Tumeric Tea

Basil

Cinnamon

Sage

Bay Laurel

Benefits of Turmeric

Water Elemental herbs

Herb drying and storage

Back yard Herbal ~week three Trillium (May flower)

Herbs for ridding of evil, hexes & curses and more

Acacia flowers- Burn for power & blessings

Adam & Eve Root- Powerful for love & happiness. The man carries the Eve root

The woman, the Adam root

Adders Tongue-Use to stop gossip or slander

African Bird Pepper- Throw in someone's yard to cause problem

African Ginger- Stops hexes & curses, cures mouth sores

Agar Agar- mix with Fast Luck powder to bring luck in bingo, rub on hands before You play

Agrimony- Burn to reverse & turn back spells

Ague Weed- Burn to stop hexes & crossings from getting to you

Ajenjible- wash a person's clothes in this tea added to wash water to make Someone move out of your house

Alfalfa- Keep in the home to keep poverty away & help you prosper

All Heal- Make into a tea & sprinkle in the room of the sick to cure illness

Allspice- mix with Gloria incense & burn everyday for money, attracts success & Prosperity

Aloes- Burn on the night of the full moon to have a new lover by the new moon

Althea(Marshmallow) - keep a jar on altar or burn on candles to pull the good Spirits to you

Angelica Root- As a tea, sprinkle in corners & entryway to purify & stop evil

Anise- Burn to increase your clairvoyant abilities

Anise Estella (Star Anise)- brew into tea and sip or bathe in it to bring back Your lover, burn as incense

Archangel- Burn to bring a lost love back to you

Altamisa- This makes a very good love & attraction bath

Arrow Root- Mix with gambling powder to increase luck

Asafoetida- Burn to hex & increase black magick power, throw in a person's yard To cause misery 

Ash Leaves- Burn to prevent hexes & witchcraft from harming you

Balm- Put on wine or food to make a love potion

Balm of Gilead buds- Carry for protection against evil & to solve love problems

Balmony- wrap a persons name in a bundle of Balmony & it will cause them to get Sick (nooo!)

Basil- A very good herb to bathe in to remove jinx & to change your luck

Bay Leaves- Keep in home or on person to protect against any type of evil, best Protection

Bayberry Bark- Attracts good fortune & money, Burn a white candle sprinkled with The bark

Berry of The Fish- Sprinkle in enemy's yard to make them move away or keep away From you

Beth Root- Attract a mate by secretly mixing this into food or drink

Benzoin- Burn with incense & oils for peace of mind & to defeat witchcraft, It Is said that no demon can stand this scent

Bergamot- Considered very powerful for success, it can be burned at any ritual For more power

Betony Wood- Burn with uncrossing incense to defeat any form of witchcraft

Bistort- Carry in a yellow flannel bag to attract wealth & good fortune

Bittersweet- Toss into an enemy's path or yard to make them leave town & never Look back

Black Candle Tobacco- Mix with salt & burn with a black candle, said to win most Court cases

Black Cohosh- Make into a tea & add to bath water, it is said to ensure a long & Happy life

Black Mustard Seed- Causes problems & disturbances when sprinkled in an enemy's Yard

Black Snake Root- Bath in tea to uncross your nature, also may be burned as a Love incense

Bladderwrack- Carry while traveling for protection, said to cause a UTI if Placed by stall of enemies

Blood root- A favorite voodoo root used for defeating hexes & spells aimed to Harm you

Blue Flag- Mix with money drawing incense for financial gain

Blueberry- Said to cause confusion & strife when tossed in a doorway or path of Enemy

Boldo Leaves- Sprinkle around the house to ward off evil ,must be renewed once a Month

Boneset- To curse an enemy, burn as incense along with a black candle inscribed With their name

Broom Tops- Make into a tea & sprinkle around the home to clear away all evil

Buchu Leaves- Bathe in these to be able to foretell the future

Buckthorn Bark- Grants a wish if made into a tea & sprinkled in a circle at the Full moon

Camphor- Burn with Rama Dream incense before retiring for prophetic dreams

Caraway seed- Carry these for protection

Cardamom- Add this, powdered, to the drink of the one you want to love you

Cascara Sagrada- sprinkle tea made from this around the courtroom before court To win case

Chamomile- Wash your hands with a tea made of this before going to gamble for Good luck

Chewing John Root- Chewing the root & throwing it away sends back a curse, use for court cases

Chicory- Burn with a black skull candle to cause a sure hex on an enemy

Cinnamon- Add to wine or food as a love potion, use for good luck in money matters

Cinquefoil -To curse someone, rub on an image candle along with Dume oil at the full moon. Protection against all things from a man's hand. Brings the five virtues to your life

Cloves- Mix with Camphor & burn before using a ouija board for better luck/results with it

Coriander- Powder & mix with food or drink for a strong love potion

Cumin- Mix with food to keep lover faithful even over long period of separation

Curry Powder- Burned to keep evil forces away Damiana- Said to be an aphrodisiac & to draw love to those who drink it as tea

Dandelion- Carry to make wishes come true, said to induce clairvoyant ability

Devil Bone Root- Cut into small pieces & carry in a red flannel bag to ward off arthritis

Devil Shoestring- Carry in a red flannel bag for protection or in pocket for drawing gambling luck

Dill Seed- Steep in hot wine for love potion or keep in home to repel witchcraft

Dittany of Crete- Bathe in this before a date for success & attraction with the person

Dog Grass- Sprinkle in an enemy's yard to ruin their yard & make it look ugly

Earth Smoke- To attract quick financial gain, make into tea & sprinkle about & rub on shoe bottoms

Eucalyptus- Sew into a pillow to ward off nightmares & for peaceful sleep

Elecampane- grind together with vervain & mistletoe to make a powerful love powder

Elder Berries- Grind & place in corners & doorway for protection & to eliminate trouble

Fennel Seeds- Carry to prevent witchcraft and also used in love potions

Five Finger Grass- Wrap in red cloth and hang over the bed to ward off dark spirits of the night

Flax Seed- For more accurate readings into someone's future, sprinkle a tea made of this in the area

Frankincense- one of the strongest resins for mystical purposes. Burn prior to any ritual for success

Galangal- Burn nightly for 14 days before a court case. Save the ashes in a green flannel bag & take to court.

Garlic- Kept on hand protecting from witchcraft & envious people

Gentian- add tea to bath for much power & strength

Grains of Paradise- to ensure success & protection

Gravel Root-Helps get a job, carry in green flannel bag and anoint with Job oil

Guinea Pepper- Cast upon doorsteps to break up homes, used to cause death by enchantment

Holy Thistle- Brew into a tea and sprinkle around the house to get rid of a  jinx thrown on you

Hawthorne- Add to scrub water to purify your home, & to remove negative vibrations

Holy Ghost Root- prolongs life and protects against evil spirits & witchcraft

Hyssop- bathe in to keep away evil eye and ward of jinx & to purify

Horehound- keep near doorways to keep trouble away

Irish Moss- make into tea & sprinkle around business to bring in customers

Iron Weed- Carry in purple flannel bag for control over others, controls boss & co-workers Jamaican

Ginger- carry for gambling luck, bathe in this before going to Vegas Etc...

Jasmine- very good as a love & attraction bath, sewn into lover's pillow so they will only want you

Jezebel Root- to cause one harm, put root in jar with Jezebel oil & Destierro powder, bury in their yard

Job Tears- Carry 7 for luck and having one wish come true

Joe Pie- Carry in blue flannel bag to gain popularity & friendship, anoint with pure Orris oil

Juniper Berries- steep in wine for increased vitality

Kava Kava Root- carry in red flannel bag for success & job promotions, protects from harm

Khus Khus (Vetivert) - to change your luck, bathe in this tea for 9 days

King of the Woods-A man carries for this control over his woman

Knot weed- Used to get rid of an enemy

Ladies Thumb- draws love to you

Lucky Hand Root- carried in red flannel bag with good luck charms while gambling for best of luck

Life Everlasting- It is believed that this tea will prolong life

Lovage Root- bathe in this prior to court for victory

Laurel- Give to the bride for a long & happy marriage

Lavender- Burn with incense to bring peace, love & money to the home

Linseed- Burn to attain divinatory powers

Lemon Verbena- Used for a peaceful home, to help a marriage going sour or to break one up

Licorice- Sprinkle on the footprints of lovers to keep them faithful

Linden- Keeps a lover faithful, dab a small amount on your forehead before retiring

Mace-In earlier times this was thought a very powerful love herb. Still used
in some reuniting rituals

