Herbal Reference

A Witches
Herbal Reference

*G/P/E: Gender/Planet/Element

ALOE
G/P/E: Feminine, Moon, Water.
Magical attributes: Beauty, protection, success, peace.
Uses: Aloe has always been known for its healing qualities. For treating wounds and maintaining healthy skin. It may be applied right from the plant or in gel form for burns, sunburns, and can relieve poison ivy rash and helps to combat a variety of bacteria that commonly cause infections in skin wounds. It is also an excellent additive for soaps and creams as a conditioner.

After using gel from a leaf the opened leaf will seal itself so you can store it in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator for future uses.


ANGELICA
G/P/E: Masculine, Venus, Fire.
Magical attributes: Protection, Exorcism.
Uses: Grow in the garden as a protection. Carry the root with you as an amulet. Burn the dried leaves in exorcism rituals.


ANISE
G/P/E: Masculine, Jupiter or Moon, Air.
Magical attributes: Protection, purification, awareness, joy.
Uses: For treating coughs, bronchitis and a stuffy nose, it loosens bronchial congestion, making it easier to cough it up and expel it. A good breath freshener in the morning, and if kept by the bed it will prevent bad dreams. Also a digestive aid and can relieve an upset stomach and flatulence when taken as a tea, and a treatment for colic. Also suggested that anise may be beneficial to women because certain chemicals in the plant are chemical cousins to the female hormone estrogen. Though it is mild, anise may help to relieve the discomfort of menopause. In traditional folk medicine it has been used to promote milk production in nursing mothers. It's recommended dosage would be 1 teaspoonful of seeds for every cup of boiling water, steep 10-20 minutes and strain, drink 3 cups a day for maximum effect. A good general cleansing bath is made with a handful of anise seeds and a few bay leaves. A pillow of anise keeps away nightmares. Also a good sedative.


APPLE
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Water.
Magical attributes: Love spells, good luck.


ASH
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Water.
Magical attributes: A tree with protective qualities, it is used to make brooms for purification and wands for healing. The leaves placed beneath a pillow induce psychic dreams. The leaves bring luck and good fortune when carried in a pocket of bag worn around the neck.


BALM of GILEAD
G/P/E: Feminine, Saturn.
Magical attributes: The buds are carried to ease a broken heart and can be added to love and protection charms and spells.

BASIL
G/P/E: Masculine, Mars, Fire
Magical attributes: Protection, love, wealth (if carried in your wallet), healing relationships, ensuring faithfulness in a mate, courage, fertility, exorcism.
Uses: It is good as a tea for calming the nerves, settling the stomach, and easing cramps and good for the bladder. In tincture form, also makes a good hair rinse for brunettes. An ingredient of the Purification bath sachet. Add to love sachets and incenses.


BAY LAUREL
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire
Magical attributes: wisdom, protection, psychic powers, banishes negative energy.
Uses: DO NOT TAKE INTERNALLY-use as a poultice on chest for bronchitis and chest colds.


BAY LEAVES:
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical attributes: Psychic visions and dreams, repels negativity and evil.


BENZOIN
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Air.
Magical attributes: Used widely in purification incenses. Tincture of benzoin preserves oils and preparations.


BETONY
G/P/E: Masculine, Jupiter, Fire.
Magical attributes: Add to incenses of protection and purification. Sleep on a pillow stuffed with betony to prevent nightmares.


CARAWAY
G/P/E: Masculine, Mercury, Air
Magical attributes: Protection, Passion. Used in love charms to attract a lover.
Uses: Add to love sachets and charms to attract a lover in the more physical aspect. Also a mild stimulant for digestion. Culinary herb.


CARNATION
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical attributes: Worn by witches for protection during the "Burning Times", adds energy and power when used during a ritual as an incense.


CATNIP
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Water.
Magical attributes: Cat magic, familiars, joy, friendship, love.
Uses: Its flowers and leaves have often been used to treat colds and insomnia. It lowers fevers, dries up post nasal drip, gets rid of bad headaches and relieves sore aching bones due to colds and flus, when taken in tea form, 2-3 times daily. As an incense it may be used to consecrate magical tools.


CELANDINE
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical attributes:Helps the wearer escape unfair imprisonment and entrapment, cures depression.

