Herbal Witchcraft - Tumblr Posts
P.1 Common Herbs A-Z
This is A-C of some common herbs and their uses
Acorn
Good luck
Protection
Wisdom
Personal power
A dried acorn is an excellent natural amulet for keeping a youthful appearance.
Allspice
Money
Luck
Healing
Obtaining treasure
Provides added determination and energy to any spells and charms. Burn crushed allspice to attract luck and money. Use in herbal baths for healing.
Almond
Wisdom
Money
Fruitfulness
Prosperity
Invokes the healing energy of the deities. Provides magickal help for overcoming dependencies & addiction. Associated with Candlemas and Beltane. Carry, wear, or use as incense to attract abundance.
Aloe
Protection
Luck
Place on the grave of a loved one to promote peaceful energy. Thought to relieve loneliness and assist with success. Hang in the home to attract luck and protection for those who live there. Grow in the home to provide protection from household accidents. Burn on the night of a full moon to bring a new lover by the new moon.
Apple
Love
Garden Magick
Immortality
Friendship
Healing
Place seven apple seeds in a bag with Orris Root to attract sexual love. Use in rituals to give honor to gods and goddesses of fertility. Considered the food of the dead, which is why Samhain is called the 'Feast of Apples'. Symbolizes the soul and is burned at Samhain in honor of those who will be reborn in the spring. When doing a house blessing, cut an apple in half -- eat half and put the other half outside of the home as an offering.
Apricot
Love
Add leaves and flowers to love sachets or carry apricot pits to attract love.
Banana
Fertility
Potency
Prosperity
Basil
Love
Exorcism
Wealth
Sympathy
Protection
Dispels confusion, fears & weakness. Drives off hostile spirits. Associated with Candlemas. Carry to move forward in a positive manner despite perilous danger. Strewn on floors to provide protection from evil. Sprinkle an infusion of basil outside of the building where you hope to be employed for luck in a job interview or in your business to attract money and success. Wear or carry to aid in attracting money and prosperity.
Bay leaf
Protection
Good fortune
Success
Purification
Strength
Healing
Psychic powers
Write wishes on the leaves and then burn the leaves to make the wishes come true. Place under the pillow (or use in dream pillow) to induce prophetic dreams. Place in the corner of each room in the house to protect all that dwell there. Carry bay leaf to protect yourself against black magick.
Black pepper
Banishing negativity
Exorcism
Protection from evil
Blackberry
Healing
Protection
Money
Sacred to Brighid. Leaves and berries said to attract wealth and healing.
Bluebell
Luck
Truth
Friendship
Incorporate into rituals of death & dying to comfort those left behind and ease their sorrow.
Blueberry
Protection
Though not recommended, blueberry is said to cause confusion & strife when tossed in the doorway or path of an enemy.
Burdock
Used for cleansing magick when feeling highly negative about oneself or others. Use in protection incenses and spells. Rinse with a decoction of burdock to remove negative feelings about yourself or others.
Cabbage
Fertility
Profit
Good luck
Lunar magick
Money magick
Cactus
Chastity
Banishing
Protection.
Bury with other banishing symbols for protection. Grow in the home or garden to prevent unwanted intrusions. Place in all directions of the home (north, south, east, and west) for full protection.
Cardamom
Lust
Love
Fidelity
Carrot
Lust
Fidelity
Cashew
Money
Celery
Mental powers
Psychic powers
Lust
Fertility
Male potency
Chamomile
Love
Healing
Reducing stress.
Add to a sachet or spell to increase the chances of its success. Sprinkle an infusion of chamomile around the house to remove hexes, curses and spells. Burn or add to prosperity bags to increase money. Burn as incense for de-stressing, meditation, and restful sleep. Wash hands in an infusion of chamomile for luck before gambling or playing cards. Use in bath magick to attract love. Keep a packet of the herb with lottery tickets for luck.
Cherry
Love
Divination
Gaiety
Happiness
Chestnut
Love
Chilli Pepper
Fidelity
Love
Hex breaking
Scatter powder around the house to break hexes and spells against you. Use in love charms & spells.
Chives
Protection
Weight loss *weight loss spells can be dangerous*
Cinnamon
Spirituality
Success
Healing
Protection
Power
Love
Luck
Strength
Prosperity
Burn as an incense or use in a sachet to raise spiritual and protective vibrations, draw money, and stimulate psychic powers. A popular herb for use in charms to draw money & prosperity. Wear in an amulet to bring passion.
Citronella
Draws friends to the home, customers to the business. Promotes eloquence, persuasiveness, and prosperity. Protects and cleanses the aura. Encourages self-expression and creativity (great for writers & actors!) and brings clarity to the mind. Repels insects and deodorizes
Clove
Exorcism
Love
Money
Protection
Coconut
Chastity
Protection
Purification
Coffee
Helps to dispel nightmares and negative thoughts and to overcome internal blockages. Provides peace of mind and grounding.
Coriander
Love
Health
Immortality
Protection.