Maiden Hair Fern- Brings beauty & love into your life (represents Venus, the goddess of Love)

Mandrake- Carry in a red flannel bag to draw love from the opposite sex. Burn as incense in black magick spells

Manzanilla- Used as a hand wash for good luck in bingo & lotto, keep tickets with a packet of the herb

Marjoram- Prized as a charm against witchcraft, place in each room of dwelling & renew monthly

Magnolia- Sew into a mate's pillow to ensure faithfulness

Marigold- Used with love sachets to attract, bathe in tea for 5 days to find 'Mr. Right"

Marjoram- for a person, who is sad or grieving, bathe them in this for 7days

Master of the Woods- A man carries this to have control over his woman

Mesquite-burn as an incense to cleanse your tools or voodoo room, use in purification baths

Mistletoe- Made into a tea & bathed in it for love drawing

Motherwort- keep some in a jar by the family pictures to keep them safe

Mugwort- Burn as an incense while crystal gazing to increase psychic visions & ability

Mullein- Used as incense in black magick to dume (doom) an enemy

Mustard Seed (Red) - Sprinkle in & around the home to ward off burglars

Mustard Seed (Yellow) - A symbol of faith followed by success, one of the oldest good luck amulets

Myrrh- Burn on the altar before performing any ritual, for success, a good incense to clear your home

Myrtle- Inhaling the warm vapors of a myrtle infusion is said to clear head pains caused by severe colds, also used as a love herb

Nettles- For removing curses & hexes, mix with Jinx removing powder &sprinkle in each room & doorway

Nutmeg- Make a hole in the nutmeg, fill with quicksilver, seal hole with wax carry in red flannel bag for best gambling luck

Oak - The most royal of all trees, burn with mistletoe to remove spirits from businesses

Orange- Use the leaves or flowers for love rituals, very good to bring on a proposal

Oregon Grape Root- Carry in green flannel bag with money drawing powder for money & popularity

Oregano-mix with Stay Away powder to repel in-laws, with Law Stay Away to repel law

Orris Root- Cast a love spell by dusting it on the clothes of the opposite sex & wear for attraction

Palo Azul- Very powerful, make into a tea and use to remove any jinx or hex

Palo Santo-Used when you feel you have been cursed Rub this herb on your body then bathe

Papaya leaves- mix with Mandrake root and burn or bathe for spell reversal or jinx

Parsley- mix with jasmine & carry in your shoe to make you more attractive to opposite sex

Passion Flower- Brew into a tea & bathe in for 5 days to attract opposite sex

Patchouli- Used in money & love rituals, incites lust, use in any ritual where graveyard dirt is required

Peach Tree-mix the leaves with Concentration & Success oil to help pass tests

Pennyroyal- Carry while traveling by water & never know the pangs of sea sickness

Peony- For protection against any evil or to cure lunacy, and for good luck.

Peppercorns Black- Can be used to cast evil to someone or to get rid of evil

Pepper Tree (Pirul) - Used for limpias and cleansing, mix with ruda and bathe in for 10 days to remove evil

Peppermint- To increase chance of prophetic dreams, add to Rama dream incense

Periwinkle- A love herb, Burn with love incense before having sex

Pine- burn as an incense to cleanse house, also used to remove negativity & attract money

Plantain- hang in car to protect from evil or jealous people

Poke Root- Breaks hexes by brewing it into a teas & adding it to bath water

Poppy Seeds- Sleep on a pillow stuffed with poppy seeds if you suffer from insomnia

Primrose- Put in children's pillows to gain control over them, also put some in bath water to make them mind

Quassia Chips- Mix with some hair of your beloved, burn & keep ashes in small bottle to preserve the love

Queen of the Meadow- for good luck, make into a tea

Queens Delight Root- Legends say that drinking a tea made from this root will help a woman conceive

Queens Root- Take a bath in this when you wish to get married

Quina Rojo- Use only when sex is desired & with extreme caution

Quince Seed- Used in spells pertaining to protection, love & happiness

Raspberry- Bathe in this herb daily and your man will not want to wander

Rattle Snake Root- Put in a purple flannel bad for protection from sudden death & accident, keeps others from doing you wrong

Rosemary- Kept near the bed to ensure faithfulness, good for cleansing & protection as well

Rose Petals- Known as the love herb, Keep your lovers picture in a bowl of rose petals

Rue (Ruda)- Make into a tea & bathe in it for 7 days to attract love from the opposite sex

Sacred Bark-Keep in a bowl on your alter or reading table to help you concentrate

Safflower- Mix with any jinx incense to cause destruction to an enemy, also used by  men to bring on exciting sexual encounters by rubbing it on the inside of their knees

Sage- Wards off misfortune, used in reversing spells, also used for protection

Sampson's Snake Root- Used to regain male vigor (lost manhood)

Sandalwood- One of the 3 holy incenses, used for love, health & fortune, to grant wishes

Sarsaparilla- alleged to prolong life, hinder premature aging, excite passions, improving virility

Sassafras- Should be carried in your purse or wallet near your money, makes it go farther

Saw Palmetto- use in a strong tea made of Damiana, Sarsaparilla, and muira puama to help men get erections; supposedly, this is what the ancient gods use to
have sexual encounters

Skullcap- To keep mate faithful, women should sew into his pillow some skullcap and 2 white lodestones in white flannel

Sea Wrack- add to black magick & hex rituals

Senna- secretly have mate bathe in a tea made of this to ensure faithfulness to get one to notice you

Slippery Elm- Excellent in poultices for skin ailments keeps others from gossiping about you

Smartweed- attracts money & clears the mind

Snake root- carried as a charm to strengthen ones vitality, also good for court cases

Solomon's seal root- carry for protection & success, place on altar to ensure success with all rituals

Southern John the Conqueror- carry as a charm to bring luck in love & money matters

Southernwood- kept in the home as a love charm, burned to protect one from trouble

Spearmint- used for cleansing

Spikenard- to keep a lover faithful, to secure a relationship bury it in the ground and renew monthly

Squaw Vine- Bathed in by pregnant women once a week to keep jealousy away from unborn child

Squill Root- to draw money, place in container, add one dime, quarter & dollar, say money prayer

Star anise- to increase power, place on altar, carried for luck, burn to increase psychic ability

St. Johns Wort- protects against all forms of black witchcraft, hang above all windows in home

Sulfur- although not an herb, it is mixed with many herbs to bring harm upon an enemy

Sumbul Root- A favorite love root, said to attract the opposite sex very quickly, carry on you or burn

Tansy- a bit placed on shoes is said to keep the law away, can also be bathed in for same purpose

Tarragon- To cause a person to have a toothache, sprinkle on mouth of figure candle & burn at midnight

Thyme- bathe in to ensure money at all times, add to jar & keep in home for good luck, use to cleanse magick areas and place in pillows to stop nightmares

Tonka Beans- a favorite hoodoo good luck charm, to make wishes come true..

Tormentil- as a tea, drunk to keep or remove witchcraft that has been given in food or drink

Trefoil- mix with vervain, dill & St. Johnswort for most effective defense against evil doing

Trumpet Weed- used to make a man more potent, rubbed on member as a tea  while hard

Twitch Grass- reverses hexes, causes trouble for enemies if thrown on their doorstep

Unicorn Root-Carried for protection, used as a love charm, hide in loves belongings for love or hide two tied together to keep them faithful

Uva Ursi- carry to increase your power, burn with psychic incense when meditating

Valerian- drink to soothe nerves, sprinkle about to bring peace and end strife

Vanillin-powder can be burned with love incense to ensure that mate will always think of you

Verbena- Bathe your children in this to help them learn faster, Burn with sandalwood for jinx removing

Vervain- considered a holy herb; bathe in for 7 days to bring money, used for love drawing & jinx removing

Vetivert (Khus Khus) - placed in cash registers for increased business, burnt to overcome evil spells

Violet- used with other attraction herbs like lavender to bath in, helps those ill to heal faster

Virginia Snake Root-Said to be best good luck charm but very expensive & hard to get

Wahoo Bark- Also very hard to get, used to remove hexes

Willow Bark- Burn when you want the aid of Satan

Wintergreen- bathe your children in this to grant them good fortune &luck throughout their lives

Witch Grass- bathe in to attract a new lover, wear special witch perfume as well

Woodruff- good for victory, place in your left shoe before a game so your team will be victorious

Wormwood- sprinkle on enemy's path to cause strife & misfortune to them

Yarrow- Used to overcome fears, place in yellow flannel bag with a piece of parchment paper on which you have written your fears, carry with you

Yerba Mate- Said to keep a lover from wandering, put 2 Tablespoons into their food once a day

Yerba Santa- Used to attain beauty from within, to make ones body more desirable

Yucca- For jinx removing, Use a new slice of yucca root daily for 7 days and rub all over your body.

