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A delightful and unsuspected ray of floral sunshine greets us early in spring, when the little yellow coltsfoot flowers, thickly padded in fluffy scales, daringly perk their heads from the still wintry ground. The hoof-shaped leaves, which resemble butterbur leaves, appear much later in the summer, when the flowers have long disappeared. This unusual growing habit has earned it the name of Filius ante patrem, Son before Father. Coltsfoot is perhaps one of the better known herbal remedies, but its contemporary status pales to insignificance compared to former times, when it became THE symbol of apothecary valor in France and it was depicted on each and every apothecary's door. Coltsfoot leaves are a popular ingredient in herbal tobaccos.

Medicinal Uses: Coltsfoot is best known for its use as a cough remedy. Being both an expectorant and antispasmodic in action, it can be used for dry, irritable coughs and even whooping cough. It is often combined with other herbs for maximum effect. Coltsfoot candies are also commercially available. It is perhaps the primary herbal remedy for asthma, for which it is smoked, a practice that dates back to the days of antiquity- even Pliny reported on it. Externally, the leaves have been used as a poultice for insect bites, ulcers, swelling, and burns.
CAUTION: Although both flowers and leaves are medicinally active, it is generally recommended that only the leaves be used. Modern studies have found pyrrolizidine alkaloids in both, leaves and flowers, but they are more concentrated in the flowers. Do not use for extended periods of time.

Magical Uses: Coltsfoot does not figure prominently in herb magic, although it is mentioned in one ancient ritual performed to bring back a lover who has gone astray. Coltsfoot makes an ideal base herb for a visionary smoking mix, although it is inactive by itself.

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.

CAUTION: Large doses of Comfrey over an extended period of time is not recommended.

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.

NOTE: Do not use during pregnancy.

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.

It is interesting to note that Native Americans mostly used it as a remedy for snake bites, for which it appears to be quite effective.
They also used it externally for ulcers, eczema and conjunctivitis and as a gargle for sore throat and mouth ulcers.

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.

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.

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.

NOTE: Do not use during pregnancy.

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.

Our Selection of herbs honoring the Goddess Freyja!

Contains:

Linden

Catnip

Birch

Mugwort

Rose Petals

Selection of Herbs honoring Freyr!

Contains:

• Wild Cherry Bark
• Coltsfoot
• Hops
• Lemon Balm
• Pearl Barley

Collection of herbs honoring the Goddess Frigg!

Contains:

• Birch Bark
• Lady's Mantle
• Shepherd's Purse
• Flax Seed
• Thyme

Medicinal Action and Uses---A weak tonic, slightly diaphoretic, diuretic, and aperient; valuable in all visceral obstructions, particularly those of the liver, in scorbutic affections, and in troublesome eruptive diseases, even those of the leprous order. A decoction makes a curative lotion for milk-crust on the scalp of an infant. Physicians and writers from Dioscorides to Chaucer, and from the fourteenth century to Cullen and to modern times value its purifying power. The Japanese make a tonic from it. Cows and sheep eat it, and the latter are said to derive great benefit from it. The leaves, in decoction or extract, may be used in almost any doses. The inspissated juice has also been employed, also a syrup, powder, cataplasm, distilled water, and several tinctures.

French and German physicians still prefer it to most other medicines as a purifier of the blood; while sometimes the dried leaves are smoked in the manner of tobacco, for disorders of the head. Dr. Cullen, among its good effects in cutaneous disorders, mentions the following:

'There is a disorder of the skin, which, though not attended with any alarming symptoms of danger to the life of the patient, is thought to place the empire of beauty in great jeopardy; the complaint is frequently brought on by neglecting to use a parasol, and may be known by sandy spots, vulgarly known as freckles, scattered over the face. Now, be it known to all whom it may concern, that the infusion of the leaves of the above described plant is said to be an excellent specific for removing these freckles and clearing the skin; and ought, we think, to be chiefly employed by those who have previously removed those moral blemishes which deform the mind, or degrade the dignity of a reasonable and an immortal being.'

Recognized for its ability to purify and cleanse, Fumitory has curious associations with the Underworld as well:

“It was believed to have been created out of the gases rising from the bowels of the earth and has a history of use in exorcisms. An excellent herb to use on Hallow’s Eve, fumitory is among the better incenses for dispelling all negative energies. Fumitory lends itself to rituals of purification, such as preparation of a new residence before moving in and unpacking.” - Beyerl, 1998

Ginkgo is the great-grandfather of all trees, a living bridge across time, reaching back to the dim prehistoric beginnings of life on earth. Ginkgo belongs to one of the oldest known plant families, whose fossil record goes back some 300 million years. Ginkgoes already colonized the earth before the dinosaurs evolve and many aeons before the first humanoids were born.
Back in those primordial days there were many species of Ginkgo, but they were all swept away in the successive waves of mass extinctions that repeatedly wiped the life from the surface of our planet. All, but Ginkgo biloba, which today is the only species in the only genus of the prehistoric order of ginkgo plants.