Tie fresh coriander with a ribbon and hang in the home to bring peace & protection. Add to love charms and spells to bring romance or use in ritual work to ease the pain of a broken love affair. Promotes peace among those who are unable to get along. Throw the seeds in lieu of rice during Handfastings and other rituals of union. Use the seeds in love sachets and spells. Add powdered seeds to wine for an effective lust potion. Wear or carry the seeds to ward off disease and migraines.
Cucumber
Chastity
Fertility
Healing
Cumin
Fidelity
Protection
Exorcism.
The seed is said to prevent the theft of any object which contains it. Burn with frankincense for protection. Scatter on the floor alone or with salt to drive out evil. Use in love spells to promote fidelity. Steep in wine to make love potions.
Curry
Protection
Burn curry powder to keep evil forces away.
And as always, merry meet <3
Atti
P.2 Common Herbs A-Z
This is D-N of some common herbs and their uses
Daffodil
Love
Luck
Fertility
Used to keep negative energy away from the home or altar. Place fresh daffodils in the home to increase fertility. Wear near the heart to bring good luck.
Daisy
Love
Luck
Innocence
Associated with babies and newborn infants. Incorporate into baby blessings & Wiccanings or to bring protective Magick into a baby's sleeping area. Wear or carry to draw love.
Dandelion leaf
Summoning spirits
Healing
Purification
Defeating negativity.
Bury in northwest corner of yard to bring favorable winds. Use in sachets and charms to make wishes come true.
Dandelion root
Divination
Wishes
Calling spirits
Use in dream pillows & sachets for sleep protection. Bury on northwest side of house to draw good luck.
Eucalyptus
Protection
Healing
Use to purify any space. Use dried leaves to stuff healing poppets, pillows, or sachets. Arrange a ring of dried leaves around a blue candle and burn the candle for healing vibrations. Carry in a sachet or amulet to help reconcile difficulties in a relationship, for protection, and/or to maintain health.
Fenugreek
Money drawing
Fertility magick
Use in floor washes to bring money to the home. Place in a jar and add a few seeds every day to increase money flow to the household.
Fern
Mental clarity
Cleansing
Purification
Dispelling negativity
Keep in room where studying is done to help concentration. Burn a sprig of fern before an exam. Use in sachets and amulets for powerful auric protection.
Fig
Divination
Fertility
Love
Place a branch in front of the door before traveling to ensure a safe return. Write a question on a fig leaf -- if the leaf dries slowly, the answer is yes, otherwise the answer is no.
Figwort
House & business blessing
Protection for the home
Wear around the neck for health and protection against the evil eye. *Poisonous*
Foxglove
Protection of home & garden
Vision
Immortality
Used to commune with those of the Underworld. *Poisonous*
Garlic
Healing
Protection
Exorcism
Repulsion of vampires
Purification of spaces and objects
Used to invoke Hecate. Guards against negative magic, spirits, and the envy of others. Hang in the home to bring togetherness to the family or keep your willpower strong. Said to ward off bad weather when worn or carried during outside activities. Believed to absorb diseases -- rub fresh, peeled garlic against ailing body parts then throw the garlic into running water.
Geranium
Overcoming negative thoughts & attitudes, lifting spirits, promoting protection & happiness. Repels insects. Balances mind and body.
Ginger
Draws adventure and new experiences. Promotes sensuality, sexuality, personal confidence, prosperity, and success.
Adds to the strength and speed of any mixture of which it is a part. Place in amulet, mojo, or medicine bag to promote good health & protection. Use in herbal mixtures for the consecration of athames to strengthen and energize the ritual blade. A ginger root in the form of a human is a very powerful magickal token.
Grape
Fertility
Money
Mental powers
Garden magick
Hemlock
Use to paralyze a situation.
*Highly poisonous, do not consume.*
Hibiscus
Attracting love and lust, divination, and dreams.
Carry in a sachet or burn as incense to attract love.
Honeysuckle
Draws money
Success
Quick abundance
Aids persuasiveness and confidence, sharpens intuition.
Ring green candles with honeysuckle flowers or use honeysuckle in charms & sachets to attract money. Crush the flowers and rub into the forehead to enhance psychic powers.
Hyacinth
Promotes peace of mind and peaceful sleep. Attracts love, luck, and good fortune.
Named for Hiakinthos, Greek God of homosexual love, this is the patron herb for gay men. Guards against nightmares when used as an oil, burned as incense, or included in dream pillows. Carry in amulet or sachet to ease grief or the pain of childbirth.
Hydrangea
Hex-breaking
Love drawing
Lringing back a lover
Fidelity
Binding
Ivy
Protection
Healing
Fertility
Love
Hang an ivy plant in front of the home to repel negative influence and discourage unwanted guests. Mix in a sachet with Holly as a wedding gift to provide protection to the newly married couple. Place ground ivy around the base of a yellow candle on a Tuesday, then burn the candle to discover who (if anyone) is working negative magick against you.
Jasmine
Uses include snakebite and divination; good for charging quartz crystals. Use in sachets and spells to draw spiritual love and attract a soul mate. Carry or burn the flowers to draw wealth and money. Use in dream pillows to induce sleep or burn in the bedroom to bring prophetic dreams. Helps to promote new, innovative ideas.
