Herbs
Raspberry leaves are among the most pleasant-tasting of all the herbal remedies, with a taste much like black tea, without the caffeine. Raspberries were said to have been discovered by the Olympian gods themselves while searching for berries on Mount Ida.
Herbalists and midwives continue to copy Red Raspberry’s traditional uses from the Chippewa and other Native American groups: as an effective herbal support throughout all stages of a woman’s life from menstrual discomforts to pregnancy and childbirth.
Red Raspberry is more than just a women’s tonic though, the nutritive herb builds healthy blood (high in iron), soothes gastrointestinal distress and eases digestive discomforts.
Herbalist Hint: Red Raspberry makes a pleasant tasting tea with a black tea like taste and a delicate fruity floral aroma. It blends well with fruity Hibiscus and lemony teas like Lemon Verbena & Lemongrass.
Magickal:
Raspberry is served as a love inducing food and the leaves are carried by pregnant women to alleviate the pains of pregnancy and childbirth. Also used for Love and Protection.
Raspberry magic is the magic of patience in fertility. First year canes do not produce fruit but are essential to the fertility of the plant, establishing her root system and filling her canes with the strength and energy she'll need. After the cane has weathered a year, she's ready to bloom and fruit. Raspberry reminds us that maturity and proper conditioning are essential to abundant and healthy reproduction.
It is best to be patient, Raspberry councils, when beginning any creative endeavor.
Raspberry's thorny canes remind us, too, to be protective of the fruits of our labors. If we truly want to share our work, we would be wise to be picky about who will carry it into the world. Birds, who cover a wide territory and have adapted strong beaks and feet that are undaunted by Raspberry's thorns, are welcomed by thorny Raspberry's canes. Bear, with his delicate claws, thick coat, and wide range is another welcome forager in Raspberry's thicket. Raspberry offers up her bounty knowing her seed will be carried far and wide by friends who have evolved the tools and techniques to pass her thorny test.
Horsetail belongs to an ancient family of plants, known as Equisetaceae, which have been around for millions of years. Long before human beings walked the earth they already fed the dinosaurs. In those days they grew as tall as trees and horsetail forests covered large tracts of land. Today they are looked down on as troublesome weeds that are almost impossible to get rid of. However, Horsetail is an extremely valuable healing herb that should be treasured instead of eradicated. Its main virtue lies in the fact that it is very rich in silicon. In the old days this property made it not just interesting for healing, but it also provided an excellent cleansing agent, which is still valued by certain craftsmen who use it as very fine sandpaper to give a fine polish to metal and precious stones. In the days when blacksmiths were closely allied with alchemists and knew some of their secrets, Horsetail was valued for giving magical strength to weapons and armour. Although gardeners don't like Horsetails, they might appreciate its fungicidal properties as Horsetail infusions are effective in treating mildew and mint rust on blackspot on roses.
Medicinal: Horsetail is an excellent and valuable healing herb, especially for the connective tissues. When bones, hair, nails or teeth are soft or brittle Horsetail gives extra strength. It can also help repair damage to tendons and cartilages, or, used as a gargle, tighten loose teeth and stop gums from bleeding.
It is a very effective styptic and can stop bleeding almost instantly. Thus it is an excellent remedy not just for external wounds, especially gangrene and bleeding eczema, but also for internal bleeding, e.g. bleeding stomach ulcers, bleeding from the lungs etc. Of course, these are serious conditions and professional guidance must be sought before attempting any self-treatment. Horsetail is also very valuable for all afflictions of the urinary tract, kidney and bladder inflammation, stones and prostatitis. Its immune system stimulating action supports the diuretic action in the treatment of these conditions. For even greater effectiveness, sitzbaths should be taken alongside the herbal tea. Externally, footbaths, wraps, compresses and such are all highly effective topical treatments to strengthen and heal affected body parts.
NOTE: Equisetum arvense should not be used by persons with cardiac or kidney disease. Not recommended for long term use or use by children.
Magical: Horsetail strengthens resolve and defines boundaries. It can be used to make affirmations and commitments firm and to protect one's psychic space against unwanted intrusions. It helps to cleanse unwanted emotional rubble and debris from the system. It is an herb of Saturn.
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.
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 oil 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. Usually it is the essential oil that is used medicinally, but the herb 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.
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.
Few herbs produce as many variants as the Mint family and each tastes, smells and acts a little bit different. Spearmint is delightful - much less harsh and pungent than the more commonly used Peppermint. This is due to the fact that it contains very little menthol. Spearmint is thus the preferred species for culinary purposes, while Peppermint is favoured for medicinal uses. However, that does not mean to suggest that Spearmint does not have any therapeutic uses. The ancients valued it highly as an herb for students and scholars. They thought a wreath of Spearmint a fitting crown for academics and poets, which was thought to aid concentration and keep the mind clear. The Romans liked it as a strewing herb and sprinkled their quarters to scent the air with its nice, fresh aroma. Spearmint also lends itself better for cosmetic use than the more pungent Peppermint. It is very refreshing, relaxing and uplifting, for example when added to the bathwater, where Peppermint would make one feel cold, even if the water was hot. Spearmint is not as stimulating as Peppermint, which makes it also suitable for use at night and it is said to bring happy dreams and restful sleep.
Traditional
Spearmint can be used much like Peppermint. It is relaxing and antispasmodic. It aids digestion and alleviates nausea. It may be a useful calming and soothing remedy for PMT. In general its medicinal action is not as strong as that of Peppermint and its taste is milder, which is why it is usually preferred for culinary uses. Due to its milder action it is also generally thought more suitable for children's troubles, such as 'rumble-tum', nausea, insomnia, colic or feverish conditions. Added to the bathwater it is relaxing and restorative, soothing and clearing for the mind.
Spearmint can be used when studying and at times of intense mental concentration. It can be used for cleansing and protection rituals, for healing and aura cleansing. It protects the practitioner on his astral journeys and during dream work. It enhances mental clarity, concentration and focus.
Shepherd's Purse has become quite a world-citizen: it can be found in just about any patch of land, whether cultivated garden or abandoned wasteland throughout all temperate regions outside the tropics. An herb of the mustard family, Shepherds Purse has typical little white 4 petaled flowers, which turn into tiny heart-shaped pods. When the seeds are ripe they have a fiery bite that can be utilized as a 'wild pepper'. In times gone by it was a much valued remedy, but it is rarely used today. Native North Americans absorbed this herb into their material medica and adapted it to their own uses.
Medicinal:
Shepherd's Purse is strongly astringent and has successfully been used as a styptic for internal and external bleeding. During World War I, when other commonly used styptics such as Ergot and Goldenseal became unavailable, Shepherd's Purse was used as a replacement, and apparently with good success. It can be used for inner bleeding e.g. from the lungs or stomach.
It is also considered diuretic and anti-inflammatory and can thus be helpful in cases of bladder inflammation.
Old herbals recommend it as an aid for women during menopause. Today it is still occasionally used to reduce excessive menstrual flow as well as diarrhea and dysentery. Native Americans used it to kill and expel intestinal worms, to soothe stomach aches, cramps and dysentery and as a lotion to heal the stings of Poison Ivy.
Magical:
Shepherd's Purse was used as a protective charm against bleeding. The seeds were used as an amulet for teething children. Eating the seeds of the first three Shepherd's Purse plants one sees is said to protect against all manner of diseases for the rest of the year.
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