* Herbal Encyclopedia *
DISCLAIMER: If you are on any pharmaceutical medications or have a serious medical
condition, are pregnant or nursing, consult your health care provider
before ingesting anything that you do not normally ingest, including
herbs and over the counter medications.
Dosages given are for *adults*. Unless specific dosage is labeled "for
Children", do not give to Children.
When you choose to self medicate, you are responsible for what you put
in your body. If you show any symptom after ingesting an herb or any
other substance that you do not normally ingest, stop taking the herb,
etc., immediately. The symptom may or may not have something to do with
the herb, etc., but you can always try again later, after the symptom
has disappeared, to test if it was the herb, etc.
-A-
ANGELICA: (sun, fire) The root carried in a blue cloth bag is a
protective talisman. Was considered to be under the guard of angels and a preventive against plague. The whole root in a blue or white cloth bag protects against evil.
ANISE: (Jupiter, air) Protection. A pillow stuffed with anise seeds
keeps away evil.
APPLE: (Venus, water) Love spells. The wood is fashioned into wands
and used for love spells and rituals. A large apple eaten at All Hallows
brings good luck.
ASAFOETIDA: (Saturn, fire) Called "devil's dung" for it's disgusting
odor. Used in exorcism. A small piece worn around the neck guarded against plague.
ASH TREE: (sun, water) Protective, used to make brooms and healing
wands. Leaves placed beneath pillow induce psychic dreams. The winged seeds are carried to prevent overlooking or ill-wishing. Leaves are lucky, especially even ones. Place the leaf under your pillow, you
should see your future mate in a dream.
-B-
BALM OF GILEAD: (Saturn) The buds can be carried to mend a broken
heart. Can be added to love and protection charms.
BASIL: (Mars, fire) Wealth and prosperity. Carrying basil in pockets
attracts money to them. A wife can dust her upper body with powdered basil to keep her husband faithful.
BAY LAUREL: (sun, fire) The leaves can be burned or chewed to induce
visions. Worn as an amulet to ward off evil. Leaves under the pillow
induce prophetic dreams. Can be used for protection and purification.
Growing near a house, it protects occupants from infection and storms.
BENZOIN: (sun, air) Used in purification. A few drops of tincture
preserves oils and preparations.
BETONY: (Jupiter, fire) Protection, purification. Stuff a pillow to
prevent nightmares.
-C-
CHAMOMILE: (sun, water) Used in prosperity charms and rituals,
induces sleep. The tea brings peace and tranquility. Wash face and hair with it to attract a lover. Helps a person to relax and get a good night's sleep! Chamomile is useful in spells for luck and gambling as well. Make a green amulet and fill with Chamomile Flowers to carry as a good-luck amulet.
CARAWAY: (Mercury, air) Used in love charms to attract a lover.
CARNATION: (sun, fire) Worn by witches to prevent capture and
hanging. Produces added energy in ritual when used as an incense.
CATNIP: (Venus, water) Creates psychic bond between cat and owner. Used in love spells and incenses. Catnip is ruled by the planet Venus, and is therefore useful in love, beauty, and happiness spells. One of my favorite uses for catnip is "cat magick". If you feed your cat some catnip, it will build a psychic bond between you and your cat! You can also make a pink sachet and fill it with Catnip to wear or carry to draw love to you. Another fun use for catnip is to grow some in your home. Aside from pleasing your cat, this will draw positive vibrations and good luck to you and to your house.
CEDAR CHIPS: Useful in healing, purification, protection, and
money-drawing spells. Burn cedar chips on a charcoal disc to purify an
area...burning cedar chips is also useful for inducing and
strengthening psychic powers. You can keep a little green sachet filled with cedar chips in your purse or wallet to draw money.
CELANDINE: (sun, fire) Helps wearer escape unfair imprisonment or
entrapment. Cures depression.
CINNAMON: (sun, fire) Used in incenses for healing, clairvoyance,
high spiritual vibration. Used as a male aphrodisiac. Cinnamon is a wonderful herb to either burn as an incense ormake into a sachet. Fill a green or gold sachet with Cinnamon to draw money and success or to use as a healing charm. A purple sachet can be used to increase your magickal and/or psychic powers. A pink or red sachet of Cinnamon can be worn, carried with you, or placed under your bed to draw love or to promote lust. Use a white sachet filled with Cinnamon to increase your spirituality and to confer protection.
CINQUEFOIL: (Jupiter, earth) Hang on house entrances for protection.
Use in spells and charms for prosperity, purification, and protection.
CLOVER: (Mercury) Associated with the Triple Goddess. Used in rituals for beauty and youth. Four-leafs are carried to see faeries, heal illness, avoid military service, avoid madness, and for good luck.