Lavender
Love
Protection
Healing
Sleep
Purification
Peace
Promotes healing from depression. Great in sleep pillows and bath spells. Believed to preserve chastity when mixed with rosemary. Burn the flowers to induce sleep and rest, then scatter the ashes around the home to bring peace and harmony. Use in love spells and sachets, especially those to attract men.
Lemon
Cleansing
Spiritual opening
Purification
Removal of blockages
Add lemon peel to love sachets and mixtures. Soak peel in water and use the mixture as a wash for magickal objects to remove unwanted negativity, especially for objects received second-hand. Use an infusion of lemon to induce lust.
Lemon balm
Love
Success
Healing
Psychic/spiritual development
Use in love charms & spells to attract a partner. Use in healing spells & rituals for those suffering from mental or nervous disorders.
Lemongrass
Psychic cleansing
Opening
Also used in lust spells.
Lettuce
Divination
Lunar magick
Sleep
Protection
Love spells
Male sex magick
Lily
Fertility
Renewal
Rebirth
Marriage
Happiness
Prosperity
Lime
Purification
Protection
Promoting calmness and tranquility
Strengthening love
Mint
Promotes energy
Communication and vitality
Draws customers to a business
Use dried leaves to stuff a green poppet for healing. Place in wallet or purse or rub on money to bring wealth and prosperity. Use on the altar to draw good spirits to assist in your magick. Place in the home for protection.
Mugwort
Carried to increase lust & fertility
Prevent backache
Cure disease & madness
Place around divination and scrying tools to increase their power or near the bed to enable astral travel. Use in sleep pillow or place in a sachet under your pillowcase to bring about prophetic dreams. Use an infusion of mugwort to clean crystal balls and magick mirrors. *Toxic in large amounts*
Nettle
Dispelling darkness & fear
Strengthening the will
Aiding in the ability to handle emergencies
Sprinkle in the home to drive off evil & negativity. Carry in a sachet or use with a poppet to turn back a spell on the one who cast it. Sprinkle on self to remove petty jealousies, gossip, envy, and uncomfortable situations.
Nutmeg
Attracting money/prosperity
Bringing luck
Protection
Breaking hexes
Include in money magick and sachets. Carry as a good luck charm and/or to increase the intellect. Sprinkle nutmeg powder on green candles for prosperity.
And as always, merry meet <3
Atti
P.3 Common Herbs A-Z
This is O-Z of some common herbs and their uses
Olive
Fidelity
Marriage
Peace
Money
Assures fidelity in love and is used to attract a marriage partner. Inspires fruitfulness and security in love, family, and business.
Onion
Prosperity
Stability
Endurance
Protection
Burn onion flowers to banish bad habits and negative influences. Cut onions in half and place in the corners of a room to absorb illness, then bury or burn the onion halves in the morning. Sacred to the moon.
Orange
Attracts abundance and happiness through love and marriage.
Concentrate on a yes/no question while eating an orange, then count the seeds -- an even number of seeds means the answer is no, an odd number of seeds means yes. Use the leaves and flowers in love rituals to bring on a marriage proposal. Add an infusion of orange to the bath to increase attractiveness and beauty.
Orange peel
Love
Divination
Luck
Money
House & business blessing
Add to love sachets to help someone make up their mind. Use in sachets & amulets to bring luck to business negotiations.
Orchid
Concentration
Strengthening memory
Focus
Will power
Oregano
Joy
Strength
Vitality
Added energy
Paprika
Use to add energy to any spell or mixture. Throw in someone's yard to cause them problems.
Parsley
Calms and protects the home
Draws prosperity
Financial increase
Luck
Restores a sense of well-being
Use in spells to increase strength & vitality after surgery or illness. Use in amulets or other magickal workings to help yourself out of a rut. Eat to provoke lust and promote fertility. Place on plates of food to guard against contamination. Useful for bath magick to purify and end misfortune. Mix with jasmine and carry in your shoe to make you more attractive to the opposite sex.
Parsnip
Male sex magick
Pear
Lust
Love
Eating pears induces love. Use dried fruit in amulets and sachets for love and lust.
Pea
Money
Love
Peppermint
Use to increase the vibrations of a space or in spells and incense for healing & purification. Place in sleep pillow to ensure peaceful sleep and bring about prophetic dreams. Use to anoint furnishings and household objects. Burn in a new home to clear out sickness and negative energy. Use in magickal workings to provide the push needed to bring change to one's life. Carry with other herbs to boost love & abundance wishes.
Pine
Promotes clean breaks, new beginnings, prosperity, success, strength, grounding, and growth; Also used for cleansing, purification, and repelling negativity. Great for house and business blessing.
Pineapple
Luck
Money
Chastity
Add an infusion of pineapple to the bath to attract luck.
Plum
Healing
Peace
Love
Poppy
Fertility
Prosperity
Love
Abundance
Potato
Image magick
Money
Luck
Healing
Pumpkin
Lunar magick
Radish
Protection
Lust
Rhubarb
Fidelity
Protection
Rose
Divine love
Close friendships
Domestic peace/happiness
Lasting relationships
Great for use in incense, potpourri or bath magick. Place around sprains and dark bruises to help them heal faster.
