Mystical Wonders Discussion Group

infobot · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 77

Herbs O to Z

Oak - Sun and fire. Sacred tree in many, many cultures. It has long been associated with royalty. Rites were often performed in groves of oak trees and mistletoe that grew on oak was considered the most powerful. Burn oak leaves as purification. The wood is used for all purpose wands. Acorns are carried as fertility charms, to preserve youthfulness and to ward off illness. Hang in the windows to protect the house. Men can carry acorns to increase their sexual attractiveness and prowess.

Olive - Sacred to Athena. Regarded as a symbol of peace and wealth. Also a sign of safe travel.

Onion - Mars and fire. Used in protection and healing. Place cut onions in a room to absorb illness, leave overnight and throw away in the morning.

Orange - Sun and water. The dried peel is added to love and fertility charms and are used in Solar incenses. It is a traditional Chinese symbol of good luck and prosperity.

Orris Root - Venus and water. Add to love charms, baths and incenses.

Parsley - Mercury and air. In ancient times, parsley was considered symbolic of death and was made into wreaths to crown the graves of the dead. It was sacred to Persephone and used in funeral rites. Because parsley seeds take so long to germinate, it was said that they went to the devil and back before sprouting.

Patchouli - Sun and earth. Both sexes can carry as an aphrodisiac and to attract lovers. Patchouli is used to treat dysentery, diarrhea, colds without fevers, vomiting, and nausea.

Pennyroyal - Venus and earth. Put in your shoe to prevent weariness, once it was carried by seafarers to prevent sea sickness. Used in protection rituals and was once hung in sick rooms as a healing harm. Pennyroyal herbs removes gas and aids the digestive systems. In a tea, taken a few days before menstruation, it aids to suppress the flow. Its essential oil is useful for externally repelling insects. Under NO circumstances use Pennyroyal while pregnant or taken internally.

Pepper - Mars and fire. Used in protective charms.

Peppermint - Venus and air. Use in healing incenses and charms, also good in a healing bath. Burn as a winter incense. Any mint infusion can be sprinkled around the house as a cooling-off influence after arguments.

Periwinkle - Venus and water. Hang on the house entrances as protection.

Pimpernel - Mercury and air. Wear to detect falsehood and prevent others lying to you.

Pine - Mars and earth. Burn as a pruifying winter incense. Pine nuts are eaten and carried as fertility charms. Pine needles can be added to healing or cleansing baths.

Plaintain - Earth. It is considered to have healing, strengthening, protective and snake repelling properties. Bind with red wood, worn on the head, and it helps cure a headache. Also when placed under the feet, it removes weariness. Hung in the car, it protects. When taken internally, plaintain has a soothing action, particularly in the respiratory, digestive and urinary systems. It relieves irritates and inflamed conditions such as colitis, gastritis, bronchitis, harsh coughs and cystitis. It has an astrigent action, stems bleeding and encourages healing, internally and externally. It can be taken for colds, sinus congestion and allergic conditions such as hay fever and asthma. It is an antiseptic, cleansing and a good expectorant.

Poppy - Moon and water. Eat poppy seeds as a fertility charm. Carry seeds or dried seed pods as a prosperity charm.

Ragwort - Water. This plant is dedicated to the fairies, they are supposed to gallop about on the blossoms at midnight. Ragwork is used for external sciatica and wasing disease, when taken internally it is credited with being a tonic. It is also an astrigent.

Rose - Venus and water. Carry roses to attract true love. Drink a tea of rose petals for divinatory dreams. Add to charms and inceses for sleep, love and healing.

Rosemary - Sun and fire. Use in protection charms, incenses and baths. Is was thought as a preventative against the plague. Wear to aid memory and learning. Is used in sea rituals and sea magick. Wash your hands in with rosemary infusion before performing magick as a substitute for a ritual bath. Drink the tea before exams or interview to make the mind alert. Can also be made into a protection wreath. If placed under the pillow, it is supposed to ward off bad dreams.

Rowan - Sun and fire. Tie two twigs together with red thread as a general protection and luck charm. Use as a divining stick. The berries are used as a good luck amulet. A necklace of the berries can be used as a healing charm.

Rue - Sun and fire. It was once worn to guard against plague. Added to charms, it is designed to keep illness away. The smell of the fresh herb clears the mind of emotional clutter. A spring of rue can be dipped into water and used to sprinkle an area for magickal purification.

Saffron - Sun and fire. Used inprosperity and healing rituals, charms and incenses.

Sage - Jupiter and air. Used in healing and prosperity charms. Regarded as a great safeguard of health and has a reputation for promoting longevity. It is supposed to grow best in the gardens of the wise and was once thought to flourish or sicken as its grower's fortunes did likewise. Sage is used to relieve excess mucous buildup. It is beneficial to the mind by easing mental exhaustion and by strengthening the concentrating abilities. In a lotion it is useful for treating sores and skin eruptions and to stop bleeding in all cuts. Chewing the fresh leaves soothes mouth sores and sore throats, as will sage tea. It is good for all stomach troubles, diarrhea, gas, flu and colds. As a hair rinse, it removes dandruff. Sage combined with peppermint, rosemary and wood betony, provides an excellent headache remedy. It can also be used to regulate the memstrual cycle, decrease milk flow in lactating women, aid in treating hot flashes and used as a deodorant.