Ginkgos are neither deciduous nor coniferous, they actually form a distinct order of their own. Throughout their ancient history they have managed to survive by virtue of their adaptability. Yet, had it not been for Buddhist monks in Japan and Southeast Asia, who held these trees sacred and tended them in their temple gardens, Ginkgoes would be extinct today. Although once upon a time they were widespread throughout the temperate climate zone, today they only survive in cultivated stands. They made their comeback to Europe some 200 years ago and after it transpired that this tree is extremely resistant to environmental toxins and even to radiation the world of science is lavishing new attention on this grandfather tree. In Hiroshima 800 meters from the epicenter of the world's most devastating nuclear explosion, a Ginkgo tree which was believed to have been destroyed like everything else in its surroundings, began to sprout a fragile sprig of hope just one year after the cataclysmic event. Today that sprig has grown into a tree once more, symbolizing hope and the immortal power of nature and life.

Medicinal: In China Ginkgo is well known as a tonic that ensures longevity and vitality. It is an excellent stimulant for the circulation, particularly the peripheral circulation and the flow of blood to the brain, which has proven to be of great service to age related conditions, such as memory loss, loss of nerve function, e.g. ocular degeneration and tinnitus. Numerous pharmaceuticals for age-related conditions today are based on Ginkgo, which are among the most frequently prescribed drugs. Gingko is a powerful antioxidant which kills free radicals and can thus help prevent many conditions that are at least partly caused by these scavengers. In China Ginkgo is also considered very helpful for respiratory conditions and is often prescribed for asthma and allergies. The nuts, which are edible, are considered aphrodisiac, although the effect is more tonic than stimulant

. Magical Considering the survival skills of this ancient tree, it is not surprising that it should have come to symbolize longevity, the undying life-force and hope against all odds. The split nature of its leaves imply a symbolism of duality as opposites are united in one form. Ginkgo nuts are considered an elixir of life and are used to build potency, stamina and virility and are also associated with fertility, More than any other tree, Ginkgo has become the beloved tree of philosophers and poets.

This plant is very aptly named, for it is indeed a golden rod when the stem is beset with its golden flowers.
The Latin name, Solidago means 'makes whole', which alludes to the plants former primary use as a wound herb. Back in the Middle Ages various different wound herbs were all bunched together under this generic term. Linné gave Golden Rod its by-name 'virga aurea' which means - golden rod, and these days is often shortened to virgaurea.
There are various different species of Goldenrods, several of which are used medicinally, while others are used as a tea herb to make a simple herbal beverage. However, S. virgaurea is quite bitter
. The golden flowers are like sunbeams caught as flowers, yet not everybody is happy to see them - Goldenrod, often gets the blame as one of the worst offenders during hay fever season. Probably unfairly so, as it is much more likely that Fleabane is the real culprit - Goldenrod on the other hand, is indicated as a healing herb to soothe the symptoms of asthma and hay fever.

Medicinal
The old herbalists praise this herb for its wound healing abilities, for which it was used inwardly and outwardly. It staunches bleeding and speeds the healing process.
It has been used to treat the symptoms of a cold and as a gargle for sore throat.
But what this herb really excels in is the treatment of kidney and bladder conditions. It appears to be a specific for the kidneys and can restore them like no other herb. It acts as a strengthening, cleansing tonic that purifies bladder and kidneys in case of infection and can even clear stones and gravel.
It is also indicated to treat oral or vaginal thrush caused by candida as it appears to have antifungal properties that are active against this yeast.

Magical:
The rods once used to be used as dowsing rods to search for water veins or hidden treasures. Incidentally they were also said to mark the spot (grow) where treasure had been hidden.

Gotu Kola is an inconspicuous herb that likes to grow in tropical swamps. It is not absolutely certain where it originated, but some sources suggest it may have traveled from Africa, via Madagascar to India, where it is a highly revered household herb with a great reputation as a panacea. Gotu Kola is one of those Elixirs of Life, that is said to stimulate Chi, the life force. Gotu Kola is said to increase longevity, vitality and potency and Ayurvedic doctors often prescribe it to the elderly to counter the effects of aging. It has also long been held sacred and valued as a meditation aid, as it enhances the ability to concentrate. Due to a mistaken association with Kola nuts, it is sometimes suggested that its effects are due to caffeine, but Gotu Kola does not contain caffeine and is not related to Kola nuts. Unfortunately its beneficial effects are not shared by the common European species Centella vulgaris.