Rosemary
Carried and used in healing poppets for good health, used in love/lust spells, worn to improve memory, used in dream pillows to prevent nightmares, burned as incense for purification and removing negativity. Wear or carry while reading or completing tasks to improve memory of the material and aid clear thinking (great for students!). Use an infusion of rosemary to wash hands before any healing magick. Use in bath magick for purification. Associated with faeries.
Saffron
Aphrodisiac
Love
Healing
Happiness
Wind raising
Lust
Strength
Burn, wear, or carry for healing and strengthening psychic awareness. Commonly used in love magick, healing spells, and to control the weather. Wash hands with water and saffron or keep saffron sachets in your home to bring happiness.
Sage
Used for self purification and dealing with grief and loss. Carried to improve mental ability and bring wisdom. Used in healing sachets & incense. Promotes spiritual, mental, emotional & physical health and longevity. Removes negative energy. Place near a personal object of a person who is ailing when performing healing spells or rituals. Write a wish on a sage leaf and place it under your pillow for 3 nights -- if you dream of your wish, it will come true; if not, bury the leaf in the ground so that no bad will come to you.
Sea salt
Uses include cleansing crystals, purification, grounding, protection magick and ritual. Used on the altar to represent the Earth. Used with water for asperging, sea spells, consecration and casting circles. Used with garlic and rosemary to banish evil.
Shallot
Add an infusion of shallots to the bath for luck.
St Johns wort
Worn to prevent colds & fevers. Placed under pillow to induce prophetic, romantic dreams. Protects against all forms of black witchcraft. Place in a jar in a window or burn in a fireplace to protect from lightning, fire and evil spirits. Used for banishing, protection & blessing. Carry to strengthen courage and convictions or when confronting nasty situations. Burn to banish spirits and demons. Used in divination for the care of crystals. Note: Can be poisonous, use with caution.
Star anise
Burned as incense to increase psychic awareness & abilities. Placed on the altar to increase the power generated. Carried to bring luck.
Strawberry
Attracts success, good fortune, and favorable circumstances. Served as a love food. Leaves are carried for luck. Pregnant women carry a packet of the leaves to ease the pain of pregnancy and childbirth.
Sugar
Love spells
Sex magick
Sunflower
Energy
Protection
Power
Wisdom
Wishes
Sweet pea
Attracts friends and allies; Draws the loyalty and affection of others.
Sweet potato
Image magick
Tangerine
Promotes energy
Strength
Vitality
Awakens joy and dissolves negativity
Tea leaves
Use in talismans for courage or strength. Use as a base for lust drinks. Burn leaves to ensure future riches.
Tea tree
Eliminating confusion
Increasing harmony
Thyme
Attracts loyalty
Affection
The good opinion of others
Wear a sprig to ward off unbearable grief or provide strength and courage when needed. Burn or hang in the home for banishing, purification, and to attract good health for all occupants. Use in cleansing baths prior to working candle magick. Use in dream pillows to ward off nightmares and ensure restful sleep. Add a thyme infusion to the bath regularly to ensure a constant flow of money. Place in a jar and keep in the home or at work for good luck.
Tobacco
Promotes peace
Confidence
Personal strength
Banishing
Mix with salt and burn with a black candle to win a court case.
Tomato
Love spells
Turnip
Ending relationships
Vinegar
Banishing
Binding
Averting evil
Walnut
Access to divine energy
Bringing the blessing of the Gods
Wishes
Watercress
Lunar magick
Sex magick
Witch Hazel
Chastity
Protection
Carry to ease grief over a lost love. Use in a sachet to reduce passions. Use in love spells and spells to ward off evil.