CHAMOMILE
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun or Venus, Water.
Magical attributes: Good as a meditation incense, for centering, peace, sprinkle in your home for protection, healing, money.
Uses: Is an excellent herb both internally and externally for calming. Great for digestion, fevers, burns, rs, anti-inflammatory for wounds, and sedative for nervous disorders. And relieves stomachaches and diarrhea in infants and small children (always using in diluted form). In tea form, made of 2 teaspoons of the herb steeped for 5 minutes in a cup of boiling water is a gentle sleep inducer. Chamomile also makes an excellent insect repellent, simply splash some tea on face arms and feet. It is also a good hair rinse for blonds. Plant chamomile in your garden to be the guardian of the land, and you will have certain success.


CINQUEFOIL
G/P/E: Masculine, Jupiter, Earth.
Magical attributes:Hang around the doors and windows for protection from evil. Use in spells and charms for prosperity, purification and protection.


CINNAMON
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical attributes: Spiritual quests, augmenting power, love, success, psychic work, healing, cleansing. Used in incenses for healing, clairvoyance, high spiritual vibrations. Reputed to be a male aphrodisiac. Use in prosperity charms.
Uses: It is recommended as a skin astringent and digestive aid in tea form. Ground, or taken with milk, good balance after a heavy meal or dessert. Also used for diarrhea, dysentery or general indigestion. It is an excellent aromatic and makes a good anointing oil for any magical working.


CLOVER
G/P/E: Masculine, Mercury, Air.
Magical attributes: Associated with the Triple Goddess. Use in rituals for beauty, youth, healing injuries, curing madness. A Four-leaved clover enables one to see fairies, and as a general good-luck charm.


CLOVE
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical attributes: Wear in an amulet or charm to dispel negativity and bind those who speak ill of you. Cloves strung on a red thread can be worn as a protective charm. Money matters, visions, cleansing and purification.
Uses: It has a mild antiseptic quality for toothaches (chew), or in tea form it is an expectorant for colds, also good foe nausea or vomiting. It is an antibacterial,antiseptic, and analgesic, which means it helps prevent disease and infection.


COMFREY
G/P/E: Feminine, Saturn, Water.
Magical attributes: Safe travel spells, money, healing, honoring the Crone aspect of the Goddess.
Uses: Has been known to slow bleeding, aid colds, ease burns. As a poultice or a tea, comfrey may be applied to bites, sores, rashes, broken bones, and cuts. Also a good ingredient for lotions to soothe sunburn.


CORIANDER
G/P/E: Masculine, Mars, Fire.
Magical attributes: Protection of home and serenity, peace , good in ritual drinks, incenses for longevity and love spells.
Uses: If added to wine, it makes a good love potion for 2 consenting parties. To use in this fashion, grind 7 grains of coriander and mix into a wine and drink. Also used in love sachets and charms.


COWSLIP
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Water.
Magical uses: Luck in love, a woman who washes her face with milk infused with cowslip will draw her beloved closer to her. Induces contact with departed loved ones during dreams.


CYPRESS
G/P/E: Masculine, Saturn, Earth.
Magical uses: Connected to death in all of its aspects. The smoke of Cypress can be used to consecrate ritual objects.


DAISY
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Water
Magical uses: Decorate the house with daisies at Midsummer's Eve to bring happiness to the home and to obtain the blessings of faeries. Daisies are also worn at Midsummer for luck and blessings. In the old times, young maidens would weave and wear daisy chains in their hair to attract their beloved.


DANDELION
G/P/E: Masculine, Jupiter, Air.
Magical attributes: Divination, welcoming, messages.
Uses: The ground root can act as a coffee substitute, and the flowers make a lovely wine. A superb cleansing tonic, and the milky juice is a diuretic, a tonic and a relief for common stomach problems. Use a handful of flower tops to 1 pint of boiling water, steep 10 minutes and strain. Drink this several times a day. Use the milky latex from the stem , rub on a wart several times daily and soon its gone. Also good for night blindness.


DILL
G/P/E: Masculine, Mercury, Fire.
Magical attributes: Useful in love charms. May also be hung in childrens rooms to protect them from evil spirits and protect against bad dreams.
Uses: A culinary herb.


DRAGONS BLOOD
G/P/E: Masculine, Mars, Fire.
Magical uses: Widely used in love, protection and purification spells. Keep a piece under the bed to cure impotency. Carried for good luck. May be dissolved in the bath for strong purification.


ELECAMPANE
G/P/E: Masculine, Mercury, Earth.
Magical uses: Useful in raising spirits and to aid in meditation.


ELDER
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Air.
Magical uses: Branches are widely used for wands. One must always be cautious to ask permission from the Elder Dryad before cutting or harvesting Elder limbs or leaves and berries to avoid very bad luck. It is also considered very bad luck to burn Elder wood. The leaves hung around the doors and windows will ward off evil.