WILLOW WATER

It's History, Uses & How To Make Your Own

by Ilene Sternberg

In the fifth century B.C., the Greek physician, Hippocrates, wrote that chewing bark of a willow tree could relieve pain and fever. (No wonder squirrels don’t get headaches.) In 1829, the effective ingredient, salicin, was successfully isolated from willow bark. Toward the end of the 19th century, The Bayer Company in Germany trademarked a stable form of acetylsalicylic acid, calling it “aspirin,” the “a” from acetyl, “spir” from Spiraea (the salicin they used came from meadowsweet, Spiraea ulmaria, subsequently renamed Filpendula ulmaria), and “in,” a common ending in drug nomenclature.

In the 20th century, over one trillion aspirin, the first medicine created by techniques of modern chemistry, were consumed globally to regulate blood vessel elasticity, reduce fevers and aches, prevent cardiovascular ailments, affect blood clotting, or ease inflammation.

Native Americans and early settlers used willow bark for toothaches and applied it to the source of other pains. But they also recognized that you can actually grow a whole new tree by taking a stem and sticking it in moist soil. The hormones in willows cause rapid rooting, and they discovered these same hormones could induce rooting in other plants, too.
Willow water

To harness this power, they made a tonic called “willow water” by collecting willow twigs, trimming the leaves, immersing the stems in a pail of water, and pouring the water on newly planted trees, shrubs, and bedding plants. Commercial rooting preparations contain a synthetic form of indolebutyric acid (IBA) and growing tips of willows contain high concentrations of IBA, depending on the quantity used and length of time you soak them. Any willow (Salix) tree or shrub species will work.

Another discovery: In the January, 2004 issue of The Avant Gardener, a monthly newsletter to which you can subscribe for $24/year at Horticultural Data Processors, Box 489, New York, N.Y. 10028, editor Thomas Powell notes that gardeners reported all sorts of plants growing remarkably better when given regular doses of tiny amounts of aspirin (1 part to 10,000 parts water; larger doses actually proved toxic),” and that The Agricultural Research Service is investigating the reasons behind aspirin’s beneficial effects.

Plants make salicylic acid to trigger natural defenses against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Aspirin thus is an activator of ‘Systemic Acquired Resistance’ (SAR). However, plants often don’t produce the acid quickly enough to prevent injury when attacked by a microbe. Spraying aspirin on the plants speeds up the SAR response. Tests have shown this works on many crops, producing better plants using less pesticide. “It also makes it possible to successfully grow many fine heirloom varieties which were discarded because they lacked disease resistance.” Powell says.

Scientists first encountered the SAR phenomenon in the 1930s. After encountering a pathogen, plants use salicylic acid as a key regulator of SAR and expression of defense genes. “Only recently have companies begun marketing salicylic acid and similar compounds as a way to activate SAR in crops—tomato, spinach, lettuce, and tobacco among them,” according to Powell.

“ARS scientists are studying plants’ defenses, such as antimicrobial materials like the protein chitinase which degrades the cell walls of fungi, and nuclease enzymes which break up the ribonucleic acid of viruses. They’re also testing aspirin and other SAR activators which could be effective against non-microbial pests such as aphids and root-knot nematodes,” Powell says. “This may be the most important research of the century. Stimulating SAR defenses with aspirin or other activator compounds could result in increased food production and the elimination of synthetic pesticides.”

He recommends we experiment by spraying some plants with a 1:10,000 solution (3 aspirins dissolved in 4 gallons of water), leaving other plants un-sprayed. Tests have shown that the SAR activation lasts for weeks to months. (Sort of homeopathic heart attack prevention for your plants.)
Things to do:

Make your own willow water:
Easily root azaleas, lilacs, summersweets (Clethra spp.) and roses by gathering about two cups of pencil-thin willow branches cut to 1-3 inch lengths. Steep twigs in a half-gallon of boiling water overnight. Refrigerated liquid kept in a jar with a tight-fitting lid will remain effective up to two months. (Label jar so you won’t confuse it with your homemade moonshine.) Overnight, soak cuttings you wish to root. Or water soil into which you have planted your cuttings with the willow water. Two applications should be sufficient. Some cuttings root directly in a jar of willow water. Make a fresh batch for each use. You can also use lukewarm water and let twigs soak for 24-48 hours.

)O( ~Krystal~ )O(

Ilene Sternberg is a freelance writer and amateur gardener with a certificate of merit in ornamental plants from Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania and a former garden guide at Winterthur in Delaware.

Resources:
http://www.bluestem.ca/

Tummy Relief Gift in A jar

This is a gift in a jar item I created. You simply put the teabags into a tea pot add water and it makes a wonderful soothing pot of tea. A great gift for those over eaters on your Yule time list

Makes 16 tea pot fulls

2 c camomile flowers

2 c meadowsweet

2 c peppermint

16 large sealable tea bags (4x5 inch size)

1. Mix everything together and fill each teabag with 2 tablespoons of mixed herbs. seal with a iron and place in a pretty decorated box with these directions

2. Tummy Relief Tea Place 1 teabag in a tea pot and fill with boiling water. allow to sit 5-10 minutes and serve. can add honey or sugar if wanted. but tastes great as is.

Here is a place that sells them, even if you buy them somewhere else you might want to check this link as it also gives you complete instructions as to how to seal them. http://www.muslinbag.com/tea.html

Pain Away Path Products for sore muscles

Pain Away Bath Soak

This is a wonderful recipe for those days where you're hurtin' all over.
3/4 c. baking soda
3/4 c. dry milk flakes
1 1/4 c. Epsom salt
1 1/4 c. sea salt
15 drops peppermint essential oil
15 drops Lavender essential oil
15 drops Clary Sage

Mix all of the above ingredients in a glass bowl breaking all clumps. when mixxed well place in a 1 qt mason Jar.

To use: Use 1/3 to 1/2 cup per bath.

****

Pain Away Fizzy Bath Crystals

Store in a tightly covered decorative jar....makes a great gift. 1 qt mason Jar

8 oz. cornstarch
8 oz. citric acid
16 oz. baking soda
1/2  teaspoon lavender essential oil
1/4 teaspoon clary sage essential oil
1/4 teaspoon peppermint essential oil

Mix cornstarch and citric acid together. Mix well! Add fragrance oil as desired. Blend in the baking soda.

 To use: Pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup per bath.

****

Pain Away Bath Tub Tea

These Tub Tea Jars make wonderful gifts, but make sure to keep one for yourself.
sealable Bath Tea Bags
Herbs
1 cup of Oatmeal for every 4 scoups of combined dried herbs (peppermint, clary sage, lavender flowers)
Lavender, peppermint, and clary sage essential oils 3 drops each oil per 1 cup of total mix
Mixing bowl
Fancy glass jars with tight-fitting lids

Combine the herbs, essential oils and oatmeal in the mixing bowl. Mix well. Put mixture into each bath tea bag filling about 1/2 full and Iron shut. Place in a decorative glass jar and seal
 Attach a tag to jar with some raffia.

Use the parchment paper and pen to make a nice tag that has the following directions for use on it:

"Tub Tea."

Simply toss a bag into a tub of hot running water. Allow to steep for 3 to 5 minutes before getting in.

herbs and uses

A truly magical herb, this plants texture is like wool or cashmere, extremely soft and fuzzy. I just had to include a pic. Hope you can tell from the photo (scanned) just how textured it is. In the olden days folks would use the dried leaves as "Candlewicks", hence the name. The shape of the leaf resemble a candle flame. They burn similar to cotton. I use these leaves in "Remembrance Rituals" at Samhain. One is burned for each soul remembered. They burn quite unusual, as the flame creeps up the maine stem. " Nick name's Hag's tapers, Feltwort, Candlewick Plant. Carry to keep animals away from you in the woods. Wear to instill courage. The powdered leaves are know as "graveyard dust" and are acceptable to use when such is called for in old recipes". A must for a "witches garden"

* Myrrh (resin) *

Myrrh is used in magick for protection, peace, exorcism, healing, consecration, blessing, meditation and heightening spirituality. As an incense Myrrh can be used to help deepen mediation and to aid contemplation. Myrrh can be used in any ritual to the Goddess Isis, since Myrrh is a Goddess plant of the moon's sphere and is sacred to Isis. Myrrh can also be burned so that its smoke can purify and protect an area, and the smoke can also be used to consecrate and bless objects like rings, amulets, and ritual tools.

