Loose Herbs

Medicinal Uses: Comfrey leaves can be used as a poultice for all manner of bruises, sprains, or other damage to the connective tissues, including broken bones and badly healing ulcers and sores as well as for inflammatory swellings. Comfrey leaves are still considered safe for internal use and can be employed to treat stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and piles, as well as for bronchial afflictions. The leaves can also be used to treat problems of the mouth, such as sore, inflamed, or bleeding gums and sore throat or hoarseness.

Magical Uses (Applies to both Leaf and Root): In Medieval times, Comfrey was used in sympathetic magic for healing bones. In modern magical herbalism, it is recommended for safe travels and also to safeguard one's luggage.

Sage is a well familiar species, but there are many different species of Sage that are dispersed over large portions of the globe. Most prefer a dry, hot climate and are home in the Mediterranean region or California.
Like its more exotic cousins, Garden Sage is strongly aromatic and very attractive to bees. The genus name (Salvia) comes from the Latin 'salvare' - to heal, and alludes to the fact that many species of Sage are great healers.
We tend to regard it more as a kitchen herb, though - and not a very commonly used one at that. Perhaps the astringent, slightly bitter and somewhat overpowering flavor is more than what our modern taste buds are willing to tolerate. Yet, Sage provides excellent contrast, e.g. in cheese dishes, and compliments heavy, greasy meats, which it will help to digest.
As always, it is the dose that makes the difference - in the case of Sage, a little goes a long way, but just a pinch of this herb makes for a very interesting flavor dimension. However, it is a bit of an acquired, somewhat 'grown-up' taste, so it is probably not a good idea to try it on your kids.

The ancients held Sage in great respect, considering it an herb of Jupiter. It was thought to have protective and purifying powers that could preserve good health as well as a happy, strong spirit. In North America, Californian Indians made similar claims about White Sage. Prairie Sage, also known as Mountain or Desert Sage, only shares the name, but is actually not a Sage at all. Instead, Mountain Sage is a species of Artemisia and related to Mugwort.

Medicinal:
While Red Sage is considered medicinally more powerful than regular Garden Sage essentially the two can be used in the same way.
Sage is a drying and astringent herb that stops excessive secretions, be it sweat, blood or milk. It is sometimes used during menopause to control hot flashes or night sweats. However, the dose is important as weak Sage tea increases perspiration, while a strong infusion will reduce sweating. Sage dries the mucous membranes and is an excellent herb in catarrhal conditions of the upper respiratory system. It is one of the best remedies to use as a gargle for sore throat and laryngitis, pharyngitis or tonsillitis. It is also excellent for inflammatory conditions of the mouth, such as mouth ulcers, inflamed or bleeding gums or stomatitis. It is also a mild bitter that can stimulate the digestive system, liver and gall bladder.
Sage stimulates the uterus and should be avoided during pregnancy. Oddly though, one old herbal claims that if a woman who has had difficulties conceiving, drinks Sage tea for 4 days before she cohabits with her husband she will not only be likely to conceive, but also be able to retain the fruit of love and resist any threat of miscarriage. This practice has not been tried and tested by modern science as yet and there is no certainty that it will work.

Magical:
Sage is a powerfully protective and cleansing herb that can be used to purify a sacred space or ritual tools. It is also used for aura and crystal cleansing and helps to dispel negative energies. It may be employed in rites of passage and ceremonies held in remembrance of the dead. Sage protects the astral body and can be burnt as incense for protection during spirit journeys or for divination practices. It may be helpful as an aide for spiritual studies and may help deepen one's insight and understanding into the mysteries.

