| Posionous Plants In magick and the occult many plants are used for various purposes. Not all magick is nice, and sometimes herbs are used in the worst ways imaginable. There are many posions used regulary in the occult and one must be sure to be aware of them and be careful if one so chooses to work with them. I would reccomend that you simply substitue these substances whenever possible. However, if you wish to work with them please be very cautious. Any poisonous plant gathered during a full moon at midnight has very strong magical connections also. |
| Belladonna: This plant, also known as Deadly Nightshade, was orginally introduced as a drug. All of the plant (leaves, berries, and especially root system) is extremely poisonous. "Belladonna" means "beautiful woman" in Italian and during the Renaissance women (usually prostitues) made an extract of the plant and dropped it in their eyes to dilate their pupils resulting in a beautiful, wide-eyed gaze. In the past it has been used to treat cool inflammations, running sores, and ring worm however this is NOT recommended for use today. Historically this is a very popular plant in the occult but I don't know of many practioners who use it often today. It is effective in banishings but it is very toxic and can be used in a poppet to enhance beauty. Belladonna's reaction time ranges from several hours to several days and even in this day and age there are accidental deaths from injesting nightsade. Black Locust: This is a very messy, poisonous tree found from Georgia through the Ozark mountains to Pennsylvania. It is said that this tree is the burial place for all things evil. In Hoodoo and American traditions of Voodoo, this herb is used. One spell involves burying a person's name that has wronged you at the foot of the tree and letting the black locust take your revenge. The poison in this tree is extremly fast acting with a reaction time of one hour. Celadine: This plant is used magickally to break hexes and medicinally by herbalists. There are two types of this her, greater celandine and lesser celandine. This deadly plant has a reaction time of approximately fourteen hours. Elderberry: While cooked elder berries can be eatten, the leaves, bark, roots, and raw berries are poisonous. Elder berries are good for Elder magick and an offering of elder berries on the altar is a good offering. There is a difference between the elder and dwarf elder but they are both poisonous. The dwarf elder is most poisonous. This plant has a reaction time of several hours. Hemlock: Hemlock is a very famous occult plant historically. All parts of this plant are lethal; especially the fruits. It can be used in magik to paralyze a situation and if injested it works to paralyze muscles. Hemlock is also a fast acting banishing plant. This plant used to be used as a sedative but this is no longer recommended for domestic use. The reaction time of hemlock is a mere few hours. Lily of the Valley: This deadly spring beauty can be found in North America, Britian, and throughout Europe. In France the lily of the valley is special to mothers and women and is given by children to mothers and elder women on Mother's Day. Couples plant the lily of the valley in their first garden to promote longevity in their marriage and it is a recommended plant for bridal bouquets. Also, it is used by drug companies for medicinal purposes and was used extensively in medicines at one time. Magickally it can be used to stop harrasment. When injested it causes intense irritability. Morning Glories: All parts of the morning glory are poisonous which is why this plant is called "Devil's Guts." They come in many colours and are fairly hardy and drought resistant. It can be used in poppet magick to banish someone by warpping the poppet with morning glory vine nine times. It can be used to bind and banish as well as to promote attraction to something or someone. Wolfsbane: Another classic occult plant, wolfsbane, or Monkshood, is enterily poisonous but especially the roots and leaves. When drying the roots will even give off fumes that cause giddiness. Most would reccomend that only the flowers be used in magick. This is an excellent plant for redirecting predators that may come after you. Thsi is a very powerful plant and is connected with myths of werewolves when blooming on a full moon. Rhododendrons, Mountain Laurel, and Azaleas: These plants are posion and have a reaction time of six hours. The Greeks found the honey from the bees who had fed on these plants to be poisonous also. |
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| Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy During Early Pregnancy be sure to Avoid: Raspberry leaf tea, fenugreek, and vervain. During the last two months of pregnancy, raspberry leaf tea is safe and will be useful in preparing your body for childbrith. Also, the aerial parts of vervain will help stimulate contractions during labour. Therapeutic amounts of sage, thyme, and fennel should also be avoided in early pregnancy. However, these three herbs are safe to use in cooking throughout pregnancy. Essential Oils to Avoid During Pregnancy: Pennyroyal should be avoided outright.While many herbalists feel the herb itself can be used safely, it has a reputation as an abortant and is very dangerous during pregnancy. You must do a lot of research and avoid uterine stimulating essential oils like cinnamon, chamomile, myrrh, celery, basil, and celery seed. To Absolutely Avoid Completely During Pregnancy: Uterine stimulators like Elder tree (bark), angelica, goldenseal, juniper, lavender, motherwort, primrose, rue, shepherd's purse, vervain (expet in labour), tansy, and wood betony. San qui (aka Panax notoginseng or pseudoginsent) can harm fetuses. Aloe juice should not be used interally either; it may cause unwanted contractions as may rhubarb root. |