Ariejester
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Location: Nottinghamshire, UK
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13 Herbs for a Witches Cupboard
Armed with these thirteen herbs, you will easily be able to handle most situations that arise, from dis-ease to magickal needs. This will give you a nice foundation to build on. Following in the tradition of permaculture, each herb has been selected for its multi-faceted uses. They can each be used medicinally and magickally; they can all be grown easily; and many of them can be used in cooking. Each herb description will be expanded as time permits.
*All herbs etc are taken at the users own risk*
The Thirteen Herbs
1) Comfrey Symphytum officinale
Alternate names: knitbone, knitback, black wort, consound, consolida, bruisewort, slippery root, wallwort, boneset, miracle herb, healing herb, gum plant, ass ear, yalluc (Saxon) The botanical name, Symphytum, means "grown together". The name comfrey might be from the Latin conferva
"knitting together".
Magickal Attributes: All parts used. Healing. Protective in the loving ways of a mother. Used for money spells, especially because of its prolific nature and deep emerald green leaf colour. Used for safety during travel and has many "grounding" qualities, especially of the root. Comfrey is associated with the feminine, Saturn, and Water.
2) German Chamomile Matricaria chamomilla or Roman Chamomile Anthemis nobilis
Choose either "German" or "Roman" by looking over the information for each.
Alternate names for German Chamomile: Wild chamomile, camomile, Hungarian chamomile
Alternate names for Roman Chamomile: Maythen (Saxon), Whig Plant, Manzanilla (Spanish for a little apple), Kamai melon (Greek for on the ground, and an apple), camomyle, ground apple, eermannchen (German, they also regarded it commonly as "Alles zu vertraut" meaning completely trustworthy.) chamaimelon
Magickal attributes: Scott Cunningham lists this herb as masculine, and there is a tradition for this. Early Teutonic tribes dedicated it to their sun God, as did the Egyptians. However, because of the energy of the plant, and because of its medicinal uses, it seems to be feminine in some ways. Either way, there is a good balance here between masculine and feminine energies. Truly with chamomile, earth meets sun and sky.
3) Red Raspberry Rubus idaeus
Alternate names: Hindberry, Hindbeer (Saxon), Hindbur (German)
Magickal attributes: Protective in a 'mothering' way.
Physical attributes: Great for diarrhea, general nutrition, pregnant and lactating women. Often recommended for pregnant women because it is said to make the process of childbirth easier and to strengthen the uterus. It is a good (and proven) antispasmodic and eases painful menstruation. A strong tea will soothe cold symptoms.
4) Fennel Foeniculum vulgare Lavender
5) Lavendula officinale or vera (English Lavender) spica and latifolia (Spike Lavender) stoechas (French Lavender)
6) Garlic Allium sativum and others
7) Wormwood Artemisia absinthium
8) Rose Rosa gallica if available, resources to come, or other Roses
9) Catnip
10) Rosemary
11) Capsicum species, especially habanero, cayenne, purira, jalapeno, etc.
12) Ginger Zingiber officinalis
13) Peppermint
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