And as always, merry meet <3
Atti
Alfalfa: protection, money, happiness, grounding, fertility
Anise: dreams, youth, lust, blessing, cleansing, divination, offerings, protection, spirit protection
Allspice: energy, money, luck, healing
Aspen: protection, healing, performing arts, spirit work
Aloe: femininity, healing, protection, beauty, love
Basil: protection, grounding, happiness, peace, money, love, luck
Bay Leaf: wishes, dreams, psychic ability, cleansing, healing, curse breaking, banishing
Catmint: healing, animal magic, relaxation, calmness, happiness, psychic ability, love, wishes, meditation
Clove: healing, prosperity, friendships, money
Clover: money, prosperity, luck, happiness, spirit work, fae, protection, healing
Chamomile: calmness, money, love, peace, cleansing, love, meditation
Chives: protection, balance, divination
Coriander/Cilantro: love, protection, divination, fertility, psychic ability, peace
Cinnamon: safety, calmness, love, happiness, money, blessing, protection, healing
Cardamom: femininity, love, charm, performing arts, relaxation, calmness
Cumin: protection, love, fertility, banishing
Cayenne: strength, curses, protection, heartbreak, curse breaking, love
Dandelion: wishes, dreams, psychic ability, lunar magic
Dill: dreams, money, protection, luck, love
Eucalyptus: energy, healing, cleansing, protection
Elderberry: healing, protection, blessing, banishing, cursing, cleansing
Fennel: divination, concentration, energy, meditation, fertility, confidence
Ginseng: love, fertility, beauty, healing, strength
Ginger: energy, speeding things along, passion, travel, healing
Garlic: healing, curses, curse breaking, lunar magic, protection, energy, protection, luck
Holly: dreams, luck, banishing, spirit work, protection, beauty
Juniper: cleansing, fertility, curse breaking, psychic ability, protection
Lavender: calmness, cleansing, love, happiness, fertility
Lemon Balm: cleansing, confidence, overcoming challenges, relaxation
Lemongrass: psychic ability, divination, cleansing, communication, protection, love, luck, jobs
Magnolia: love, fertility, meditation, psychic ability, healing, strength
Mint: communication, energy, money, spirit work, cleansing
Marjoram: protection, happiness, banishing, cleansing
Marigold: love, protection, peace, femininity, comfort
Mugwort: healing, divination, astral projection, dreams, psychic ability, cleansing, protection
Nettle: spirit work, protection, curse breaking
Nutmeg: luck, travel, love, meditation, psychic ability, money
Olive leaf: healing, luck, protection, cleansing, fertility, offerings, blessings
Oregano: happiness, peace, luck, protection, healing, general health, letting go of the past
Peppermint: healing, cleansing, sleep, love, money
Parsley: protection, communication, spirit work, passion
Paprika: spell work, energy, psychic ability, curses, creativity
Pepper (Black): curses, curse breaking, banishing, spirit work, jealousy, absorption of negativity
Raspberry leaf: fertility, femininity, menstrual cycle, lunar magic, love, creativity, protection
Rosemary: cleansing, curse breaking, blessing, healing, fertility, psychic ability, past lives, dreams, marriage
Rose: love, fertility, femininity, protection, marriage, self love
Sage: cleansing, protection, spirit work, smoke cleansing, wisdom, wishes, funerals
Saffron: healing, offerings, wealth, strength, blessing, cleansing, psychic ability, sleep
Spirulina: power, strength, health, luck
St. John’s Wort: cleansing, blessing, offerings, spirit work
Thyme: dreams, sleep, strength, confidence, leaving the past behind you, moving forward, health, healing, fae
Tarragon: luck, calmness, secrets, peace, love, protection, meditation, spirit work
Valerian: spirit work, absorption of negativity, protection, self acceptance
Wheatgrass: cleansing, protection, blessing
Ylang Ylang: beauty, love, luck, happiness, relationships
Yarrow: love, divination, dreams, psychic ability, marriage, courage, communication, focus
Not all of these herbs are edible or safe in some/all circumstances, please do research before eating/using any of the plants listed here!
Tea (and such)
MAKE YOUR OWN TEA
Design and order your own tea
52 herbal tea recipes
Happy hippie tea creator
My tea blending room
Starbucks Chai Tea Recipe
Copycat Starbucks Passion Lemon Tea
52 DIY herbal tea recipes (list of links from a blog)
Bubble/Boba Tea Recipes
Healthy Matcha Green Tea Milkshake
treehugger-8 ways to spice up tea/coffee
youtube diy blooming tea
Using Wild/Local Herbs
(please don’t go eating/drinking random things you’ve found in your yard or park, do the research and save yourself a hospital trip; a lot of these require special preparation so please look into that before potentially harming yourself)
offthegridnews- tea from you backyard
eattheweeds- edible flowers
Walkingtimes- 52 wild plants you can eat
Freebies
Freeleaf
Fitness And Freebies
Herbal roots zine
80 natural/organic companies that send free coupons
Tea Supplies
Set of 50 muslin reusable bags $8
Strawberry tea infuser $1
Deep sea diver infuser $7,50
Buddha elephant tea pot
Abundant Health (not much to do with tea but they’re all about essential oils, and their bottles and containers are a steal)
Tips for buying thrifted china
Strawsome BPA-free Straws
Lolli Cup Store (also Teas, Boba, Flavorings, ect)
Cuppow!-Turn canning jar into Mug/Lunchbox/Pour-Over-Brewer
DiY and Upcycling
Make TeaBags out of Recycled Fabric
Turn Mason Jar Into Spill Proof Cup
Buy Herbs/Tea/Dried Flowers/Ect
Mountain Maus Remedies Easy Store
Herbs, Spices, Teas, in Bulk
Dried fruit in bulk
Edible flower shop UK
Mountain Rose Herbs
Spirit Apothecary Botanicals & Findings (sold for magic mainly)
Bulk Apothecary
Iherb trials (not really tea but supplements, soaps, ect)
yunomi (Japanese, also sells tea ware)
golden tips tea (indian)
Tea box (all over world)
Spiritual
Magickal Properties of herbs and flowers
A-Z Herb use
Health
Herbs and Health Benefits
Web MD teas and their health benefits
150 herbs uses and health benefits
Dandelion Benefits-roots greens teas
ASASP Thought Coffee vs Tea
12 Green Tea Recipes For Weight Loss
Water
Wiki how to make cucumber water
The yummy life naturally flavored water (tips&recipes)
4 ways to make drinking water even healthier
Add fruit/herbs/flowers to ice!
Misc.