Damiana is an herb of the New World, native to Mexico and southern parts of the United States. The first mention of this interesting herb reached the western world via the chronicles of the Spanish missionary Jesus Maria de Salvatierra in 1699. The indigenous people of Mexico had long been familiar with the herb's properties by the time de Salvatierra recorded them. He mentions that Damiana enjoyed a widespread reputation as a potent and popular aphrodisiac, which is what Damiana is most famous for today. As an aphrodisiac it has gained some fame - it is included in many potency enhancing formulae and in Mexico it is frequently dispensed in the form of a herbal liqueur, which is prepared by steeping the herb along with certain spices such as vanilla, galangal, cinnamon and pimento berries and honey in rum for a period of about two weeks. Various recipes exist and even commercial brews are available, which are said to be particularly favored in mixed drinks such as Margaritas. But the Mayans and other Central American natives also used this herb for a range of other conditions, which modern herbalism tends to neglect.

Medicinal:
Damiana is an excellent nervous system tonic, which tones and relaxes tense nerves. It is also and excellent anti-spasmodic. In Mexican folk-healing it is often used to regulate painful menstruation for which it is said to be very effective. It can also be used in cases of headaches, especially tension headaches, anxiety, mild to moderate cases of depression and insomnia. One of its Mayan folk names is 'asthma-sweep', referring to its excellent power of alleviating and 'sweeping out' asthma attacks. Damiana is also an effective diuretic and urinary antiseptic that can be used in cases of urethritis, and cystitis. It is a mild laxative and can be used in cases of constipation marked by lack of intestinal muscle tone. Above all though, Damiana is an effective aphrodisiac tonic that can enhance sexual performance and increase libido in both men and women.

Magical:
Damiana can be used in sex magic and tantric rituals. It is often included in charms and potions for love and lust. It can be useful for meditation and help switch off the inner chatterbox.

Medicinal Uses:
Dandelion Leaves are a tonic for the kidneys. They are a great cleansing herb to use in spring cleansing diets, as they are strongly diuretic and help to flush out all metabolic wastes from the joints and tissues. The leaves can be used as a supportive remedy for arthritis, gout, and rheumatism, as well as to relieve water retention due to heart problems. It is unique in its property of replacing the potassium that is washed away with the urine, as the leaves themselves are very rich in potassium, so no shortage can result. The bitterness present in parts of the plant stimulates the stomach and the digestive juices, though the roots are more specific for this use.

Magical Uses:
Children divine all kinds of oracles by blowing on the seeds - depending on how often they have to blow until the last seed has been taken by the wind they determine the time of day, the number of years until one will be married, how many children one might be blessed with etc. This use of Dandelion as a flower clock certainly explains kid's odd sense of timing. In the old days, Dandelion was an important herb in spring rites, many of which were cleansing and protection rituals. It was included in the 9 herb bundle and it was considered essential to eat Dandelion on Maundy Thursday in order to prevent sickness for the rest of the year. Dandelion is a herb of prosperity, health, and protection, and anyone would do well to honor it.

Dill is a well established herb in our kitchens, though over the years it has lost some ground in the medicine chest. The ancients knew it well and used it extensively, not just to pickle cucumbers (which is a very ancient custom), but for a whole range of conditions and complaints. Dioscorides describes how to make Dill oil and Dill wine. Distilled Dill water was also commonly available at any apothecary - particularly recommended to calm wailing babies. It is thought that Dill is native to Southern Europe and the near East. A closely related species found in India may be native or may be a subspecies that developed from seeds left behind by early traders along the spice route. Both Dill seed and herb are utilized, although the seed is medicinally more active. The whole herb also played a significant role in various folk-magical customs.

Traditional
Like most culinary spices Dill is an excellent digestive herb. It is a warming, stimulating carminative that incites the appetite, soothes cramping and nausea and dispels flatulence. Old herbals also recommend it for hiccup. Wailing babies are quickly soothed with Dill water or tea - it calms the tummy and procures sleep. However, probably Dill's most useful action is as an excellent galactagogue, stimulating the flow of milk in nursing mothers.