CLOVE: (sun, fire) Worn to drive away negativity and stop gossip.
Cloves strung on red thread can be worn as a protection charm. Their magickal properties include banishing evil (exorcism),clearing your head, protection, love, and money. Burn cloves as an incense to draw wealth and prosperity, drive away hostile and negative forces, produce positive spiritual vibrations, and purify the area in which they are burned. Wear or carry cloves to draw members of the opposite sex to you. Using cloves in your magickal spells is said to ensure that your magickal intention is realized.
COMFREY: (Saturn, earth) An herb of Hecate, used in rituals to honor
the Crone.
CORIANDER: (Mars, fire) Used in love spells and charms.
COWSLIP: (Venus) Brings luck. Posies of cowslips placed under the
pillow allows contact with the dead in dreams.
CYPRESS: (Saturn, earth) Connected with death in all aspects. The
smoke can be used to consecrate ritual objects.
-D-
DAISY: Used to decorate the house on Midsummer's Eve to bring
happiness and win the favor of faeries. Also good for general protection and general direction spells.
-E-
EUCALYPTUS: Used for healing, and can be used for protection as well. Carry some of the leaves with you for protection. To relieve a cold or other respiratory infection, ring green candles with the leaves and pods and visualize yourself as healed. Allow the candles to burn down completely.
-F-
FRANKINCENSE TEARS: Magickal properties similar to Myrrh (below).
Use these cute little beads to drive out negativity and enhance positive vibrations. You can crush them and use them as an incense on a charcoal disc. Frankincense incense induces visions and is useful as an aid to meditation. You can also make a little white or purple sachet of Frankincense and carry it with you to aid in your spiritual growth. A sachet of Frankincense Tears can also be used as a protective amulet.
-G-
GARDENIA: (moon, water) Wear flower to attract love.
GARLIC: (Mars, fire) Extremely protective, carry the bulb with you on
trips over water to prevent drowning. Hang in home to protect. Used in exorcisms.
-H-
HAWTHORNE: (Mars, fire) Used in protection sachets. Associated with happy marriage. Put into cradles to protect babies. Sitting under the tree on Beltane, Midsummer's Day, or Samhain puts one in danger of being bothered by mischievous spirits. Never cut the tree. Burn Hawthorne berries for energy and meditation on change.
HAZEL: (sun, air) Makes good all-purpose wands. Can be used as
divining rods. Tie two hazel twigs together with red or gold thread to make the Solar Cross, a good luck charm.
HENBANE: (Saturn, water) **POISON** Carried to attract the love of a woman.
HIGH JOHN THE CONQUEROR ROOT: (Saturn, earth) Add to candle-
annointing oils, charms, and sachets to increase their potency.
HOLLY: (Mars, fire) Plant around house for protection. Leaves and
berries can be carried to heighten masculinity.
HONEYSUCKLE: (Jupiter, earth) Use in prosperity spells and charms.
HOPS: (Mars, water) Healing incenses and charms. Placed in a pillow,
will induce sleep. Unwise to use if depressed.
HYSSOP: (Jupiter, fire) For purification baths and protection spells.
Associated with serpents and dragons, it can be burned to tap into
dragon energy.
-I-
IVY: (Saturn, water) Protects the house it grows over.Often given
(with holly) to newlyweds.
-J-
JASMINE: (Jupiter, earth) Used in love spells and charms.
JUNIPER: (sun, fire) Protects wearer from accidents. Berries can be
dried and strung to attract a lover. Can be used in anti-theft spells and grown at doorstep to protect from thieves.
-K-
-L-
LAVENDER: (Mercury, air) Purification baths and incenses. Thrown onto fires at Midsummer in tribute to the Gods and to bring visions and inspiration. Lavendar has long been known to be a particularly attractive scent to men... Carry to attract men. Wonderful for use in love spells. Lavendar Flowers can be sprinkled around the house to bring peacefulness, and can also be burned as an incense to help you sleep. Lavendar has also been used for protection, chastity, longevity, purification, and happiness. Brings clarity and focus to workings.
LEMON BALM: Drink as an infusion to soothe away emotional pains after a break-up. Useful in recovering from trauma and sexual assault. Drives away low spirits, increases fertility.
LEMON VERBENA: (Venus, air) Wear as a love charm and to increase
attractiveness. Add to charms to increase their power. Hang sprig
around neck to stop dreaming.
LINDEN: (Jupiter) Conjugal love and longevity.
LOVAGE: (sun, water) For cleansing baths. Carry to attract love.