* Oak Moss * 

A natural wonder, Oak Moss belongs to the element Earth, growing on barks of trees, with a gray suede like appearance. Use this sweet smelling �moss� in Prosperity spells, Gnome magic and spells to Mother Earth. Use in -Witch Bottles- for home & business. Oak Moss attracts Male lust, placing a sachet of Oak Moss in bra When MALE lover is near. A natural scent �fixative� use in incense blends and magical potpourri�s, it will help �hold� scent.

* Olive Leaves * 

Healing, health & peace. The Olive leaf has long been used to symbolize peace, hence the saying �extending an olive branch in peace�. Use in spells to calm and quiet a quarreling home. Use after performing a house blessing or -spring- cleaning. Strew about home under doormats, corners of room�s etc. Add 9 Olive leaves to spring or rain water, soak for 3 days, strain and use as blessing water for house blessings, magic circles. Place olive leaves & wine in Chalice as altar offering.* Passion Flower *

Passion flower is a vine and should be planted where it can climb. uses in protection and love magick. When Passionflower is used, it calms and brings peace to the home. You can sprinkle dried or fresh Passionflower over the doorsteps of your house or apartment to keep harm away. If you carry some of the herb in an amulet bag, you will make friends easier since it will work to increase your personal charisma making you more attractive and more likable. Place Passionflower in a dream pillow and it will help you get a good nights sleep. place it in power bundles and use in love spells to attract love. You can also burn it as an incense to promote understanding.

* Pennyroyal *

Put in the shoes to prevent weariness. Add to summer incenses and to prevent getting lost in the woods. Tie it to your bedpost for, not only does it keep mosquitos away, but it is said to make one more aware and alert, and increase brain power Brings peace between husband and wife when kept in a small bowl on a table or a dresser in the home.
Carry Pennyroyal when traveling by water and never know the pangs of seasickness

* Rose * 

Rose is known as *THE* herb of love. Add Rose bud petals to bath water to conjure up a lover.
Put red Rose petals in a red velvet bag and pin this under your clothes to attract love
You can wear Rosehips as beads to bring love to you.
Rose oil and Rose incense are both used in love spells.
If you wash your hands with Rose water before mixing love potions, the potions will be stronger.

Different color Roses have different meanings so you can use Roses to give someone a message magically.
Below are what the different Rose colors mean:

~ Red ~ I love you
~ White ~ I love you not
~ Yellow ~ I love another
~ Moss ~ I admire you from afar
~ Pink ~ My love for you is innocent
~ Orange ~ I love you vigorously
~ Amethyst ~ I will love you forever
~ Wild ~ I love you because you are fair and innocent

* Rosemary *

Wear a chaplet of Rosemary to aid in the memory. A good protective sachet for boat and ship passengers. Make a fresh wreath of rosemary for protection, hang in the home. Burn Rosemary and Juniper for a recuperation incense. Use for rememberance in Samhain rituals.

* Sage (White) *

Burn to purify a ritual area or magical tools. Used as a main ingredient in"Smudgesticks"and "herb bundles". Put in with "Tarot" cards or "Runes" to protect and keep clean. Sage is used for fertility, longevity, wishes, wisdom, protection, money attraction, purification, healing, and health magick. Sage that is being gathered for magickal use should not be cut with a metal knife known as a Boline. It is said that if you eat Sage you will become more wise and also immortal. Sage is often an herb used at handfastings since it will help bring about a long life and domestic virtue for the happy couple. Sage can be added to almost any healing spell. A good healing amulet may be made by putting a clove of Garlic, a bit of Eucalyptus and Cinnamon, two pinches of Sage and one pinch of Saffron into a small blue bag. This bag can then be worn or carried to promote healing. Sage can be used for attracting money and for wish manifestations.

* St.Johnswort * 

Depressed? see St. Johnswort. Now in many herbal remedies. Noted for its calming effect, valuable for nervous disorders such as insomnia, depression and bedwetting. The oil has remarkable soothing and healing action when rubbed into painful joints and strained muscles. Celtic traditon held that the druids wore it in battle for invincibility. Burn to excorcise negative spirits. Make a tea with 1 tablespoon to 8 oz of water,for a stronge antidote for depression.

*Sun Flower Petals *

Sunflower belongs to the Sun, it�s gender is male (God) and belongs to the element Fire. Magical uses are Fertility, Health and Wisdom. Powerful flower to use on Sunday as an offering to the God for home as well. Use for May day & Beltane offerings and charms

* Thistle (Blessed) *

Thistle has great value in protection spells and also is used to bring spiritual and financial blessings. Thistle can be carried in an amulet bag for joy, energy, vitality, and protection - in fact men who carry Thistle become better lovers!. Thistle can be burned as an incense for protection and also to counteract hexing. Thistle powder can also be added to ritual baths to give added protection. Thistle can be grown in the garden to ward of those dreaded vegetable thieves, and a bowl of fresh Thistle will give off such good strengthening energies that it is the perfect thing to have in a sickroom.
Thistle is a wonderful material to use to make magick wands for spirit conjuring and magickal walking sticks. In England, the wizards of old were said to select the tallest thistle and use it as a wand or walking stick.

* Valerian * 

Love, Harmony, Use in love spells and to keep fighting couples together. Use in a bath sachet for a calming effect. Valerian has been used to treat nervous tension and panic attacks
Use 1 tablespoon to 8 oz water for a calming tea. Wonderful for folks who suffer from "panic attacks".

* Wormwood * 

Throw onto fires on "Samhain" to gain protection from bad spirits roaming the night. One of the major ingredients in "Absinthe" (see recipe) Burn in incense to raise spirits.

* Yarrow*

The witches herb. Love, Clairvoyance.Used in love sachets and marriage charms, as it has the power to keep a couple together happily for seven years. Worn as an amulet it wards of negativity. A tea made of1 tablespoon to 8 oz of water will enhance one's powers of perception. Held in the hand it stops all fear. The beautiful flowers are a welcome addition to any magical altar. Yarrow is nick named "A witches best friend".

= Note "Some" of the above herbal information was taken from
Scott Cunningham's "Magical Herbalism", D.J. Conway's "Celtic Magic"
"Earth Magic" by Claire Nahmad and "Victorian Grimoire" by Patricia Telesco
* Additional herbal information and recipes are Orignally Written by Barbara Morris 1999-2002

Encyclopedia of Magical herbs, Incense ,OIl & Brews For Protection

 Encyclopedia of Magical herbs, Incense ,OIl & Brews by Scott Cummingham,

This tells you if the herbs or oil's are used for protection

PROTECTION herbs (H) and Oils (O).

Angelica H
Anise H, O
Arabic, Gum H
Asafoetida H
Balm of Gilead H
Basil H,O
Bay H,0
Bergamot Mint H,
Black Pepper H, O
Calamus H
Caraway H
Carnation H
Cedarwood H, O
Cinnamon H, O
Cinquefoil H
Clove H,O
Clover H
Copal H
Cumin H
Cypress H, O
Dill H
Dragon's Blood H
Eucalyptus H, O
Fennel H
Fem H
Flax H
Frankincense H, O
Galangal H
Geranium (Rose) H,
Heather H
Honeysuckle H
Hyacinth H
Hyssop H
Juniper H, O
Lavender H, O
Lilac H
Lime H, O
Lotus H
Mandrake H
Marigold H
Mimosa H
Mistletoe H
Mugwort H
Myrrh H,O
Niaouli O
Orris H
Patchouly H, O
Pennyroyal H
Peony H
Peppermint H, O
Petitgrain O
Pine H,0
Rose H,O
Rose Geranium H, 0
Rue H
Sage H
Sandalwood H, O
Thistle H
Valerian H
Vervain H
Vetivert H, O
Violet H
Wood Aloe H
Woodruff H
Wormwood H

Herbal Tonic Tea For everyone

This herbal tonic tea is really a cross between a tea and an infusion. It's substantial, nourishing, and tasty, but not medicinal, and you can drink as much as you like. It's good for everybody, an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals, including Vit. C, E, K, calcium, magnesium, potassium, silicon and zinc, to name just a few, and will benefit every part of your body. The tea tastes good on it's own, and you can vary the taste with the optional herb mixtures and also add lemon and honey.

a.. 4 quarts boiling water
b.. 1 cup fresh nettle leaves, or 2 tblsp dried
c.. 1 tblsp dried horsetail
d.. 1 tblsp raspberry leaf
e.. 1 tblsp Echinacea root
f.. 1 tsp milk thistle seeds
g.. 1 tsp fennel seeds


Optional Variations:
a.. 1 tblsp licorice root, 1 slice fresh ginger, 1 cinnamon stick - these make the tea sweet, warming and robust - nice in cold weather
b.. A few fresh leaves of peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm, or basil - refreshing in spring and summer
c.. 1 tblsp rose buds, 4 green cardamom pods - cooling when the weather is hot
d.. Lemon and honey - good with any of the variations, but especially in the morning
Directions:
a.. Bring the water to a rolling boil uncovered
b.. Add all ingredients, and simmer uncovered for ten minutes
c.. Turn off heat, cover and let brew another ten minutes or longer
d.. Strain and drink throughout the day.
e.. Refrigerate and reheat if you like - it'll keep for a couple of days.
f.. Chilled, with ice in hot weather, this tea is a lifesaver!