EUCALYPTUS
G/P/E: Feminine, Moon, Air.
Magical uses: Used in healing rituals, charms and amulets. Place the leaves around a blue candle and burn for healing energies. Green pods worn around the neck eases the discomfort of colds, sore throats and congestion.


EYEBRIGHT
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Air.
Magical uses: Anoint eyelids with the infusion daily to induce clairvoyant visions and psychic dreams.


FENNEL
G/P/E: Masculine, Mercury, Fire.
Magical attributes: Purification, protection, healing, money.
Uses: Sometimes employed as an appetite suppressant and digestive aid. Used in tea form to expel mucus. Chew the seeds slowly for really bad breath, or use the fluid extract to rub on gums.


FERN
G/P/E: Feminine, Saturn, Earth.
Magical uses: The Fern is an extremely powerful protective plant. Grow them in and around the house for protection from evil and negativity.


FRANKINCENSE
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical uses: A very powerful aid to meditation. Use to purify ritual spaces and invoke a spiritual frame of mind.


GARDENIA
G/P/E: Feminine, Moon, Water.
Magical uses: Used to attract true love.


GARLIC
G/P/E: Masculine, Mars, Fire.
Magical uses: A very protective herb, healing, good weather, courage, exorcism.
Uses: A culinary herb. Lowers tension, ease colds, and improve circulation. Garlic vinegar can be used to disinfect wounds and soothe rheumatic pain and any common pain (made from one liter of vinegar and ten cloves of crushed garlic steeped for at least 10 days). Shrinks warts, relieves pain from teeth and earaches. Good for high and low blood pressure and removing parasites and infections. To ease the pain of aching joints, a toothache or an earache, place a crushed raw bulb of garlic on a piece of gauze and place over the area of pain. For joints, try using garlic paste.


GINGER
G/P/E: Masculine, Mars, Fire.
Magical attributes: Power, success, love, money matters.
Uses: Acts as an aid to ingestion or colds (tea form). Also in tea form, good for cramps, to stimulate the digestive organs, migraines and nausea, external stiffness. Can be added to the bath as a way to ease pain and increase circulation, but only use a few sprinkles, not to much, like cayenne, ginger quickly brings the blood to the surface of the skin. For pain you can also soak cloths in ginger tea and apply them directly to the painful areas. Add in cooking to detoxify meat, especially chicken. A good healing tea is made from a pinch of peppermint, a pinch of ginger and either a pinch of clove powder or 2 bruised cloves, add 1 cup of hot water and steep.


GINSENG
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical attributes: Love, wishes, beauty, desire.
Uses: Stimulant, tonic, and agent for prolonged life. Also a mild pain killer, and improves blood circulation. Reported to successfully treat asthma, bronchitis, cancer, flatulence, diabetes, weakness, fever, coughs and heartburn, and a mild stimulant. In tea form it helps to relieve stress and moderate heart disease.


HAWTHORN
G/P/E: Masculine, Mars, Fire.
Magical uses: Used in protective sachets and amulets against evil influences. Promotes happiness in marriage or a relationship. It is bad luck to cut down a hawthorn. Burn the berries as an incense when you need energy and and change in life.


HAZEL
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Air.
Magical uses: Hazel wood is excellent for an all-purpose wand. Forked branches can be used for divining. Sprigs of Hazel can be carried for good luck, they are especially powerful if bound together by red and gold thread.


HENBANE
G/P/E: Feminine, Jupiter, Water.
Magical uses: Carried to attract the love of a woman. Was once used as an ingredient in a Witches flying ointment. Henbane is extremely poisonous and the utmost caution is urged.


HIGH JOHN the CONQUEROR ROOT
G/P/E: Masculine, Saturn, Earth.
Magical uses: Use this as an additive to candle anointing oils, and charms to increase their strength.


HOLLY
G/P/E: Masculine, Mars, Fire.
Magical uses: Planted around the home for protection against evil. The leaves and berries can be carried by a man to heighten his masculinity, virility and to attract a lover.


HONEYSUCKLE
G/P/E: Feminine, Jupiter, Earth.
Magical uses: Used widely in prosperity spells and love charms.


HOPS
G/P/E: Masculine, Mars, Water.
Magical uses: Used in healing incenses and charms. A mild sedative. Hops placed in a pillow will help with sleep.


HYSSOP
G/P/E: Masculine, Jupiter, Fire.
Magical uses: Use in purification baths, protective and banishing spells. Hyssop was widely used during the Middle Ages for purification, cleansing and consecration rituals. If burnt as an incense or thrown into a fire is is said one may draw upon magickal dragon energy.