Preserving pumpkin
Wikihow to Dry Flowers
7 Basic Recipes For Preserving Edible Flowers
Wild herbs
Waterbath Canning
TEA BEER!?
youtube- how to make tea the British way
Tea-rriffic: tea infused ice cream
This is what has come out of saving websites to my drafts for later use.
A masterpost based off of tea.
Lavender Water
I got the idea to make this water a while ago when I was shopping around at my local Botanica where they had a lovely but quite expensive Aqua de Lavender. If you already have lavender, OR know where to get it at a decent price this can cost you around 7 bucks, Compared to like 15.
The uses for Waters are literally endless but I’m making my Lavender Water to help with Anxiety, For cleansing Baths, Cleansing air mist, and cleansing Spray. Notice a theme here?
To make yours you will need 3 things.
Lavender Buds
100 proof Vodka, Or White Vinegar (I used vinegar here)
A glass Container
To get your Lavender the most fragrant give it a nice grind in a mortar and pestle, Or bowl. Add the lavender to your bottled liquid and shake it the hell up. Thats it.
Within an hour the color will deepen into a nice purple, ruby tint.
You can strain the lavender once it has reached your desire scent / color but I like to keep mine in.
Enjoy!
Day 215: Tincturing Workshop
I’m leading a tincturing workshop this Sunday, so I thought it might be nice to share the packet I’m going to be handing out. It includes some tips on alcohol and vinegar tincturing, as well as recipes and some local Ozark yarbs to work into your herbal preparations. Enjoy!
Recipe Sheet – Tincturing Workshop
Brandon Weston ozarkhealing.com facebook.com/MountainManHealing mountainmanhealing@gmail.com
Alcohol Tinctures
Fresh Herb:
Finely chop or grind clean herb to release juice and expose surface area.
Fill jar 2/3 to ¾ with herb. ~ OR ~ Fill jar ¼ to ½ with roots.
Pour alcohol over the herbs.
Jar should appear full of herb, but herb should move freely when shaken.
Dried Herb:
Use finely cut herbal material.
Fill jar ½ to ¾ with herb ~ OR ~ Fill jar ¼ to 1/3 with roots.
Pour alcohol over the herbs.
Roots will expand by ½ their size when reconstituted!
Alcohol Percentages*
40% – 50% (80-90 proof vodka)
“Standard” percentage range for tinctures.
Good for most dried herbs and fresh herbs that are not juicy.
Good for extraction of water soluble properties.
67.5% – 70% (½ 80 proof vodka + ½ 190 proof grain alcohol)
Extracts most volatile aromatic properties.
Good for fresh high-moisture herbs like lemon balm, berries, and aromatic roots.
The higher alcohol percentage will draw out more of the plant juices.
85% – 95% (190 proof grain alcohol)
Good for gums and resins.
Extracts aromatics and essential oils that are bound in the plant and do not dissipate easily.
The alcohol strength can produce a tincture that is not quite pleasant to take.
Often used for drop dosage medicines.
Will totally dehydrate herbs.
*information comes from the Mountain Rose Herbs blog
Macerating
Maceration is the process by which the active chemical compounds are leached into the solvent solution. This is usually done by shaking the jar that contains the alcohol or vinegar and the herbal plant matter.
Alcohol tinctures need to be left to macerate for at least 2-3 weeks depending upon the ABV. The higher the ABV the less maceration time is needed.
Vinegar tinctures need to be left to macerate for at least a month before straining and bottling.
Easy Alcohol Tincture Recipes
Sarsaparilla Tincture: Anti-Inflammatory, Tonic (do not take if you have kidney problems)
Sarsaparilla root
Vodka
Wild Cherry Tincture: Antispasmodic, expectorant, sedative
Wild cherry bark
Vodka
Herbal Bitters (simplified): Tonic, diaphoretic, colds, flu, febrifuge, chills (contains thujone, may cause drowsiness)
1 quart jar
¼ c. thyme
¼ c. oregano (or dittany)
¼ c. chopped fresh ginger
¼ c. hyssop
1 cinnamon stick
1 tbsp. cloves
Vodka
Stomach Bitters (simplified): Stomach issues, cramps, urinary issues, digestive issues
1 quart jar
4 tbsp dried dandelion root
2 tbsp fennel seed
2 tbsp fresh ginger
2 tbsp dried peppermint leaves (or mountain mint)
Vodka
Vinegar Tinctures
Measurements and instructions are the same as with the alcohol tinctures at the beginning of the packet. Remember: vinegar tinctures need to be left longer to macerate, at least a month.
Easy Vinegar Tincture Recipes
Fire Tonic: Colds, flu, chills, general tonic
1 32 oz. bottle apple cider vinegar. I like to use unfiltered, it seems to taste better and it’s easier on the stomach.
5-10 cloves of garlic, crushed
3-5 hot peppers, as hot as you can stand
1 3 inch knob of ginger, crushed
1 medium onion, peeled and diced
¼ c. chopped mullein
¼ c. chopped rosemary
¼ c. chopped thyme
¼ c. crushed star anise or green sweetgum balls (sources for shikimic acid which helps fight the flu virus)
Take all of this and combine it in large mason jar, all the herbs and vegetables are going to take up a lot of room. Let this stand in a dark place for about two months. Shake everyday. After it’s finished macerating strain off the liquid, add about a half cup honey, bottle.