Magical
Dill has long been used as a magical herb - not only by the witches themselves, but also to protect against their evil doings. Dill is hung above doorways for protection, or strewn about the stables for the same purpose. Cows are given a drink of Dill and Caraway immediately after giving birth to their calves - to protect them against the jealous witches that might steal their milk. Dill protects against the evil eye, and it is thought to work magic in court hearings. It was also used weather magic. Dill is an herb of protection especially against the negative energies of jealousy and envy.

This herb is often confused with Dittany (Dictamnus albus), an herb that used to be relatively common in northern Europe, but which is now under protection. As the name implies, ‘Dittany of Crete’ is native to the southern Mediterranean island of Crete, where it grows wild on steep mountain slopes. In Crete it is offered to girls as proof of true love - the act of gathering it in itself represents a willingness to risk one’s life for love’s sake.

Medicinal:
Nowadays Dittany of Crete is not commonly used medicinally, although the ancients thought highly of it. Culpeper calls it an excellent wound herb and says that it can be used as a wash to clean ulcers and wounds. He also recommends decocting it in wine to ensure a speedy delivery.
Dioscorides praised its power to repel poisons of venomous creatures, especially snakes, and says that it can also lessen the pain of the spleen.
In general it is valued for its ability to clear obstructions and as such it was used to treat consumption and ‘spitting of blood’ (tuberculosis) as well as against all manners of malignant and pestilential distempers (Culpeper).

******* Do not use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Used in a magical context, Dittany is an excellent cleansing herb. It can be used to protect the house and personal sphere against invasive evil entities (which are often visualized as arrows), for cleansing the circle, and as a banishing herb to cast out evil spirits and to repel venomous creatures.

Dittany was sacred to the Hunter Goddess Artemis and It was believed that the herb could protect against wounds inflicted by arrows. It was said that goats that had eaten of Dittany were immune to attacks by arrows, or, that if they had been hit by one, they would rub against the herb, which would cause the arrow to fall off. By extension Dittany was used to repel all sorts of foreign and potentially harmful matter. As a drawing herb it was used to draw out splinters, and applied to snake bites it was believed to draw out their poison. When burned, the smoke was used to expel a dead embryo in cases of miscarriage. It was a significant ingredient in famous ancient remedies known as ‘Venice treacle’, ‘Mithridate’ and ‘Diascordium’.

Echinacea is perhaps one of the best known herbal remedies - it is widely available in all sorts of preparations and combinations. Originally it was a sacred medicine plant of Native Americans, particularly among the Plains Indians, who not only used it for healing, but also as a smoking herb and to make themselves resistant to heat, e.g. in order to better endure the heat of sweat-lodges, or to be able to hold a live coal in their mouth at medicine shows. At first the white settlers largely ignored this remedy, until the Eclectics began to use it, but not to any great extent. But one day a German lay physician, by the name of H.C.F. Meyer urged the most eminent eclectics of the time to take a closer look at one of his concoctions, which contained Echinacea. Eventually, John King gave it a try and soon became convinced of its efficacy, after trying it on his wife who was suffering from cancer at the time. Echinacea seemed to be the only remedy that was effective in slowing progress of the disease and easing her pain. To cut a long story short, Echinacea reached Europe by the end of the 1800 and was most enthusiastically received in Germany, where most studies have been conducted since. Meanwhile, America all but forgot this healing treasure - its fame and glory sunk with the reputation of the Eclectics who had helped to popularize it - until quite recently.

With the recent rise of interest in herbal medicines Echinacea also has been resurrected and today is once again hailed as a panacea. Panaceas have a major disadvantage, however - they sound too good to be true. And thus, before long, some pharmacist comes along with a mission on his mind: to discredit the fabulous claims. That is the current situation - gazillion Echinacea products are flushing the market claiming relief from every conceivable disease - and an equivalent flood of studies that seek to disprove these claims.