Herbs for dream magick

The following list contains many of the herbs traditionally
used by Witches and other magickal folks in dream magick,
followed by their various applications:

Anise
To prevent nightmares, fill a white mojo bag with as many
anise seeds as it can possibly hold, and then sew it to the
inside of your pillowcase. This simple, yet effective, Witchs
spell from the Middle Ages is said to ensure pleasant dreams.
Scatter the leaves of an anise plant around your bedroom to
keep yourself protected against evil influences while you sleep.

Ash
To induce dreams of a prophetic nature, place seven leaves
from an ash tree beneath your pillow before going to sleep.
The ash tree, which was sacred to the ancient Teutons and
symbolic of their mythological world tree known as Ygdrasill,
is also said to offer protection against nightmares, dreamcurses,
and all psychic attacks that occur while one is asleep
and most vulnerable.

Bay
To induce dreams of a prophetic nature, place bay leaves
beneath your pillow before going to sleep. It is said that bay
leaves, when cast into a fire on a night of the full moon, can
enable one to see the future in a dream. The use of bay in
divinatory rites and dream magick can be traced back to the
ancient Greeks, who believed it to be sacred to their god Apollo.

Bracken
If you are faced with a problem to which you cannot find
a solution, an old magickal spell suggests placing the root of a
bracken underneath your pillow just before you go to sleep.
Occult folklore holds that the root of this plant will bring
forth a dream that will contain the answer you seek. In addition,
many Witches and other magickal practitioners use
bracken for protection against evil and negative influences.

Buchu
To induce dreams of a prophetic nature, mix a pinch of
dried buchu leaves with a pinch of frankincense. On a night of
the full moon, light a charcoal block (which can be bought at
most occult shops and religious supply stores), place it in a
fireproof incense burner, and then sprinkle a small amount of
the herbal mixture upon it. For best results, do this in your
bedroom prior to bedtime.

Cedar
When burned as incense, the wood of the cedar is said to
“cure the predilection to having bad dreams, according to the
late author Scott Cunningham in his book, Cunninghams Encyclopedia
of Magical Herbs. Sleep with cedar twigs beneath
your pillow to help awaken or strengthen your psychic powers.
A cedar branch hung above your bed will protect you
against evil forces while you sleep.

Cinquefoil
Also known by the folk-name five-finger
grass, the cinquefoil is said to assure restful sleep
when put into a blue mojo bag and suspended
from the bedpost. Place a sprig of cinquefoil containing
seven leaflets beneath your pillow before
going to sleep in order to dream about the man or
woman who is destined to be your marriage mate. This simple
method of amatory dream divination is centuries old.

Heliotrope
To induce dreams of a prophetic nature, place some heliotrope
leaves beneath your pillow prior to bedtime. A full moon
is the ideal lunar phase in which to do this. If you have had
personal possessions stolen from you and desire to know whom
the thief is, heliotrope may help to induce a dream that reveals
the true identity of the culprit.

Holly
An old Witchs method to induce prophetic dreams is as
follows: Without speaking a single word, gather together nine
holly leaves at the witching hour (midnight) on a Friday. Wrap
them in a white cloth and then tie nine knots in it. Place the
charm beneath your pillow prior to bedtime, and whatever
dreams you experience during the night are likely to come true.

Huckleberry
According to Scott Cunninghams Encyclopedia of Magical
Herbs, To make all your dreams come true, burn the leaves [of
a huckleberry plant] in your bedroom directly before going to
sleep. After seven days have passed, that which you have
dreamt shall be made manifest.

Hyacinth
For the prevention of nightmares, grow a hyacinth plant
in a pot and keep it as close to your bed as possible.
When dried and burned as incense prior
to bedtime, the fragrant flowers of the hyacinth
are said to help induce pleasant dreams. Should
you awaken from a depressing dream or nightmare,
the smell of a hyacinth in bloom will help
to lift your spirits.

Jasmine
For restful sleep and pleasant dreams, sleep with a blue
mojo bag filled with jasmine flowers beneath your pillow or
sewn to the inside of your pillowcase. Scott Cunningham says,
the flowers are smelled to induce sleep. To induce dreams of
a prophetic nature, burn a bit of dried jasmine in an incense
burner in your bedroom just before you go to sleep.

Lemon Verbena
For a dreamless slumber, fill a gray-colored charm bag with
lemon verbena and wear it on a string around your neck when
you go to sleep. Additionally, drinking a bit of the juice extracted
from the plant is said to help suppress dreams.

Mandrake
The mandrake is unquestionably the most magickal of all
plants, and the part of it most commonly employed in the
casting of spells is its mysterious root, which bears a curious
resemblance to the human form. It is said that sleep can be
induced by the mere scent of a mandrake root, and when one
is suspended from the headboard of a bed, the sleeper is
guarded against all manner of harm—both natural and supernatural.
Rub a mandrake root upon your Third Eye chakra
before sleeping to induce a prophetic dream of your future
lover or marriage mate. Caution: Mandrake possesses strong
narcotic properties. Handle with care and do not ingest any
part of the plant!

Marigold
To induce dreams of a prophetic nature, scatter
the flowers of a marigold under and around
your bed before turning in for the evening. This
plant is also said to induce dreams that reveal
the true identities of thieves, as well as to offer
protection against sorcerers who work their black
magick through dreams.

Mimosa
To induce dreams of a prophetic nature, fill a blue or yellow
mojo bag with mimosa flowers and then place it beneath
your pillow before you go to sleep. According to author Rosemary
Ellen Guiley in The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft,
blue is the color associated with psychic and spiritual
awareness, and prophetic dreams. However, in his book on
magickal herbs, Scott Cunningham lists yellow as the color
corresponding to divination, psychic powers, and visions. I,
personally, have always used blue or purple for this purpose,
but you may use whichever color feels right for you. In addition,
anointing your Third Eye chakra with an infusion of
mimosa prior to sleeping helps to facilitate dreams containing
prophecies.

Mistletoe
When placed beneath a pillow at bedtime or put into a
white mojo bag and attached to the bedpost or headboard,
the leaves and berries of the mistletoe plant are said to prevent
nightmares and insomnia from interfering with ones sleep. In
keeping with ancient Druidic tradition, use mistletoe that has
been harvested with a golden blade on either Midsummer or
the sixth day following the new moon.

Morning Glory
To safeguard your sleep against nightmares, according to
occult tradition, fill a white mojo bag with the seeds of a morning
glory plant and place it beneath your pillow just before
going to bed. In addition, morning glory seeds can be added,
either alone or with other dream-magick herbs (such as anise,
mistletoe, mullein, purslane, rosemary, or vervain), to dream
pillows for the same purpose.

Mugwort
Of all the herbs associated with dream magick, mugwort
is by far the most popular and the most potent. To induce dreams
of a prophetic nature, stuff a dream pillow with mugwort leaves
and then rest your head upon it to sleep. Other ways in which
to induce dreams that reveal the unknown or things that are yet
to be include the drinking of mugwort tea and the anointing of
the Third Eye chakra with a dab of mugwort juice. Mugwort
can also be made into an incense, which, when burned prior to
sleeping, aids in astral projection and lucid dreaming, and summons
forth dreams that facilitate spiritual and psychic growth.

Mullein
To prevent nightmares, stuff a white mojo bag with mullein
leaves and then place it beneath your pillow just before bedtime.
According to herbal folklore from centuries gone by, mullein
also protects a sleeping person from all manner of evil and negativity.
Hang mullein over your bedroom door and windows to
keep nocturnal incubus and succubus demons at bay.

