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| Lavender Lavandula angustifolia Folk Name: Elf Leaf, Nard, Nardus, Spike, Gender: Masculine Planet: Mercury (in Leo) Element: Air Powers: Love, Protection, Sleep, chastity, Longevity, Purification, Happiness, Peace,Psychic and Visionary work. Magical Uses: Lavender has long been used for love spells and sachets.Rubbed on cloths or in left in clothing drawers attracts love. The flowers are burned to induce sleep and rest and are scattered around to promote peacefulness. The plant is so powerful that, when depressed, one gazes upon the plant all sorrow will depart. Lavender is used in healing mixtures, arred to see ghosts, and worn to protect against the evil eye. It is added to purification baths. A wish divination: Place lavender under your pillow while thinking of your wish. Do this just prior to retiring for the night. In the morning , if you have dreamt of anything relating to your wish, it will come true. It was used as a anaphrodisiac, those who had a hard time maintaining chastity would wear lavender garlands. Other uses and Lore: Good for fragrance; fresh and dried flowers; oil distilled from them; place dried flowers in small cloth bags for scenting closets; good border or hedge plants Cut and dry whole flower spikes when flowers begin to open; do not use excessive or prolonged heat when drying flowers since oils are very volatile. Remember when you plant this it's a perennial so give it lots of space to grow. I would say a good foot or more away from other.plants. So that the plant doesn't take over cut it back often.It makes an excellent house plant as well. Lavender is used as a remedy for headache, migraine and nervousness. Lavender can stimulate the circulation and help in cases of nervous exhaustion. Lavender can be used to relieve neuralgia and insomnia and to revive those who feel faint or dizzy. Lavender tea is a fragrant and pleasant drink. For migraine, headache and nervous disorders a small glassful can be taken last thing at night and first thing in the morning. Taken at night lavender is sleep inducing. Lavender tea can be used as a mouthwash and as a remedy for bad breath. To make LAVENDER TEA: pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of fresh flowers. Cover and leave to infuse for 10 minutes. I love this... as stated in the "Herbs For the Medieval Household" it says for headaches..(quoted by Hortus) Taking the flowers of lavendula Stoechas and putting them into a little bag along with bay and betony, red roses and marjoram. clove pinks and nutmeg blossoms. "For noblemen" the sack should be made of "red silk" and "for the common people of plainer stuff" If this little bag is put on the head "it will soothe all pains". |
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| PATCHOULY: Pogostemon patchouli Folk name:Pucha pot Species: Pogostemon cabin Family: Labiatae Gender:Feminine Planet: Saturn (in Virgo) Element: Earth Powers: Money,Fertility,Lust (sex),Banishing Magical Uses: It's used in money and prosperity mixtures and spells. It is sprinkled onto money. added to purses and wallets, and placed around the base of green candles. It's substituted for grave yard dirt, a fertility talisman, and added to love sachets and baths. In voodoo-based thought it is used for "separation" this does not have a long tradition. It's used more for it's attracting ability. OHHHHHH is that a contradiction? yup. It is used in any form of magic relating to sex or to the element of earth. It is used to help ground consciousness and the body and increase the seance of touch. Other uses and Lore: I had a time growing this here in the USA, although it is now sold here little is told of just how to grow it.In the summer I keep it outside in a pot with well drained soil, I put dirt (not potting soil) and mix it w/alittle sand. It likes to be well watered in part sun. I keep it in a pot because I bring it in ,in the winter. Patchouly (or pachouli) was used for insect repellent and a deodorant. It was also given as a remedy for snake bites and insect bites. It was given for headaches,flatulence,vomiting, and fever.(I personally can not advice on doing this now look to herb books on how to apply this today) It's also used in Aromatherapy to regenerate skin cells and treat acne, eczema, athlete's foot,and cracked skin. These are the old uses as we know today it's best for burning and sachets and oils.I've let my plants flower as to save the seeds then cut and tie with a string and hang upside down to let dry. Patchouly is grown in S.E. Asia and if you can find it get it, it's a fun and wonderful smelling plant. The one thing I have not tried is to extract the oil If you try this |
