelidonium majus): protection, happiness, escape, legal matters.
 
CELERY (Apium graveolens): mental powers, psychic powers, lust.
 
CHAMOMILE (Anthemis nobilis): money, sleep, purification, love, luck in gambling, managing anger, legal matters, prophetic dreams, prosperity, stress management, meditation.  Chamomile tea is relaxing and useful if you're experiencing a stomach-ache.
 
CHERRY (Prunus avium): divination, love, creativity.
 
CINNAMON (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): psychic powers, spirituality, healing, success, love, lust, protection, power, prosperity.  Adding a level teaspoon of ground cinnamon to hot water can alleviate nausea and diarrhea.
 
CINQUEFOIL (Potentilla canadensis or P. reptans): protection, money, sleep, prophetic dreams, purification.
 
CLOVE (Syzygium aromaticum or Carophyllis aromaticus): love, money, protection, exorcism.
 
CLOVER (Trifolium spp.): success, protection, exorcism, love, fidelity, money.
 
COPAL (Bursera odorata): purification, love, Solar-oriented magick.
 
CORIANDER (Coriandrum sativum): healing, love, health.
 
CUMIN (Cumimum Cyminum): exorcism, fidelity, protection, anti-theft.
 
CYPRESS (Cupressus sempervirens): healing, comfort, longevity, protection.
 
DAMIANA (Turnera diffusa or T. aphrodisiaca): lust, visions, love.
 
DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale): wishes, divination, calling spirits. 
 
DATURA (Datura spp.): POISON!!! DO NOT USE!!! Protection, hex breaking, sleep.
 
DILL (Anethum graveolens): love, lust, money, protection.
 
DOGWOOD (Cornus florida): protection, wishes.
 
DRAGON'S BLOOD (Daemonorops draco; Dracaena spp.): protection, love, potency, exorcism.  To increase the power of a spell, add a pinch of dragon's blood to all incenses and/or herbal mixtures.
 
EUCALYPTUS (Eucalyptus spp.): protection, healing.  Add eucalyptus leaves or essential oil to a bad to treat a head cold. 
 
FENNEL (Foeniculum vulgare): healing, protection, purification.
 
FERN: rain, luck, riches, protection. exorcism, eternal youth, health.
 
 
 
MORE HERBLORE COMING SOON!!!!!!



All herbal information is provided by the following books:
 
Conway, D.J.  'A Little Book of Candle Magic.'  Freedom: The Crossing Press, 2000.
 
Cunningham, Scott.  'Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs.'  St. Paul: Llewellyn Publications, 1999.
 
Dubats, Sally.  'Natural Magick: Inside the Well-Stocked Witch's Cupboard.'  New York: Kensington Publishing Corporation, 1999.
 
Knight, Sirona.  'Love, Sex, and Magick: Exploring the Spiritual Union Between Male and Female.'  Secaucus: Citadel Press, 1999.
 
Morrison, Dorothy.  'Everyday Magic:  Spells and Rituals for Modern Living.'  St. Paul: Llewellyn Publications, 1998.
 
Moura, Ann (Aoumiel).  'Green Witchcraft:  Folk Magic, Fairy Lore, and Herb Craft.'  St. Paul: Llewellyn Publications, 1996.