Onion
To induce dreams of a prophetic nature, place a white
onion underneath your pillow before bedtime. This practice is
believed to have originated in ancient Egypt, where the onion
was at one time regarded as being highly sacred. For protection
against evil influences while you sleep, cut an onion in
half and keep it close to your bed. Many modern-day practitioners
of herbal folk magick continue to subscribe to the old
belief that halved or quartered onions work to absorb evil, negativity,
and disease.

Peony
For protection against incubus demons, fill a white mojo
bag with peony roots, coral, and flint, and then anoint it with
three drops of myrrh oil. Pin the mojo bag to your nightgown
or pajamas, or attach it to a string around your neck, and wear
it throughout the night as you sleep. Rest assured that no
incubus would be able to seduce you.

Peppermint
To induce dreams of a prophetic nature, many Witches
stuff dream pillows with the fragrant leaves of the peppermint
plant. According to an herbal from olden times, the scent of peppermint
compels one toward sleep, which is beneficial should
you happen to suffer from insomnia or other sleep disorders.

Purslane
To keep recurring nightmares from interfering with your
sleep, place a handful of purslane flowers and leaves beneath your pillow prior to bedtime. According to occult tradition
from centuries gone by, this herb also works to ward off evil
spirits that prey upon sleeping mortals.

Rose
It is said that success in all matters of the heart awaits
those who see a red rose in their dreams. If a single woman
picks a red rose on a Midsummers Eve and sleeps with it
tucked between her bosom, the man destined to be her future
husband will appear to her in a dream.

Rosemary
To prevent nightmares, sleep with a mojo bag filled with
rosemary beneath your pillow. It is said that he (or she) who
sleeps with rosemary underneath the bed will be
protected from all manner of harm while sleeping.
To prevent a dead persons restless spirit from haunting
you by way of your dreams, cast a sprig of rosemary
into his or her grave. According to occult lore,
this will enable the spirit to rest peacefully.

St. Johns Wort
One of the most beloved magickal herbs of the ancients,
the St. Johns wort has enabled many a young lady to capture
a glimpse of her future marriage mate in a dream. To accomplish
this, place this herb beneath your pillow before going to
sleep. It does not matter which part of the plant you use, for all
parts of the St. Johns wort are potent in magickal workings.

Tobacco
Many Native Americans believe that nightmares are capable
of causing physical ailments and disease. To keep this
from happening to you, go directly to a stream immediately
upon waking from a bad dream and cleanse your body in the
running water. Afterwards, in keeping with tradition, cast a
handful of tobacco leaves into the stream as an offering to the
spirit of the water.

Vervain
To prevent nightmares, place a handful of vervain leaves in
your bed, wear them in a mojo bag on a string around your
neck, or brew them into a tea and drink it just before bedtime.
To induce dreams of a prophetic nature, anoint your Third
Eye chakra with vervain juice on a night of the full moon.
Close your eyes, open your mind, and allow yourself to drift
off to sleep. Upon waking from your slumber, take care to
write your dream down on paper (or use a tape recorder) to
prevent it from later being forgotten. If interpreted correctly,
it will provide you with an insight to events of the future.

Wood Betony
To prevent nightmares or unpleasant visions from interfering
with your sleep, pick some leaves from a wood betony
plant and then place them beneath your pillow just before
going to bed. When scattered on the floor under and around
your bed, wood betony leaves are said to keep all evil and
negative influences at bay.

Yarrow
Witches and diviners alike have long used the yarrow plant
in a number of different ways to induce prophetic
dreams pertaining to future marriage mates. The
divinatory power of this herb is legendary throughout
much of the world, and its strong magickal
vibrations have made it a staple of folk magick since
ancient times.

PEPPERMINT

T

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is likely native to the Middle East.
There are several varieties of peppermint, from which peppermint oil
is derived for flavoring and medicine. The two main forms are black
mint, which has purplish leaves; and white mint, which has very green
leaves and milder oil. The plant grows up to four feet high, with
little violet flowers on top. It is cut just before flowering, in
late summer, and is used dried or for essential oil (recipe below).

Peppermint was cultivated in ancient Egypt and Greece. The ancient
Greeks used mint widely in medicine. The herb began to be cultivated
in northern Europe in the 1700s. Now peppermint grows wild throughout
Europe and the United States in moist places.

HEALING BENEFITS

Peppermint is a digestive, decreasing the amount of time that food is
in the stomach and preventing bloating after a heavy meal. The oil
and the dried tea are used for abdominal cramping, gas, non-ulcer
indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome. Menthol, an active
constituent, anesthetizes the stomach nerves, which prevents nausea
and vomiting. Old-time sailors took peppermint oil to avert
seasickness. It is also used for menstrual cramps.

When used topically, peppermint oil stimulates the skin by improving
blood flow to that area. It relieves pain, and the menthol cools the
skin. Fresh leaves can be crushed and placed on the temples to
relieve tension headaches. The oil is used for arthritis.
Peppermint's antiseptic properties make its oil ideal for
toothache and gingivitis.

Peppermint tea is powerful against a cold or mild flu. The menthol
stimulates the body's natural detoxification system. It raises
body temperature and stimulates perspiration, to release toxins
through the skin. It also boosts bile flow to cleanse the liver.
Releasing toxins takes a load off the immune system so that the body
is better able to combat illness. Peppermint is a mild anti-
bacterial. The oil is used as an inhalant for decongestion and to
soothe a cough or allergies.

HOW TO USE PEPPERMINT

Make a Tincture: Add ½ cup peppermint leaves to 1-cup high-proof
vodka in an airtight glass jar. Shake daily for two weeks, then
strain. Store in the refrigerator. For digestive problems, take 5 to
15 drops in hot water.

Make an Infusion (peppermint tea): pour 1 cup boiling water over a
heaping teaspoon of dried leaves, and steep 5 to 15 minutes. Drink 3
cups daily after meals.

Try Oil (recipe below): To take internally, add no more than 3 drops
oil to a sugar cube. For inhalation, add 5 drops oil to 1-cup hot
water. For topical use, dilute a drop of oil with a few drops of
vegetable oil and rub into skin.

Do not use peppermint if you have liver damage, gallbladder problems,
ulcers or chronic heartburn. Do not use pure menthol except under a
doctor's supervision.

PEPPERMINT ESSENTIAL OIL RECIPE

If you have access to lots of fresh peppermint, you can make
essential oil. The leaves contain up to 4% oil, which can be removed
by solvent extraction. Pick 2 cups of fresh peppermint leaves. Gently
rinse them to remove any pesticides or spores. Pat them dry with a
paper towel and allow to air-dry overnight on a rack (this prevents
mold growth). Loosely fill a glass jar with leaves, then fill it with
vodka. Close the jar tightly and keep it in a cool, dark place. Shake
gently every day for two weeks, then strain into a clean jar. Use
cheesecloth to squeeze extra liquid from the leaves. Discard the
leaves, and put the jar of liquid in your freezer for three hours.
The essential oil will freeze, the alcohol will not. Carefully pour
the alcohol into a clean jar for the next batch. Store the oil in
glass in a cool, dark place. Do not use it undiluted. Use the
oil as medicine, as flavoring, or in soaps, perfumes, massage oils,
and bath salts.

Native American Herbal Remedies

Native American Herbal Remedies

This is a subject on which volumes could be written. Native to the Americas are several indigenous tribes, all with their own special remedies for all sorts of ailments and complaints. Nearly always using the plants native to the areas in which each tribe resided, the lists of remedies and concoctions for common ailments becomes quite large and quite overwhelming for many. In this article, I will describe a few of the more common herbs that were utilized by indigenous tribes for common ailments.

Medicinal herbs are a part of any indigenous tribes' culture. These gifts from the Earth Mother are revered, treated with great respect, and information about them passed down through the generations. Many were used for healing, many for spiritual use, many for dyes and tools and such. These plants were as much a part of life as breathing. Fortunately, as the shame of being a Native American seems to be slowly dissipating from our current society (and let's all do our parts to encourage that trend to continue!), many tribes are encouraging their youth to learn these ancient arts, before all is completely lost to their cultures.

Asthma

Skunk Cabbage.

Used by the Winnebago and Dakota tribes to stimulate the removal of phlegm in asthma. The rootstock was official in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia from 1820 to 1882 when it was used in respiratory and nervous disorders and in rheumatism and dropsy.

Mullein.

Introduced by Europeans. The Menominees smoked the pulverized, dried root for respiratory complaints while the Forest Potawatomis, the Mohegans, and the Penobscots smoked the dried leaves to relieve asthma. The Catawba Indians used a sweetened syrup from the boiled root, which they gave to their children for coughs.

Backache

Arnica.