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| Bitter Sweet Nightshade Celastrus scandens POISON!' Gender: Masculine Planet: Mercury Element: Air Powers: Protection, Healing Magical Uses: Now they say putting some under your pillow helps you to forget past loves. If you feel you have to do this wrap it in a sock or some material,the stuff is poison! As with most plants from the nightshade family this plant is popular for it's properties for protection, wards off hostile Magick. Other uses and Lore: Some forms of nightshade was used to dilate eyes, I wouldn't recommend this for any reason, this stuff is poison! Now old Culpeper said it cures dizziness or vertigo I wouldn't recommend you do this either. If you want a nice deep green plant with nice red berries to use as a arbor climber I can recommend that! It also comes in a white more delicate plant, not the climer the purple is. I'm including this plant as others have asked about it. I spent alto of time searching for this plant and the whole time it was right in my yard. Here it is thought of as a weed. It grows as a vine and I have mine growing over an arbor. It's hearty (ha ha) as all weeds are. It's also toxic as all get out, the birds will eat the berries and poop them on your car however. And the berries smooched on the scanner leaves a mess. |
| Bittersweet nightshade: Is somewhat of a vine. I have this growing all around my house growing around arbors. It's a toxic plant, and the berries are inviting to small children. I would not recommend it to any one with small children! |
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| Lemon Verbena Lippia citriodora Folk Names: Cedron, Yerba, Louisa Gender: Masculine Planet: Mercury Element: Air Powers: Purification, Love Magical uses: Now they say that if you don't want to dream drink some of this. Worn it is to make you more attractive to the opposite sex. It's used in love spells and mixtures, haha don't do that! It's used like a bonding to make other herbs more powerful. It's used for purification. The history is long of holy people using this on their alters. I like to blanch it some and put it in bath water, for the smell, but it is also for purification baths. Other uses and Lore: Lemon verbena has a very intense lemon scent and flavour. The leaves are a delight to use in tea, preserves, baked fish, cakes and pastries. It is also increasingly used in soaps, perfumes, candles and other similar items. The scent is intense whether the leaves are fresh or dried. Ok offical version lol it smells like Pledge! haha But it does smell good and I have it in my garden every year. It's extremly woody the roots go on forever! I know in some parts it's thought of as a perennial, but I can't get it to come back. Make sure you dig up the roots, the root system is amazing and takes up alot of space. |
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| Poke Pytolacca americana.....Posion! Folk Names: Coakum. Concan, Crowberry. Garet, Inkberry, Pigeon Berry, pocan, Polkberry, Root, Scoke, Virginian Polk Gender: Masculine Planet: Mars Element: Fire Powers: Courage, Hex breaking Magical Uses: Polk is used at the new moon to break hexes and curses. Make an infusion and sprinkle around the home. Add to bath water as well ( warning this stuff stains!) When carried, polk gives courage. To find a lost object, mix polk with hygrangea, violet and galangal. Sprinkle this around the area where the artical was last seen. the berries are crushed and the relulting juice is used as a magical ink (that is what I use it for) Other uses and Lore: Now the books I have here says it has sperm killing abilities was given for swollen glands, used for arthritis, and fungal infections. Has other stuff here to but not to put you on the wrong path this stuff in poisonous and just shouldn't be swallowed at all. I used to grow a few of these in my yard. I happen to think they are very attractive (haha I do) I use the berries for ink and it works very well and stains like crazy! |
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| Thistle Carduus spp. Folk Names: Lady's thistle, Thrissles Gender: Maculine Planet: Mars (in Aries) Deities: Thor, Minerva Powers: Strenth, Protection, Healing, Exorcism, Hex Breaking Magical Uses: A bowl of thistle in a room strengthens the spirits and renews vitalites within. Carry it for strength and energy. Grown in a garden it wards off theives. Grow in a pot by your doorstep to protect against evil. Keep in your pocket it guards you. Throw it in the fire to ward off lighting. If you have a spell cast against you wear a garment made of spun thistle. Stuff poppets with it to break hexes. Thistle is used in any magic where you are the target of any negative energy;, for protection and