St. John's Wort - Sun and fire. Used in protective charms of all kinds. It was supposed to be so protective that its mere presence would cause evil spirits to fly away. Wear to ward off fever and ilness. Burn as a banishing or exorcism incense. Gather on Midsummer's Eve, pass through the smoke of bonfires to purify and hang in the house as protection. Wear to instill courage and strengthen the will. Drink the tea of the herb to cure melancholy. Hang bunches of the herb over the bed or by the bedroom door to drive away nightmares. St. John's Wort combats stress, minor depression, alcohol cravings. It is an antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, astrigent, expectorant, nervine, vulnerary, helps with insomnia and bed wetting. It has been found to inhibit the growth of HIV and AIDS in animals. The oil extract can be used for intestinal and stomach problems. Drink the tea for help with anemia, headaches, jaundice, feminine difficulties and pain, and chest congestion. Use the oil externally for burns, wounds, sores, bruses and skn problems.

Sandalwood - Moon and air. Used in purifying, protective and healing incenses.

Slippery Elm - Air. It is burned to stop gossip. It is used to neutralize stomach acids. It is also used to boost the adrenal glands, draws out impurities and heals all parts of the body. It is most useful for the respiratory system. Externally it is an excellent healer for burns, skin cancers, poison ivy and wounds.

Speedwell - Fire. Sewn into garments as a protective charm. It is used for scabby eruptions, gout, leprosy, coughs, asthma, catarrhs, pulmonary consumption, helps to stimulate the kidneys, promotes perspiration, reduces feverishness, works against itching and in the long term to overcome sterility.

Southernwood - Also known as "Lad's Love". As a small spring was traditionally included in bouquets, presented by young men to their sweethearts. Like Rue, southernwood also employed a charm against sickness.

Sunflower - Sun and fire. Brings the blessings of the Sun into any garden in which it is grown. The seeds can be eaten by women who wish to conceive.

Tansy - Water. The ancient Greeks thought that Tansy would preserve dead bodies. Used in love charms. Its usefulness in treating hysteria which may indicate that it was formely used as a remedy for enchantments. It can be used internally and externally for gout, roundworm, ague, spasms, epilespy, bruises, strains, colic, hysteria, skin diseases and to prevent miscarriages. Thought to purify the humours of the body and to be eespecially good for the heart. Used to be used to preserve dead bodies because it can drive away flies and stave off decay.

Thyme - Venus and Air. Burn as a purifying incense. Use in magickal cleansing baths. Inhale the scent for refreshment and renewed energy. Wear to protect oneself from negativity and grief at funerals. When worn, it is thought to inspire courage.

Valerian - Mercury and water. The was used in a love charm and spells and purification baths.Vanilla - Jupiter and fire. The bean can be carried in a love charm and the oil worn as an sphrodisiac.

Vervain - Venus and water. A herb sacred to the Druids and used by the Romans as a ritual cleansing plant. Used in magickal cleansing baths, purification incenses and safety amulets. Hang above the bed to keep away nightmares. Used in love and protection charms. Burn for a good purification incense. In incense, it brings good luck and inspiration. It has no odor or taste, which is why it is regarded as magickal or otherworldly. Vervain is used for ailments of the eye, thinning and ailing hair, sleeplessness, inveterate headache, scrofulous diseases, indolent ulcers and sore throat. It properties also include sedative, anticoagulant and astrigent.

Violet - Venus and water. Violets mixed with lavendar for a powerful love charm. A violet compress can aid headaches. Carry the flowers as a good luck charm. Violets are supposed to absorb ill will and evil spells. The scent is said to soothe and clear the mind.

Walnut - Sun and fire. Carry the nut as a charm to promote fertility and strengthen the heart.

Willow - Moon and water. Willow wands can be used for healing. The Willow will bring the blessings of the Moon upon those who plant it or have it on their property. Willows can be used to bind together witches besoms.

Wormwood - Mars and air. This was once burned to raise spirits. Used in divinatory and clairvoyance incenses. Burn on firest at Samhain to gain protection from roaming spirits. Used in initiation rites and for tests of courage and endurance. Should not be used by those suffering from shock or grief as it has an affinity with the world of the dead.

Yarrow - Venus and water. Used in love and marriage charms. Wards off negativity when worn, although at one time it was considered one of the herbs dedicated to the devil. Drink yarrow tea prior to divination to enhance the powers of perception. The medicinal uses include the hairy filaments of the leaves were inhaled to cause nosebleeds and cure headache. It was a famed herb for staunching blood flow in all forms. It can also be used for hysteria, flatulence, heartburn, colic, epilespy, rheumatism, toothace, colds, internal bleeding, loss of appetite, ague, sore throat, sore nipples, heavy menstruation, piles, cuts and contusions, eliminates toxins. This herb intensifies the efficancy of other herbs when taken in conjunction.

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