The Catawba Indians used a tea of arnica roots for treating back pains. The Dispensary of the United States (22nd edition) states this drug can be dangerous if taken internally and that it has caused severe and even fatal poisoning. Also used as a wash to treat sprains and bruises.

Gentian.

The Catawba Indians steeped the roots in hot water and applied the hot fluid on aching backs.

Horsemint.

The Catawba tribe crushed and steeped fresh horsemint leaves in cold water and drank the infusion to allay back pain. Other tribes used horsemint for fever, inflammation, and chills.

Bronchitis

Creosote Bush.

A tea of the leaves was used for bronchial and other respiratory problems.

Pleurisy Root.

The Natchez drank a tea of the boiled roots as a remedy for pneumonia and was later used to promote the expulsion of phlegm,

Wormwood.

The Yokia Indians of Mendocino County used a tea of the boiled leaves of a local species of wormwood to cure bronchitis.

Burns

Yellow-Spined Thistle.

The Kiowa Indians boiled yellow-spined thistle blossoms and applied the resulting liquid to burns and skin sores.

Childbirth

To Speed Childbirth:

Partridgeberry.

The Cherokee used a tea of the boiled leaves. Frequent doses of the tea were taken in the few weeks preceding the expected date of delivery.

Blue Cohosh.

To promote a rapid delivery, an infusion of the root in warm water was drunk as a tea for several weeks prior to the expected delivery date.

To Speed Delivery of the Placenta:

American Licorice.

A tea was made from the boiled roots.

Broom Snakeweed.

Navajo women drank a tea of the whole plant to promote the expulsion of the placenta.

To Stop Post-Partum Hemorrhage:

Buckwheat.

Hopi women were given an infusion of the entire buckwheat plant to stop bleeding.

Black Western Chokecherry.

Arikara women were given a drink of the berry juice to stop bleeding.

Smooth Upland Sumac.

The Omahas boiled the smooth upland sumac fruits and applied the liquid as an external wash to stop bleeding.

To relieve the Pain of Childbirth:

Wild Black Cherry.

Cherokee women were given a tea of the inner bark to relieve pain in the early stages.

Cotton.

The Alabama and Koasati tribes made a tea of the roots of the plant to relieve the pains of labor.

Colds

Boneset.

Boneset tea was one of the most frequently used home remedies during the last century. The Menominees used it to reduce fever; the Alabamas, to relive stomachache; the Creeks, for body pain; the Iroquois and the Mohegans, for fever and colds.

Colic

Catnip.

The Mohegans made a tea of catnip leaves for infant colic.

Contraceptives

Ragleaf Bahia.

The Navajos, who called the Ragleaf bahia herb twisted medicine, drank a tea of the roots boiled in water for thirty minutes for contraception purposes.

Indian Paintbrush.

Hopi women drank a tea of the whole Indian paintbrush to "Dry up the menstrual flow."

Blue Cohosh.

Chippewa women drank a strong decoction of the powdered blue cohosh root to promote parturition and menstruation.

Dogbane.

Generally used by many tribes, a tea from the boiled roots of the plant was drunk once a week.

Milkweed.

Navajo women drank a tea prepared of the whole plant after childbirth.

American Mistletoe.

Indians of Mendocino County drank a tea of the leaves to induce abortion or to prevent conception.

Antelope Sage.

To prevent conception, Navajo women drank one cup of a decoction of boiled antelope sage root during menstruation.

Stoneseed.

Shoshoni women of Nevada reportedly drank a cold water infusion of stoneseed roots everyday for six months to ensure permanent sterility.

Coughs

Aspen.

The Cree Indians used an infusion of the inner bark as a remedy for coughs.

Wild Cherry.

The Flambeau Ojibwa prepared a tea of the bark of wild cherry for coughs and colds, while other tribes used a bark for diarrhea or for lung troubles.

White Pine.

The inner bark was used by Indian people as a tea for colds and coughs.

Sarsaparilla.

The Penobscots pulverized dried sarsaparilla roots and combined them with sweet flag roots in warm water and used the dark liquid as a cough remedy.

Diabetes

Wild Carrot.

The Mohegans steeped the blossoms of this wild species in warm water when they were in full bloom and took the drink for diabetes.

Devil’s Club.

The Indians of British Columbia utilized a tea of the root bark to offset the effects of diabetes.

Diarrhea

Blackcherry.

A tea of blackberry roots was the most frequently used remedy for diarrhea among Indians of northern California.

Wild Black Cherry.

The Mohegans allowed the ripe wild black cherry to ferment naturally in a jar about one year than then drank the juice to cure dysentery.

Dogwood.

The Menominees boiled the inner bark of the dogwood and passed the warm solution into the rectum with a rectal syringe made from the bladder of a small mammal and the hollow bone of a bird.

Geranium.

Chippewa and Ottawa tribes boiled the entire geranium plant and drank the tea for diarrhea.

White Oak.

Iroquois and Penobscots boiled the bark of the white oak and drank the liquid for bleeding piles and diarrhea.

Black Raspberry.

The Pawnee, Omaha, and Dakota tribes boiled the root bark of black raspberry for dysentery.

Star Grass.

Catawbas drank a tea of star grass leaves for dysentery.

Digestive Disorders

Dandelion.

A tea of the roots was drunk for heartburn by the Pillager Ojibwas. Mohegans drank a tea of the leaves for a tonic.

Yellow Root.

A tea from the root was used by the Catawbas and the Cherokee as a stomach ache remedy.

Fevers

Dogwood.

The Delaware Indians, who called the tree Hat-ta-wa-no- min-schi, boiled the inner bark in water, using the tea to reduce fevers.

Willow.

The Pomo tribe boiled the inner root bark, then drank strong doses of the resulting tea to induce sweating in cases of chills and fever. In the south, the Natchez prepared their fever remedies from the bark of the red willow, while the Alabama and Creek Indians plunged into willow root baths for the same purpose.

Feverwort.

The Cherokees drank a decoction of the coarse, leafy, perennial herb to cure fevers.

Headache

Pennyroyal.

The Onondagas steeped pennyroyal leaves and drank the tea to cure headaches.

Heart and Circulatory Problems

Green Hellebore.

The Cherokee used the green hellebore to relive body pains.

American Hemp and Dogbane.

Used by the Prairie Potawatomis as a heart medicine, the fruit was boiled when it was still green, and the resulting decoction drunk. It was also used for kidney problems and for dropsy.

Hemorrhoids

White Oak.

The Menominee tribe treated piles by squirting an infusion of the scraped inner bark of oak into the rectum with a syringe made from an animal bladder and the hollow bone of a bird.

Inflammations and Swellings

Witch Hazel.

The Menominees of Wisconsin boiled the leaves and rubbed the liquid on the legs of tribesmen who were participating in sporting games. A decoction of the boiled twigs was used to cure aching backs, while steam derived by placing the twigs in water with hot rocks was a favorite Potawatomi treatment for muscle aches.

Influenza

Native Hemlock (as opposed Poison Hemlock of Socrates fame).

The Menominees prepared a tea if the inner bark and drank it to relieve cold symptoms. A similar tea was used by the Forest Potawatomis to induce sweating and relieve colds and feverish conditions.

Insect Bites and Stings

Fendler Bladderpod.

The Navajos made a tea and used it to treat spider bites.

Purple Coneflower.

The Plains Indians used this as a universal application for the bites and stings of all crawling, flying, or leaping bugs. Between June and September, the bristly stemmed plant, which grows in dry, open woods and on prairies, bears a striking purplish flower.

Stiff Goldenrod.

The Meskwaki Indians of Minnesota ground the flowers into a lotion and applied it to bee stings.

Trumpet Honeysuckle.

The leaves were ground by chewing and then applied to bees stings.

Wild Onion and Garlic.

The Dakotas and Winnebagos applied the crushed bulbs of wild onions and garlics.

Saltbush.

The Navajos chewed the stems and placed the pulpy mash on areas of swelling caused by ant, bee and wasp bites. The Zunis applied the dried, powdered roots and flowers mixed with saliva to ant bites.

Broom Snakeweed.

The Navajos chewed the stem and applied the resin to insect bites and stings of all kinds.

Tobacco.

A favorite remedy for bee stings was the application of wet tobacco leaves.

Insect Repellents and Insecticides

Goldenseal.

The Cherokee pounded the large rootstock with bear fat and smeared it on their bodies as an insect repellent. It was also used as a tonic, stimulant, and astringent.

Rheumatism

Pokeweed.

Indians of Virginia drank a tea of the boiled berries to cure rheumatism. The dried root was also used to allay inflammation.