A further problem with wonder-drug fads is the systematic decimation of wild plants which are collected in a feverish effort to cash in on the boom. This has happened in America, where a sudden rush on Echinacea has begun to seriously threaten wild stands. Much of Europe's supplies are grown in cultivation within Europe, where the herb has been in popular use for much of the last century.

Medicinal:
So what is one to believe?
Firstly, it is important to understand the mode of action of this herb. Echinacea can be described as an alterative, which explains the many different and seemingly conflicting claims about it. It is an immuno-stimulant, which means that it boosts the immune system to better deal with infections of many varied types, although it is not in itself an antiseptic. It also increases circulation to the capillaries, thus facilitating transportation of white blood cells, which are so crucial in fighting infections. Thus, it is considered an excellent remedy to boost the immune system during the cold season (better as a preventative remedy than as an agent for treating acute infection), or as a remedy to fight chronic inflammation or infection of the urinary system or lungs.

The Eclectics recommended it as a blood purifier. At the time of the Eclectics Echinacea also became a popular remedy for urinary system as well as feverish

infections such as typhoid.

Magical:
Although it is known that the Echinacea was an important medicine and magical plant for the Plains Indians, not much is known about the sacred uses of this plant. It played a role in sweat lodge rituals and may have been smoked in the sacred pipe for ritual purposes.

Ointment from leaves is a domestic remedy for bruises, sprains, chilblains, for use as an emollient, and for applying to wounds. Leaves are more nauseous purgative, also expectorant, diuretic and diaphoretic. The juice of Elder leaves is very effective for inflammation of the eyes, and 'stuffed nose'; and when between two hot tiles and applied to the forehead is very effective to treat nervous headache. Decoction of leaves is good for driving away flies and killing aphides and other insects. A tea made from the leaves and young shoots increases the production of urine and helps to eliminate excess water from the body. In proper dosages it can be used for urinary problems, kidney problems, rheumatic ailments, dropsy, edema, and constipation.

Elder is a relative new-comer in world folklore, holding her place most prominently in European history and mythos where she has been associated closely with the Celtic faerie lands and those similar otherworldly realms of various European traditions. Elder is sacred to many goddess-traditions and especially to the goddesses Venus and Holle. Most popular among pagan traditions modern and old is the myth of the Elder Mother, a spirit who inhabits the Elder tree and holds the power to work a variety of magics in this world.

Among pagan traditions, Elder has held a place of respect. The ability to protect; induce vivid dreams, particularly of the Faerie realms; to heal; and to exorcise or remove negative spells and influences are among Elder’s pagan attributes.

Eucalyptus is among the best known and most commonly used oils in aromatherapy.
The trees are native to Australia, where it grows in forest communities. Eucalyptus trees grow very tall and to walk through such forest with trees of over 100m towering above is a magical feeling. As the sun heats up the oils in the leaves are released and perfume the air with a fresh, sweet, aromatic scent.
Eucalyptus is powerfully anti-bacterial and very cleansing, which is why it is included in so many cold remedies, lozenges and chest rubs. Studies have shown that diffused in a room, Eucalyptus kills about 70% of airborne Staphylococci bacteria.
The native people of Australia use Eucalyptus to treat wounds and to relieve fever. The European immigrants soon learned its value from the natives, and today Eucalyptus reputations as a panacea has spread far beyond Australia.

Medicinal:
Eucalyptus is well known for its excellent cooling and relaxant properties, which are utilized to treat common coughs, cold and flu type symptoms.
Eucalyptus is strongly anti-bacterial and is excellent for clearing congestion from the upper respiratory tract when added to a steam inhalation. While usually it is the essential oil that is used medicinally, the herb (leaf) may also be used.
It can be brewed into a tea for bronchitis or for very deeply entrenched coughs the tincture is recommended. Gargling with Eucalyptus soothes a sore throat.

Magical:
Eucalyptus is excellent for purification of ritual tools and ceremonial spaces. It can be used in healing rituals to banish the demons of disease and to purify the sick room. Its pungent sweet cleansing scent clears all negative energies and purifies the atmosphere if added to an incense blend. Good for clearing the air after an argument.