Traditional:
Gotu Kola can be used for many different conditions. It is an excellent supportive herb for the elderly, which aids mental and nervous functions and counteracts memory loss. It can also be given to hyperactive children to increase their attention span. It is an overall tonic which appears to increase the haemoglobin levels in the blood. It is also richer in B vitamins than any other plant - the B vitamins play a significant role in the health of the brain and nervous system. Gotu Kola has also shown amazing effects on wound healing and regeneration of connective tissues. It is traditionally used to treat ulcers, leprosy and skin conditions and has recently shown good results on cellulites and varicose veins. In Ayurvedic medicine it is also used for stomach ulcers, indigestion and as an anti-inflammatory in rheumatoid conditions. It may be useful in Lupus and ME, but more studies need to be done.

Magical:
Gotu Kola is an excellent herb to aid meditation as it clears the mind and enhances the ability to concentrate. It is a great elixir of life and can be used for longevity, virility and fertility. It is said to enhance sexual stamina and may be useful in tantric practices and sex magic.

Once upon a time, Ground Ivy as well as many other aromatic herbs were used for brewing ales. Brewing recipes varied, depending on the season. Ground Ivy was especially linked to midsummer brews. It is claimed that it enhances the inebriating effect. Ground Ivy was also regarded as a magical herb of protection. In particular it was used as counter-magic against bad spells that affect the cattle's ability to give milk.

Medicinal:
Ground Ivy is a wonderful, gentle tonic and blood cleansing herb. It stimulates the endocrine system and the metabolism, which is why it was always included in spring cleansing diets and elixirs.
It has traditionally been used to clear chronic or acute congestive conditions of the head and upper respiratory tract, including ear troubles and tinnitus that originate from unresolved ear infection or congestive head colds.
Externally it has also been used as a wash to treat slow healing, festering wounds and sore gums.

Magical:
Ground Ivy increases perceptive powers, and enhances extrasensory perception: auras may become visible, energy fields may be felt, ghosts, spirits and other inhabitants of the Otherworld may become apparent.

Hawthorn leaves, flowers, and the berries have been praised over the centuries for their heart elevating properties. Believed to uplift and strengthen both the physical and emotional heart, hawthorn, as it supports healthy cardiovascular function, was also revered for ceremonial and spiritual purposes.

Hawthorn has been used since the Middle ages, with some accounts going back as far as the first century to Greek herbalist Dioscorides. It was later used by Swiss physician Paracelsus (1493–1541 CE). Considered to be a particularly symbolic tree with many folktales and magical myths surrounding it, hawthorn was "sacred tree medicine" to the ancient Druids, and was said to house fairies, specifically when growing with oak and ash trees. However, it was unlucky to bring the flowers into the house, quite possibly because they would bring the fairy folk with them. Hawthorn twigs and flowers were incorporated in the marriage wreath symbolizing chastity and insuring prosperity at Greek weddings and were also used to decorate alters worshipping the goddess of marriage, Hymen. In Ireland, couples desiring hawthorn's blessing would dance around it at marriage ceremonies. The sprigs were attached to newborn's cradles to protect them from evil, and also used to decorate the maypole for the May Day or Beltane ceremony, which celebrated fertility and renewal. The blooming of this tree coincided with the first day of summer which occurred in May. In the traditional medicine of Europe all parts of the tree were appreciated and utilized: leaves, berries, flowers, and the wood. The blossoms were used as a heart tonic and a diuretic, and the berries and leaves were made into an astringent tea to soothe throats. The bright red sumptuous berries were also made into a tasty brandy cordial. Additionally, the wood was carved into smaller objects such as boxes and combs and burnt as fuel producing wood fires that were extremely hot.

Hawthorn or 'shanzha' has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) since ancient times, however most historical uses were related to digestion until recently. It is considered energetically slightly warm, associated with the spleen, stomach, and liver meridians, and reflects both sweet and sour tastes. Presently, it is used to support the cardiovascular system as well, and in fact, in China, the berries are so popular that they are made into hawthorn candies that are similar to the 'fruit roll-ups' in the West. Hawthorn is considered a superior heart tonic by many herbalists. However, its effects on the heart are manifold. Many consider hawthorn to be transformational for the emotional or spiritual heart as well. Herbalist Matthew Becker suggests that hawthorn is specifically helpful for women with "broken hearts" i.e. for those " feeling wounded and hurt." Often the flowers and leaves are made into floral essences to address these types of emotional issues.

Our Special collection of herbs honoring the Norse Goddess of the Underworld!

Contains:

• Elder Leaf
• Wormwood
• Mugwort
• Ground Ivy
• Atropa Belladonna Herb