Alternate Ozark yarbs to use: Dittany, Self-heal, Plantain, Horsemint
Vinegar Oxymels
Also called “sipping vinegars” these mixtures are basic vinegar tinctures sweetened and thickened with honey to make them more palatable.
Basic Oxymel:
1 part herb : 3 parts honey and apple cider vinegar
Quart mason jars: fill up ¼ jar with herb, ¼ with honey, then the rest with vinegar. Macerate for a few weeks.
Easy Oxymel Recipes
Colds and Immune System Oxymel:
1 part elderberries
1 part ginger root (dried)
Another for Colds with Cough Oxymel:
1 part Mullein
1 part Horehound
Stomach Complaints Oxymel:
2 parts ginger
1 part peppermint
1 part fennel seed
Sinus Congestion Oxymel:
2 parts garlic
1 part cayenne pepper
1 part thyme
1 part rosemary
Beginners Ozark Medicinal Plants
Caution should always be taken when looking for medicinal plants out in the wild. Do not consume or use any plant that you are unsure about. The internet is a wonderful resource for plant identification. Look up photos and identification information for plants from reputable sources before collecting any plant out in the wild. NOTE also that many Ozark medicinal plants are endangered and should not be harvested out in the wild.
When wild-harvesting take only what you need at that time. DO NOT STOCKPILE! Chances are the plants will go bad before you can use them. A good rule of thumb for any plant is to count three plants then take one, that way there are plants left behind to go to seed. Leave the roots intact unless the root is being harvested, then try and leave a piece of the root or any seeds/berries behind in the soil.
Responsible harvesting means these medicinal plants will be around for many more generations.
I’m not including photos of plants on purpose! I want folks to go look up the plants and find as many identifying photos and identifying information as they can. Do the work! Google is an amazing resource for plant identification.
+ means the plant is not native but is common in the Ozarks
Black-Eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta: Flowers, roots:
Root infusion used for dermatological needs. Used to wash snakebites. Decoction of whole plant taken to aid with heart disease. Decoction of root taken for colds and chills. Cold infusion of flowers taken for headache and as a febrifuge. Similar properties to other coneflowers (Purple coneflower, Missouri coneflower, etc.) Some say the active compounds are not water soluble. Better used as a tincture or extract.
*** Cautions: Asteraceae family ***
Cinquefoil, Five Finger Grass, Potentilla simplex: Leaves, root:
Leaves taken for colds and as a febrifuge. Root astringent, infusion taken for dysentery, diarrhea, and as a mouthwash for sores and thrush.
+Cleavers, Galium aparine: Leaves:
Strong infusion as laxative. Externally as a dermatological aid. Has been linked to aiding with lowering blood pressure.
*** Cautions: Laxative ***
Common Dittany, Cunila origanoides: Leaves, stems, flowers:
Related to Oregano and Marjoram and can be used in similar ways. As an infusion it’s good for colds and to help open up the sinuses. Boiled strong it helps the body sweat and can aid in lowering fevers. Infusion used to help aid a painful birth. Used as a stimulant and tonic. Contains trace amounts of thujone, an active chemical also found in wormwood, mugwort, and yarrow, and may cause drowsiness or headaches. Use only in small amounts and with caution.
*** Cautions: Contains trace amounts of thujone ***
Elderberry, Sambucus nigra or Sambucus canadensis: Berries, flowers, leaves, bark:
Berries used in formulas against chills and cold. Helps support the immune system. Infusion of berry used internally for rheumatism. Flower infusion used as a febrifuge and to sweat out a cold. Leaf infusion used to wash sores and prevent infection. Bark poultice used on sores, wounds, rashes, and other dermatological needs.
*** Cautions: Berries mildly toxic when unripe, foliage toxic in large quantities ***
Goldenrod, Solidago: Leaves, Flowers:
There are many different varieties of goldenrods, all of which have very similar medicinal uses. Topically the plant has traditionally been used in salves to help with sore muscles and arthritis. Internally it has traditionally been used as a diuretic to help bladder and kidney issues and to help break up “stones”. It is also a good diaphoretic that can help reduce a fever, and an astringent that can aid in remedying diarrhea. The flowers also make a wonderful yellow dye.
*** Cautions: Asteraceae family, may cause skin irritation ***
Horsemint, Monarda bradburiana: Leaves, flowers:
Infusion used for colds, chills, as a febrifuge, and for bowel complaints. Can be used externally in oils and salves for dermatological needs. Used in many of the same ways as Monarda fistulosa.
Jewelweed, Impatiens capensis: Leaves, stems, flowers:
Sap produced by the leaves and stems used for poison ivy, rashes, burns, and other dermatological needs. Cold infusion of leaves as a febrifuge. Infusion whole plant taken internally for stomach cramps.
*** Cautions: Seeds toxic ***
+Mullein, Verbascum thapsus: Leaves, flowers, root:
Leaves and flowers can be used to clear chest congestion (smoked or as an infusion), as an analgesic for rashes, aches and pains. Leaves can be wilted and used in poultices for swollen glands. Roots can be used in decoctions for gynecological issues.