Once common in meadows everywhere, eyebright has become rare. This dainty little member of the figwort family lives in a semi-parasitic relationship with grass, which is why farmers and shepherds have accused it of stealing the milk from their cattle. Indeed, where eyebright grows profusely it sucks the nutrients from its grassy neighbors, although it does not damage them permanently, since it is an annual plant.
Eyebright received its English name for its flowers, which look like bright, sparkling little eyes. Its Latin name Euphrasia derives from the Greek Euphrosyne, which means gladness. Whether it is so named because to see it brings gladness, or the gladness comes from its effects upon the eyesight, who knows, but the old herbalists placed great trust in this little herb and thought it a singularly excellent remedy to restore the eyesight. Despite the Greek name, the ancients, Pliny, Galen or Dioscurides did not mention it in their works.

Medicinal:
The ancients warmly recommended eyebright for its restorative powers on the eyesight, they prescribed compresses outwardly and tea taken inwardly. They also made a distilled water and a wine which they highly praised. They also claimed it effective for improving failing memory and one source even pronounces it a cure for epilepsy. However, later herbalists have dropped these claims.
Today it is chiefly used for its anti-inflammatory and astringent properties, which make it useful in cases of watery and exceedingly runny mucous discharges.
It is particularly recommended in cases where the catarrhal infection is affecting the eyes and tear ducts as well as the ears.
It is sometimes included in formulations for hay fever since that is often characterized by thin runny mucus and inflamed eyes. It can be taken internally as a tea or used externally as a compress for red, weak, gooey or watery eyes.

Magical
In the old days eyebright was associated with thunderstorms and it was said that it would not be a good idea to pick it on a hot summer's day with thunder hanging in the air, since the lightning would strike where the eyebright was stored. However, it was of course considered highly effective as an amulet to restore and protect the sight. Practitioners of magic would use it to strengthen inner sight and vision.

To the untrained eye this herb looks a lot like Chamomile, except its flowers are not conical but rather flat-topped and its leaves resemble those of Coriander.
They have a peculiar, strongly aromatic but not exactly pleasant smell, which is why bees avoid it and it is generally very useful as an insect repellent.

In the old days this little herb was much praised for its benefits as a woman's herb, but somehow it drifted into oblivion and its healing virtues were forgotten. Until in the 1980s it turned out that apparently quite a few people were relying on this herb as a preventative remedy migraine.
Some clinical, double blind studies were undertaken which confirmed the effectiveness of the herb, although the actual mechanism by which it does its trick still eludes science. It is thought, however, that one of feverfew's compounds inhibits serotonin release from the blood platelets. Serotonin is an important brain chemical, which is indicated in triggering migraine attacks by restricting blood vessels, thus inhibiting the flow of blood to the brain. It must be stressed that not all migraines are caused by this mechanism and thus this herb does not offer a sure cure, but in some cases it appears to be very effective. However that is not the only use of this old fashioned remedy!

Medicinal:
Apart from preventing migraines the ancients also recommend it for melancholy and depression. It can help in cases of dizziness and vertigo, and may ally nerve pain, offering cooling, analgesic relief to affected areas.
The ancients also praise it highly as a woman's herb, effective to regulate menstruation, bring on delayed periods, expel the afterbirth, and cure inward and outward inflammations of the female reproductive organs, especially a hardened or prolapsed uterus.

It also used to be used for coughs and fevers.
Externally it was applied as a cosmetic agent to remove spots.

Magical:
Feverfew is planted around the house for purification and protection. In ancient folklore Feverfew was believed to grow from leftovers that had been ritually set aside at the Christmas dinner table and had been thrown out into the garden a few days later. An amulet of feverfew can be worn to prevent all afflictions to the head and to keep one's bearings straight.