Lavender – Lavandula officinalis

Lavender blossoms

Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates

with choice fruits,

with henna and nard,

nard and saffron,

calamus and cinnamon,

with every kind of incense tree,

with myrrh and aloes

and all the finest spices.

 

Song of Songs 4:13-14

In the Bible ‘nard’ refers to Lavender

 

This popular member of the mint family is a native of the western Mediterranean where it grows on grassy slopes amongst rocks. Lavender makes an excellent companion plant for most garden plants, but most especially cabbages. This highly aromatic shrub blooms from July through August.

The knowledge of its varied uses dates back to at least the ancient Greeks. The Romans shared Lavender with the Europeans, and they themselves used Lavender in the bath, in preparation for childbirth, to expel afterbirth, and to promote menstruation.

 

In magic it has been used for years upon years for its calming scent, its peaceful and sedating effects and to help attract love! Its scent is said to attract men. Keeping this herb in the home ensures peace; joy and healing will always be present!

 

The leaves, petal, and flowering tips can be consumed raw in salads, soups, and stews….it can also be used as a condiment. The flowers can be used to brew a tea, using fresh or dried if fine. Since the flowers have a very aromatic flavor use care in the formulae so that the flavor is not too strong. The fresh flowers can be added to jams, ice-creams, vinegar, and etc as a food flavoring!

 

In Herbal medicine the traditional uses of Lavender include a variety of nervous conditions, including depression and fatigue. It has also been used for headache, rheumatism, and as an antiseptic.

 

On one of the Western Indian reservations there is a major problem with black mold. This mold is a killer, and one of my acquaintances experimented with a strong lavender infusion. The infusion was strained and put into spray bottle. When sprayed on the walls the mold died!

 

Since then I, personally had an issue with mold in the sinuses, and remembering what was discovered out west, I took a single drop of Lavender essential oil in the palm of one hand, rubbed my two palms together, then inhaled deeply. I repeated this 3 or more times a day…within 48 hrs there was a remarkable change in my sinus problem with a complete resolution within 10 days!

Crape Myrtle – Lagerstroemia indica

Crepe or Crape Myrtle

As lovely as soft bits of fragile crinkled silk,
These rosy blossoms, clustered thick upon the heavy drooping boughs,
When shaken by a summer wind,
Drop down in swirling showers,
And drift awhile about the ground;
Then gathered into frothy heaps beneath the hedge,
They spread a frill of rosy lace around the green lawns edge.

– Leda Clements

 

 

This native of East Asia has become established as the Southern marker of the season. When few other bushes are in bloom, the Crape Myrtle is in full, glorious flower. All through the hottest part of the summer season (July through August) they shower us with refreshing beauty.

 

For many years this plant has been used in Filipino and Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of diabetes. One of the active chemicals is corosolic acid, which is believed to stimulate glucose uptake. It has also been shown to lower cholesterol level and moderation of liver lipid levels!

 

Crape myrtle has dietary fiber and minerals (zinc and magnesium) at high levels and due to its assistance with glucose uptake has shown a drop in weight and appetite! The leaves can be boiled and consumed as tea.

 

The ancient Jews believed that the eating of myrtle leaves conferred the power of detecting witches; and it was a superstition that if the leaves crackled in the hands the person beloved would prove faithful.

Castor Bean – Ricinus communis

Castor Bean flowers

This very Toxic plant produces Ricin in all parts, but especially concentrated in its seeds. Ricin has been used in biologic warfare and terrorism. Ricin is found after the oil has been extracted, the cake that remains carries it. Symptomology of poisoning includes stomach irritation, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, increased heart rate, low blood pressure, profuse sweating, collapse, convulsions, and death within a few days. If death does not occur after 5 days, the patient normally recovers! The plant is also grown as a deterrent to ground burrowing pest in the yard and garden.

 

Even with the fear that Ricin may generate, the Castor Bean plant has been known in medicine

The infamous Castor oil has been used in the US since the days of the pioneers. As America’s west was settled people seemed to want vile concoctions dreamed up by ‘snake oil’ salesmen. The more unpleasant tasting the concoction, the better. Castor oil was used to treat everything from constipation to heartburn; it was even taken to induce labor!

 

The oil contains water resistant qualities that make it perfect for coating fabric, insulation, food containers, and guns. The dehydrated oil has qualities superior to linseed and tung oil! The Egyptians used the oil for fueling lamps. Herodotus (a Greek traveler) reported seeing castor oil used for body ointments, and for hair tonics to improve hair growth and texture. Cleopatra was even said to use it to brighten the whites of her eyes!

To read my former post

Garlic – Allium sativum

Sacred to: Hecate

Myth 1: Homer tells us that the virtues of garlic is what saved Ulysses from being turned into a pig like his soldiers were on the island of Aeaea by Circe, an enchantress.