+Plantain, Plantago major “Broadleaf Plantain” or Plantago lanceolata “Ribwort Plantain”: Leaves, roots, flowers:
Leaves used in poultices for bug bites, inflammations, rashes, cuts, bruises, stings, and other skin complaints. Whole plant infusions for colds, fever, upper respiratory complaints, rheumatism, hypertension, regulating blood sugar, bladder problems, kidney problems. Root used as a gentle expectorant and in helping sinus issues. “Snake Weed” because of the belief that the plant can help draw venom out of a snakebite. It was also thought that a person could carry the plant to help ward off snakes.
Self-Heal, All Heal, Prunella vulgaris: Leaves, flowers:
Infusion is an analgesic used to wash sores, wounds, and used in salves for many dermatological needs. Used to flavor other medicines. Infusion used as a febrifuge and against colds. Used for sore throats. Mild sedative. Helps with stomach and bowel complaints. Antidiarrheal. Respiratory aid.
Spicebush, Lindera benzoin: Leaves, Bark:
The red berries of the spicebush have long been used as a substitute for cinnamon or allspice in mountain recipes. The leaves can be made into a pleasant infusion for colds and headaches while the bark can be brewed strong for fevers and chills. The leaves can also be used topically for skin irritations, rashes, and bites.
Sumac, Rhus glabra “Smooth Sumac” or Rhus typhina “Staghorn Sumac”: Berries, Leaves, Bark:
The berries are used in a tasty beverage I’ve heard called “sumacade”. It’s lemony taste is quite pleasant, and the drink is high in vitamin C. The berries and bark are astringent and can be used as an effective gargle for a cough or mouth sores. A decoction of the bark can also be taken internally for diarrhea. In the Fall the red leaves can be dried and smoked to induce dreaming.
Sweet Everlasting, Rabbit Tobacco, Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium/Gnaphalium obtusifolium: Leaves, flowers:
Decoction whole plant used as a sedative and to aid sleeping. Analgesic for sores, pains, aches, wounds, and many other dermatological needs. Antirheumatic (internal). Decoction for colds and chills. Smoked and used in infusions to clear chest congestion. Chewed for sore mouth and throat. Used in sweat baths against many illnesses. NOTE harvest leaves in the Fall when they start to turn brown.
*** Cautions: Asteraceae family ***
Sweetgum tree, Liquidambar styraciflua: Leaves, bark, gum, balls:
Leaves can be used in poultices for several dermatological issues, cuts, and bruises. Gum and inner bark used for diarrhea and flux. Infusion of bark taken for “flooding” (gynecological). Infusion of bark given as a sedative. Sweetgum balls, when green in the Spring before seeds have formed can be soaked in alcohol then given for colds and the flu (antiviral, antibacterial due to contained shikimic acid).
White-Leafed Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum albescens: Leaves, Flowers, Stems:
As an infusion, can be used to help treat headaches, stomach complaints, and colds. Brewed strong it can help to reduce fevers.
Wild Bergamot, Beebalm, Monarda fistulosa: Leaves, flowers:
Infusion used for coughs, colds, and sore throats. Carminative for stomach complaints. Diaphoretic, febrifuge, and diuretic. Mild sedative. Abortifacient, so caution should be taken. Externally an analgesic used in poultices for pains, aches, cuts, and rashes.
Witch Hazel, Hamamelis vernalis (Ozark Witch Hazel) and American Witch Hazel, Hamamelis virginiana: Leaves, bark:
Leaves and bark astringent used externally as a skin toner and for many dermatological issues. Infusion taken for colds and as a febrifuge. Antirheumatic. Decoction of bark taken as an emetic.
*** Cautions: Bark emetic***
+Yarrow, Achillea millefolium: Flowers, leaves:
Leaves astringent, used in bowel complaints and with dermatological needs. Foliage infusion used for colds, as a febrifuge, upset stomach, and as a mild sedative. Leaves can be smoked to loosen phlegm and clear chest congestion.
*** Cautions: Asteraceae family ***
Key Herbs for your Craft
Here are some really basic herbs for your magic workings :
Sage - Cleansing (properties : purification, wisdom, immortality)
Lavender - Calming (properties : love, healing, sleep, dreams, divination)
Rose - Opening (properties : psychic awareness, opening the heart, love)
Eucalyptus - Inspiration (properties : healing, protection, purification, invigorating)
Bay Leaves - Divination (properties : psychic powers, success, money)
Cardamom - Arousal (properties : lust, sexuality, reigniting intimacy)
Rosemary - Focus (properties : mental powers, banishing, purification, protection)
Bergamot - Increasing (properties : manifestation, wealth, success, prosperity, adds power to magic)
Oats - Grounding (properties : wealth, abundance, prosperity)
Dandelion - Releasing (properties : divination, wishes, summoning spirits, releasing)
Yarrow - Banishing (properties : banishing, death, courage, psychic powers)
Cloves - Luck (properties : driving away negativity, cleansing, prosperity)