-M-
MANDRAKE: (Mercury, earth) Strong protection for home. Carried by
women who want to conceive and men to cure impotency. Sleep with it in the bed for three nights under a full moon. Carry for courage.
MARIGOLD: (sun ,fire) Renews energy wherever vase is placed. Wear
flowers to see who has stolen from you.
MARJORAM: (Mercury, air) Add to love charms. Put a bit in every room.
MEADOWSWEET: (Jupiter, water) Arrange fresh flowers on altar when
mixing love charms or performing love spells. Wear garland at Lammas to join the essence of the Goddess.
MISTLETOE: Protective, anti-lightning.
MUGWORT: (Venus, air) Put into shoe for protection and to prevent
fatigue. Mugwort tea induces clairvoyance. Rub fresh leaves on scrying mirrors or crystal balls to strengthen divination. Add to scrying, clairvoyance, and divination incenses. One of the strongest protectants. Hang in house to guard against lightning, place under doorstep to keep unwanted people out. Fill pillow to induce vivid dreams. Mugwort can be used as an incense (mixed in equal parts with Sandalwood) to aid in strengthening Psychic Powers. Try using it while scrying or before divination. Mugwort can also be placed next to the bed to aid in achieving astral projection. Its other magickal uses include strength, protection, prophetic dreams, and healing.
MULLEIN: (Saturn, fire) Wear to develop courage and protect from wild animals. Drives away evil.
MYRRH: (sun, water) Purification, protection. Used to consecrate
tools. Myrrh is a wonderful herb to use in spells for spirituality.
Its other magickal uses include protection, healing, and exorcism. It
is often combined with Frankincense to increase its power. Burn as an
incense to purify an area. Use the smoke from the incense to purify
and bless charms, amulets, talismans, magickal jewelry, tools, etc.MYRTLE: (Venus, water) Sacred to Venus, used in love charms and
spells. Grown indoors, brings good luck. Carry leaves to attract love, or the wood to preserve youth. Make magick charms from wood. Wear fresh leaves during love spells.
-N-
NETTLE: (Mars, fire) Stuff a poppet with nettles to send bad
vibrations or curses back to the sender. Carry for courage, add to protection charms. An anti-toxin.
NUTMEG: (Jupiter, air) Carry one to strengthen clairvoyant powers and
prevent rheumatism.
-O-
OAK: (sun, fire) Sacred tree. Burn leaves for purification. Make
wands from wood. Carry acorns for fertility, youth, and wellness. Hang in windows to protect house. Men can carry acorns to increase sexual attractiveness and prowess.
OLIVE: Sacred to Athena. Symbol of peace and wealth, sign of safe
travel.
ONION: (Mars, fire) Protection, healing. Place cut onions in a room
to absorb illness. Leave overnight, discard in morning.
ORANGE: (sun, water) Dried peel is added to love and fertility charms
and used in solar incense. Good luck.
ORRIS ROOT: (Venus, water) add to love charms, baths, and incenses.
-P-
PARSLEY: Symbolic of death.
PATCHOULI: (sun, earth) Carry as an aphrodisiac and to attract lovers.
PENNYROYAL: (Venus, earth) Put in shoe to prevent weariness, carry to prevent seasickness. Highly abortive.
PEPPER: (Mars, fire) Protection
PEPPERMINT: (Venus, air) Healing, good in bath. Used to cool off
arguments. Peppermint makes a wonderful tea to increase your
psychic ability (drink some before reading the Tarot, consulting runes,
scrying,dowsing, etc.). Drinking Peppermint tea is also useful for healing(especially stomach aches), producing visions, and helping with sleep. The herb can also be sprinkled around your home for
purification.PERIWINKLE: (Venus, water) Hang in house for protection.
PIMPERNEL: (Mercury, air) Wear to detect falsehood and to prevent
others from lying to you.
PINE: (Mars, earth) Burn as a winter incense. Nuts are eaten and
carried for fertility. Needles can be added to healing and cleansing baths.
POPPY: (moon, water) Eat seeds for fertility. Carry for prosperity.
-R-
ROSE: (Venus, water) Carry to attract true love. Drink tea of petals
for divinatory dreams. Add to charms for sleep, love, and healing. Drink tea to promote beauty, mix petals with regular tea to attract love. Both Rose buds and petals can be wonderful for use in spells to draw love...use red for passionate love, pink or white for romantic, or
true love. You can also place a single rose in a vase on your altar as a
powerful love-drawing aid. To make a love candle, melt several pink
household size (6") candles over low heat. When they are completely
melted, remove from heat, add several pink or red rose buds (ground)
and 20 to 30 drops of Rose Oil. Pour into a prepared glass jar (with
wick and metal tab attached). Allow the candle to cool and
harden, and burn on the first Friday after the New Moon to draw love
to you. Rose inhaled or applied to the forehead is said to relieve a headache.