Myth 2: In Islamic tradition or mythology, garlic sprang up from Satan’s left foot as he was driven out of paradise

Other Notes: In the world of folk magic, the overall power of the garlic lies in its ability to protect, from disease and from harm. Bullfighters were a clove of garlic around their neck to protect themselves from the horns of the bulls. In Balkan countries, garlic is rubbed on doorknobs to protect themselves from vampires and dried garlic wreaths are hung on doors to protect from evil witches or the evil eye. Some Europeans place garlic in a newborn’s cradle with salt and iron for the period from birth to baptism, so the child will be protected from original sin. In Sicily, it is placed in beds with women during childbirth and making the sign of the cross with garlic was said to drive a variety of tumors away. English nannies believed they could cure whooping cough by placing a clove of garlic in a child’s sock, and Cubans believe they can cure jaundice by wearing thirteen cloves of garlic for 13 days.

Garlic – Allium sativum

Garlic

One that makes cheese-laden Texas toast taste twice as nice.
When baking a pizza it brings out the flavor
Providing a mouth watering feast to savor.

I have long enjoyed these meals that transformed my breath
Into something that is reminiscent of death,
But I never tried cooking with the spice myself.
Cloves of garlic never decorated my shelf.

By ‘Mike’

Read more 

One of the oldest known food medicines out there. It was known, used and loved by the ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Jews, Greeks and Romans. Garlic is mentioned in the Bible and the Talmud. Hippocrates, Galen, Pliny the Elder, and Dioscorides all mention the use of garlic for a multitude of complaints.

Garlic has been used topically for the treatment of ringworm, Candida, and vaginitis. Daily use internally has been shown in studies to be beneficial to the heart, blood system, and lowering blood pressure. Studies suggest that in Spain and Italy, where heart disease is significantly lower, that the high consumption of garlic in the diet is responsible.

During the Middle Ages, when the Church was condemning women to burn as witches, and killing their cats as familiars, rats abounded in number, and with them their fleas. The fleas carried with them the Black Plague, which infected a multitude of people. But one group of thieves went house to house ransacking and stealing whatever they found with impunity. They were able to keep the plague at bay by using ‘the vinegar of the four thieves,’ whose main ingredient was garlic!

In magic Garlic is ruled by Mars, its element is Fire, and it is sacred to Hecate. Often used in magic spells, it has been thought to be powerful in protection workings for centuries. Place peeled cloves of garlic around the home and in doorways as protection from illness and evil from entering. This is especially needed in new homes! In both Muslim and Christian legend garlic springs up in the left footprint of the devil (in Christianity they add onions in the right footprint) as he left the Garden of Eden after mans fall from grace!

To read my former post…

Cherry Laurel – Prunus laurocerasus

Cherry Laurel

The cherry laurel tree drops some magic on the plants below.
They accept with open arms.
The sidewalk that winds its way

beside the tree and

under the blue lights ~

earlier laden with pear tree blossoms

and red camellias ~

is now covered

with these tiny flowers.

By D. Smith Kaich Jones 

This Toxic plant is poisonous due to the presence of hydrogen cyanide, the same thing that gives almonds their distinctive smell. The leaves and seed kernels have the hydrogen cyanide present higher than other parts. Symptoms of toxicity are respiratory failure and death!

This is an evergreen shrub has been imported from Europe. Anyone planting this one should give it a thought before doing so, as it becomes invasive readily, with the seed being spread by birds in their droppings. This bush will cause native plants and tree seedlings to be eliminated from their normal habitat. It will shade out seedlings in woodland settings, and outcompetes others.

At the Blarney Castle in Ireland there is a Poison Garden first planted in the 18^th century. In it are all the deadliest plants and one can walk amongst them there. Cherry Laurel or English Laurel is one of the bushes featured.

Regardless of its toxic properties the leaves are antispasmodic, narcotic, and sedative. They have been utilized in the treatment of coughs, asthma, indigestion, and externally in a wash for the eye. An essential oil is also extracted from the leaf.

The leaves when distilled in water has been used as an almond flavoring in cooking. The fruit is edible, as long as caution is used to not bite the seed kernel, so that the hydrogen cyanide is not released. The fruit can be used to make jellies or jams.

In magic gather the dying, yellowing leaves, write on it with a stick or other pointed tool. When the leaf is subsequently heated or warmed by body heat the writing will appear! The leaves were also used to ward off evil spirits.

Spatterdock (Yellow Pond Lily) – Nuphar lutea

Flat lake stagnant with pondweed,
pickerelweed, dollar bonnet,
maidencane, spatterdock—

there’s no compass here.
The toothy dredge crackles along
the bottom, uprooting snails

By Aubrie Marrin 

The heart shaped mature leaves float on the surface of slow moving waters, in ponds, lakes and slow moving rivers. Beginning in May and lasting through to September the flowers rise on an emergent thick, green stalk above the water. After the flowers are fertilized they sink below the surface for close to ten days, when the seed head then rises above the surface of the water and explodes…broadcasting the seeds at a distance from the parent. The exploding seedpod is part of why the plants one common name is Spatter-dock!