blessing. Thistles are used in healing spells, and when men wear it they become better lovers. Thistles also drive out melancholy when worn or carried. In England they used the tallest thistle as a magical wand or walking stick. To call spirits, place some thistle in boiling water. Remove from heat and lie or sit beside it. As the steam rises call the spirits and listen carefully; they may answer your question. Other Uses and Lore: Blessed Thistle;( or Cnicus benedictus) is associated with St. Benedict, or medieval Christian magic, with use for protection. The leaves and roots and flower are edible, and taken to a tonic to purify and strengthen circulation. Small doses treat digestive problems and infections, expel phlegm and are applied to wounds . The seeds were once used as oil. Milk thistle. As with the other the flower root and leaves are edible (not the seeds!) It also aids in digestion. the seeds and leaves were used for low milk flow, coughs and depression, live, gallbladder, and spleen problems. The seeds were once used to protect the liver from toxins, including death cap mushrooms. It's also used to prevent travel sickness. Under no circumstances should anyone use the seeds, except a qualified practitioner. Stemless Carline Thistle: The flower is eaten like an artichoke and the leaves used to curdle milk. The roots, macerated in wine, give a digestive stomach tonic. beneficial for eczama and skin rashes. It's a mild laxitive, is a diuretic, antiseptic gargle and wound wash, a liver tonic. It's given to cattle to stimulate apppetites. Now I put this in here to show people just how usefull weeds are! The healing properties of this weed is amazing and many use thistles and nettles for greens |
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| Mullein Verbascum thapus Folk Names: Aaron's rod, Blanket leaf, Candlewick plant, Clot, Doffle, Felt-wort, Flannel plant, Graveyard dust, Hag's tappers Juniper's staff, Lady foxglove, Old man's Fennel, Peter's staff, Shephard's club, Shepard's herb, Torches, Velvetback, Velvet plant, Weather candle,Demon Plant (Unholdenpflanze) Wool Mullein, Flannel Mullein, Candlewick, Kings Candle. Gender: Feminine Planet: Saturn ( In Gemini) Medicine of the earth says Sun/Mercury Element: Fire Deity: Jupiter Powers: Courage, Protection, Health, Love Divination, Exorcism Magical Uses: It is said to keep wild animals at bay. It instills courage to the bearer. It is said leaves in your shoe keeps away colds. It is also a love attractor. It guards you against nightmares. In India they say it keeps all evil and evil spirits away. It's carried in sachets and hung over doors and windows. It's used to banish demons and negativity. You can substitute mullein leaves for grave yard dirt. At one time witches used mullein for the wicks for their oil lamps ( cut and dry leaves into strips) to illuminate rites and spells. (The stock was diped into oil for torches) Not limited to witches however but widely known for it's pagan history. In 1685 Johann Schroder wrote a detailed way to make an amulet. "It aids all kinds of catarrh as a strong amulet, especially when made from a root that has not yet flowered in the summer that it is gathered. Instead, dig it up on the last Friday of the waning moon before sunrise between the 15th of August and the 8th of September. Dry the cleaned root in a shady place. When one wraps pieces of it in gold to hang around the neck, it has miraculous powers against all flows of the body.however, it is not appropriate for women wishing to conceive a child as it hinders conception as long as she wears it." I must say however I for one wouldn't use this as a birth control :) Other uses and Lore: They use this stuff for it's skin softening mucilage. The leaves and flowers were used for coughs and were added to herbal tobacco. Native Americans used it to revive the unconscious. The flowers reduce eczema inflamation and help heal wounds. Leave tintures were used for migrains and earaches. They also used to use the leaves for bandages. I love this stuff it grows wild at my mothers house. It's a biannual, but it re-seeds itself haha you never know will it will pop up next. Hildegard von Bingen prescribed Mullein for "Sad Hearts". It was used as a strong amulet against evil. I got some seeds from the park last spring. I looked, and I have my own mullein coming up. |
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| When mullien first comes up it can be confused with Lambs' ears or Stachys byzantina. Where as mullien grows to one large stock, lambs ear stays low to the ground and has several stalks. |
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| Tyme, Lanender, Moonflower |
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