ROSEMARY: (sun, fire) Protection. Wear to aid memory and learning.
Used in sea rituals and sea magick. Wash hands with infusion before magick as a substitute for a ritual bath. Drink tea to make mind alert. Linked to fidelity, love, and happy memories. Place under pillow to ward off nightmares. This is a wonderful all-purpose herb that you can't afford to be without! Rosemary can be used as a substitute for just about any herb. Its powers include love, lust, protection, exorcism, purification, healing, longevity, youth, mental powers, and
sleep. Rosemary is a wonderful incense. Smoulder a bit of it to
emit powerful cleansing and purifying vibrations and to rid
negativity in the area in which it is burned (especially helpful to
burn before performing any magick!) Place a bit of rosemary under
your pillow to ensure a good night's sleep. Wear rosemary to aid your
memory (especially helpful when you are studying for an exam). Add an infusion of rosemary to your bath water to perserve youthfulness and to purify you. Carry a bit of rosemary with you to remain healthy. Hang a sprig of rosemary above your door posts.
ROWAN: (sun, fire) Tie 2 twigs together with red thread for good luck
and protection charm. Use for divining. Berries can be used in a good
luck amulet.
RUE: (sun, fire) Add to charms to keep illness away. A sprig can be
dipped in water and used to sprinkle an area for purification.
-S-
SAFFRON: (sun, fire) Prosperity and healing.
SAGE: (Jupiter, earth) Prosperity and healing. Safeguards health,
promotes longevity. Grows best in the gardens of the wise. Sage is useful for protection, healing, wealth, fulfilling wishes, and spells to increase longevity. One of my favorite uses for Sage is to powder some and add to my homemade yellow candles. Burn on a Wednesday during the Waxing Moon to increase knowledge and
wisdom.ST.JOHN'S WORT: (sun, fire) Protective. Wards off fever and illness.
Burn as a banishing or exorcism incense. Wear to instill courage and
strengthen the will. Drink tea to cure melancholy. Hang branches over bed to prevent nightmares.
SANDALWOOD: (moon, air) Use in purifying, protection, and healing
incenses. Sandalwood has many magickal uses, including protection,
spirituality, exorcism, healing, and wish fulfillment. Scatter
sandalwood powder around your home to clear it of negativity. Use in
healing and exorcism spells. Write a wish on a sandalwood chip and
burn in your cauldron. As it burns it sets your magick flowing.
Sandalwood mixed with Lavendar makes a wonderful incense which is
intended to conjure spirits.SUNFLOWER: (sun, fire) Brings blessings of the Sun into the garden.
Seeds can be eaten by a woman who wants to conceive.
-T-
THYME: (Venus, air) Purifying incense, use in magickal cleansing
baths. Sniff for refreshment and renewed energy. Wear to protect self from grief during funerals.
-V-
VALERIAN: (Mercury, water) Use in love charms and spells, and in
purification baths.
VANILLA: (Jupiter, fire) The bean can be used in a love charm. The
oil can be worn as an aphrodisiac.
VERVAIN: (Venus, water) Sacred to the Druids, used for cleansing.
Hang above bed to keep away nightmares. Used in love and protection charms. Incense brings good luck and inspiration.
VIOLET: (Venus, water) These are wonderful for using in amulets for good luck and fortune. They also work well in spells for lust and passion -- they are powerful love stimulants and also arouse lust...try mixing them with Lavendar Flowers for a potent combination. They are also useful in spells for protection, wishes, peace, and healing... Violet can cure headaches and absorbs ill-will and evil spells.
-W-
WALNUT: (sun, fire) Carry to promote fertility and strengthen heart.
WILLOW: (moon, water) Make wand for healing. Brings moon blessings when on your property.
WORMWOOD: (Mars, air) Burn to raise spirits. Used in divinatory and
clairvoyant incenses. Burn in fire on Samhain to protect against
roaming spirits. Give to the dying to enable them to go in peace. According to Christian philosophy, it is wormwood that will bring upon The Final Days.
-X-
-Y-
YARROW: (Venus, water) Love and marriage charms,keeps a couple
together for at least 7 years. Wards of negativity when worn. Drink tea to enhance the powers of perception. A wonderful herb to use in love spells!!! Also works to draw courage and to purify (exorcism). Drink as a tea to increase your psychic powers. Wear a sprig of yarrow for protection. Hold some in your hands when you are afraid. This will stop all fear and give you courage. Carry some with you to draw love and to attract friends.