Most parts of the plant served some purpose in life…food, and medicine being the most prominent uses. The Native Americans had many uses for the root, seeds, flowers, and leaves. In herbal medicine the Shuswap Indians of British Columbia would make an infusion of the mashed roots for application to back pain, rheumatism, and sores. The Thompson Indians (of the same area) would mix the dried leaves with grease and use this ointment applied to swellings, bites, and infections.

The roots are anaphrodisiac (blunting the libido), and were used among the Abnaki men as infusion to inhibit sexual drives and desires for up to 2 months. Containing steroids the roots would be used for sexual irritability, blood diseases, and chills. It was also a folk remedy for infertility.

Check out the earlier post on this plant.

German Chamomile – Matricaria recutita

Chamomile

The weather outside is so brutal tonight
I have nothing better to do but go to bed
Maybe some chamomile tea and warm milk
Would calm thoughts buzzing in my head…

By Adele Kaye

‘The Plant’s Physician’ has been well known in companion planting to help any plant near it to recover and thrive! The physician is the well known German Chamomile plant. This annual herb with the yellow centered daisy like flowers has a distinct scent of apples about it.

 

Chamomile has been used for centuries in Europe for its anti anxiety, sedative, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antispasmodic properties. It is gentle enough to be used with babies and small children to help when they suffer from colds, stomach ache (colic), sleeplessness, and for eczema and inflammation. The tea is used for nervous issues and menstrual cramps.

 

As an incense it is good for meditation, for centering, and peace. In magic sprinkle it around your home for protection, healing, and to attract money. The Egyptians held it in a reverential position for its many virtues, and dedicated it to their gods!

Gingko – Gingko biloba

Gingko – Maidenhair Tree

One of the oldest living trees, with a claimed life span of between 1000 and 2500 years for healthy specimens! It is considered a living fossil since fossils show absolute relation to modern Gingko dating back from 270 million years. This tree has been cultivated in China for centuries, but Europeans were introduced to it only in 1690 in a Japanese Temple garden.

 

In herbal medicine it is proposed for the treatment, but not the prevention of dementias and Alzheimer’s. As well as enhancing memory and concentration, it has been used in vertigo to help alleviate the dizziness. This plant improves blood flow, and can have some side effects, especially in people on anti coagulants, with blood circulation issues, people taking anti-depressants or pregnant women.

 

The nuts of this tree are also edible, being considered a traditional Chinese food. They are served at special occasions such as weddings and the New Year. In some cases people will have toxic responses to the nutmeats, esp. when consumed in large quantities of by children. Some have had contact dermatitis when handling the outer fleshy coating resembling the blisters of Poison Ivy.

 

The Maidenhair tree is the national tree of China. And the leaf is the symbol of the Urasenke school of the Japanese tea ceremony. Six of these trees survived the bombing of Hiroshima!

Ginger – Zingiber officinale

Ginger root

Hot, moist, lightly shady…those are the basic conditions one must have to grow Ginger…much like that found in Southeastern Asia, India, West Africa and in the Caribbean. Other plants that like similar conditions are bee balm (Monarda didyma), mitsuba (Cryptotaenia japonica), and angelica (Angelica archangelica).

 

Ginger is one of the oldest spices found in the records. Found in all the early medical texts, found as early as 3000 BC in the Greek. The Greeks and Romans used a lot of ginger. European records show it dating to the 11^th century. It appears to have arrived in England and was reported on by the 11^th century herbalists there. The primary holy book of Islam, the Koran (Arabic, al-Quran) contains text which indicates that ginger is considered both a spiritual and a heavenly herb.

 

Ginger has a range of actions in the body, cholagogue (stimulates the release of bile from the gall bladder) and hepato-protective (protects the liver), possible stimulation of peristalsis and stomach secretions, a reduction in fevers, coughing, spasms, and reduction of the prostaglandins that increase smooth muscle contractions. Topically it is rubefacient (increases circulation to the area).

One of the ways my daughters used ginger as teenagers was for menstrual cramps, whether in capsule form or a warm cup of tea, ginger sooths the long muscle cramping. It has also helped with motion sickness issues on more than one occasion.

Ginger has also been a very popular addition to cooking as well. It can be made into candy, tea, Ginger beer, and in Chinese and Indian cuisines seasoning dishes made of seafood, mutton and vegetarian. It can also be used as a flavoring in cookies, crackers and cakes.

 

In magic Ginger has been used to attract money and also in success spells. If a spell is cast after eating ginger it has more power, since the ginger has heated you up. This is especially true of love spells!