Bloodroot.

A favorite rheumatism remedy among the Indians of the Mississippi region - the Rappahannocks of Virginia drank a tea of the root.

Sedatives

Wild Black Cherry.

The Meskwaki tribe made a sedative tea of the root bark.

Hops.

The Mohegans prepared a sedative medicine from the conelike strobiles and sometimes heated the blossoms and applied them for toothache. The Dakota tribe used a tea of the steeped strobiles to relieve pains of the digestive organs, and the Menominee tribe regarded a related species of hops as a panacea.

Wild Lettuce.

Indigenous to North American, it was used for sedative purposes, especially in nervous complaints.

Thrush

Geranium.

The Cherokee boiled geranium root together with wild grape, and with the liquid, rinsed the mouths of children affected with thrush.

Persimmon.

The Catawba stripped the bark from the tree and boiled it in water, using the resulting dark liquid as a mouth rinse

Shepards purse

Few plants possess greater virtues than this, and yet it is
utterly disregarded." Nicholas Culpeper, 1653.

INSIDE:
- Herbfacts: Shepherd's Purse
- Healing Benefits
- How to Use Shepherd's Purse
- Styptic After-shave Cream Recipe

HERBFACTS: SHEPHERD'S PURSE

Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is so named because
the flat seed pods resemble leather pouches that shepherds once hung
from their belts. This annual from Europe can flourish in the poorest
ground, and farmers often plant it to absorb excess salts from soil.
One way it adapts to poor soils is that insects become stuck to the
gooey seeds, providing the seedling with food.

In rich soil the plant can grow up to 2 feet in height. At the base
of the stem, long gray-green leaves form a basal rosette, a thick
cluster of radiating leaves lying on the ground. The stem is slender
and erect with fine hairs. Small stem-leaves clasp the stem all along
its length. At the top of the stem, small white flowers appear in
clusters, blooming almost all year round. Each flower has four petals
that form a cross. The flower develops into a small, flat, heart-
shaped seedpod. When the pod ripens and dries, it splits and releases
tiny yellow seeds. The seeds are numerous; to control this plant,
pull it up before it goes to seed. The aerial (above-ground) parts of
the herb are used in medicine: they are best harvested in spring.

European herbalists used Shepherd's Purse throughout the Middle
Ages. The Pilgrims introduced it to American Indians, who drank the
tea to treat dysentery and diarrhea and as a wash for poison ivy. The
Cheyenne ate the fresh herbs to stop internal bleeding. During the
First World War, when the British could not obtain anti-bleeding
herbs from Germany, they used Shepherd's Purse extract as an
alternative. Lately the herb has enjoyed a revival in both Eastern
and Western practice. The rosette leaves are pleasant in salads or
cooked as greens. They have an aromatic and biting taste. You can
gather them fresh throughout most of the year, but they best in early
spring before the flower stalks appear.
HEALING BENEFITS

Several components in Shepherd's Purse work together to form a
styptic astringent. An astringent controls internal secretions by
contracting tissue. More specifically, a styptic is an astringent
that controls bleeding (hemostatic) by contracting the blood vessels.
The herb contains calcium and sulfur, necessary minerals for clotting
the blood. The presence of tyramine and other amines aid the
hemostatic action, while tannins provide its astringent action. An
infusion of Shepherd's Purse can often slow internal bleeding of
the stomach, intestines, lungs, kidneys, and bleeding hemorrhoids.
Europeans have used the tea for centuries as an astringent to control
diarrhea.

The styptic agents in the herb can aid chronic heavy menstrual flow,
known as uncomplicated menorrhagia (having no apparent cause).
Symptoms of menorrhagia include heavy bleeding, excessive clots,
bleeding for more than seven days, and a shortened menstrual cycle.
The choline, acetylcholine, oxalic and dicarboxylic acids in
Shepherd's Purse help to reduce the effects of menorrhagia.
Practitioners of Chinese medicine use only the flowers for this
purpose. The herb is rich in calcium, which promotes better use of
iron by the body, helping to control the anemic conditions that can
result from menorrhagia.

Preliminary studies suggest Shepherd's Purse can help regulate
blood pressure, though more research is needed on this topic.
Sufferers of mild high blood pressure often take this herb, though
its astringent action may constrict the blood vessels and thus
slightly raise blood pressure. However, the herb boosts the force and
speed of the heartbeat, lowering blood pressure and aiding in cases
of a weak or irregular heartbeat. The calcium and sulfur in the herb
are both necessary for muscle function, and so may help the heart
muscle. Studies have shown that the components acetylcholine, choline
and tyramine can produce a temporary decrease in blood pressure.

Shepherd's Purse is a urinary antiseptic and diuretic. The
infusion increases the volume and flow of urine, cleansing the
urinary system. The herb is beneficial for water retention, bladder
infection and urinary tract infections. It is useful in conditions
where urinary calculus causes irritation of the urinary tract. Its
stimulant and diuretic action suggests it can provide relief for
haematuria by soothing kidney irritation.

The leaves contain are rich in calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium,
and Vitamins A and C. They also provide protein, riboflavin (B2),
thiamin (B1), choline, inositol, and fumaric acid, vitamin K, niacin
and rutin. The whole plant provides arginine, fixed oil, methionine,
resin, saponins and sitosterol. The plant also contains fumaric acid,
which has significantly reduced tumor growth in non-human studies.

HOW TO USE SHEPHERD'S PURSE

Shepherd's Purse has a herby, unpleasant odor when fresh, which
is lost by drying. The dried herb should not be stored for more than
a year or it will lose its potency.

Make an Infusion (Tea): pour two cups boiling water over two tsp
fresh or three tsp dried herb and let steep for ten minutes. Sip a
half-cup, three times per day. Drink cold for stomach conditions. For
menstrual conditions, brew the infusion at twice the strength and
take just before and during the period, at a dose your doctor
recommends.

Make a Tincture (Extract): Fill a clean jar with the fresh plant,
then pour in enough high-proof vodka or Everclear to cover. Keep in a
cool, dark place for a month, shaking once a day. Strain into clean,
amber dropper bottles. The dose is 20-40 drops, 2-3 times per day.

External use: the flavonoids in Shepherd's Purse have an anti-
inflammatory action. The fresh herb can be bruised and applied
directly to bruises, strains, rheumatic joints, and mild burns. The
infusion can be used as a styptic to reduce or stop mild bleeding
from skin injuries. For cuts, soak a pad in the infusion and use as a
compress. For nosebleeds, soak a cotton ball in the tincture, wring
it out slightly and insert it gently in the nostril.

Caution: seek a doctor's advice for any sudden change in
menstrual flow. Heavy periods increase the risk of anemia and can be
a sign of an underlying problem. Use this herb only as a short-term
aid for difficult cases of menorrhagia. Those with a history of blood
clots should not take this herb. Use caution when gathering this herb
as the seeds have caused rare cases of skin blisters. Women sometimes
drink Shepherd's Purse infusion during labor to stimulate uterine
contractions, or after childbirth for postpartum bleeding; do this
only under a doctor's supervision. Avoid the herb in pregnancy.

STYPTIC AFTER-SHAVE CREAM RECIPE
This rich cream blends into the skin to stop small cuts, reduce
inflammation, and soften dry skin. You will need emulsifying
ointment, a mixture of oil and wax that blends with water and is
available at pharmacies. Set a heat proof bowl over a pan of boiling
water. Place 150 g emulsifying ointment, 70 ml glycerin and 80 ml
water in the bowl to melt, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.
Add 2 oz (30g) dried Shepherd's Purse and set on lowest heat for
three hours, stirring occasionally. Now you must strain the mixture
into a small bowl. You can do this by squeezing it through
cheesecloth, or by using a muslin bag fitted around the rim of a wine
press. Stir the mixture in the bowl until cold. Use a small bread
knife to fill small, airtight storage jars. Put some cream around the
edge of the jar first, then fill the middle. A small jar of homemade
styptic cream will last for several months on your bathroom shelf.
Keep the other jars fresh by storing them in the refrigerator or
adding a few drops of benzoin tincture as a preservative. Apply a
thin layer to the face after shaving. It can also be used for the
external uses described above.

Recipes for dumplings
http://easy.betterrecipes.com/shepherds-purse-large-fresh-dumplings.html

two tea recipes
http://manyhandshouse.blogspot.com/2011/05/herb-walk-shepherds-purse.html

sauce
http://wildcraftvita.blogspot.com/2013/02/shepherds-purse-sauce-capsella-bursa.html