IVY
G/P/E: Masculine, Saturn, Water.
Magical uses: Protects the houses it grows around and over from evil and harm. In the old traditions, Ivy and Holly was given to newlyweds as good-luck charms.


JASMINE
G/P/E: Feminine, Jupiter, Earth.
Magical uses: Used in love spells, charms and sachets. Women have used Jasmine from the earliest recorded history because of its seductive effects on men.


JUNIPER
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical uses: Protection against accidents, harm and theft. The berries are used to attract lovers once dried and worn as a charm.


LAVENDER
G/P/E: Masculine, Mercury, Air.
Magical attributes: Sleep, long life, peace, wishes, protection, love, purification, visions, attracting men, clarity of thought.
Uses: Has strong antiseptic qualities. Mild infusions (3 tablespoons to 6 cups of water) make a good sedative, headache treatment, and digestive aid. Used in oil or tincture form to heal cuts, burns or scalds, bites. This also acts as a tonic and may be used for colds, chills, and the flu. Lavender is an excellent aromatic, usually mixing well with other floral scents. An ingredient in the Purification bath sachet, also used in purification incenses. It is thrown onto the Midsummer fires by Witches as a sacrifice to the ancient gods. Lavender is a frequent addition to healing sachets,especially bath mixtures, and is added to incenses to cause sleep. Lavender is a great antibiotic, antidepressant, sedative and detoxify. Stimulates the immune system.


LEMON
G/P/E: Feminine, Moon or Neptune, Water.
Magical attributes: Purification, love, blessings.
Uses: Sweetens breath. Antiseptic, antibacterial and hypotensive. For chills and sore throat, the juice of a lemon mixed in a glass of honey and warm water, taken 3 times daily should help. For nose bleeds, apply a small piece of cotton, soaked in lemon juice. In oil form it is used for treating warts, insect bites, tension headaches, eliminates cellulite, and is an anti-wrinkle tonic.. Stimulates the digestive system. Also makes a good skin cleanser, hair rinse for blonds, and cleaning agent for brass and silver.


LEMON BALM
G/P/E: Feminine, Moon or Neptune, Water.
Magical uses: Love potions, aphrodisiacs, fertility anti depressant. Drink as an infusion to soothe emotional pains after a relationship ends.


LEMON VERBENA
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Air.
Magical uses: Love charms, youth, beauty and attractiveness to the opposite sex. Wear around your neck or place under a pillow to prevent dreams.


LILAC
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Air
Magical attributes: Protection, warding off evil or banishing rituals, beauty, love, harmony and balance.


LINDEN
G/P/E: Feminine, Jupiter, Water.
Magical uses: Associated with conjugal love or attraction and longevity.


LOVAGE
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Water.
Magical uses: Add the dried and powdered root to cleansing and purification baths to release negativity. Carry to attract love and the attention of the opposite sex.


MANDRAKE
G/P/E: Masculine, Mercury, Earth.
Magical uses: A protective charm for the home. The root increases fertility in women and impotency in men when carried. Charge a mandrake root with your personal energy, sleep with it for three nights prior to the full moon. The root can be carried to increase courage.


MARIGOLD
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical attributes: Prophesy, legal matters, the psychic, seeing magical creatures, love, clairvoyance, dreams, business or legal affairs and renewing personal energy.
Uses: For internal use the flowers are prepared by infusion and recommended for the flu, fever, rheumatism, jaundice, and painful menstruation. Externally, buds are made into compresses for the treatment of burns. Marigold petal ointment can help chapped hands and varicose veins, also works wonders with eczema and inflammation. To ease inflammation, dip a compress into a strong marigold tea combined with an equal part of apple cider vinegar. Sprains can also be helped with marigold petals steeped in vinegar, or make a lotion with milk. Simmer 12 heads in 2 cups milk, steep, strain and apply. Also use as an antiseptic in first aid. Place the flower beneath the head at night to induce clairvoyant dreams. Sometimes added to love sachets. It should be gathered at noon.


MARJORAM
G/P/E: Masculine, Mercury, Air
Magical attributes: protection, love, healing.
Uses: Add to all love charms, place a piece in rooms for protection. Give to a grieving person to bring them happiness.


MEADOWSWEET
G/P/E: Feminine, Jupiter, Water.
Magical uses: Protection against evil influences, promotes love, balance and harmony. A sacred herb of the Druids. Place meadowsweet on the altar when making love charms and conducting love spells to increase
their potency. Wear at Lammas to join with the Goddess.


MINT (SPEARMINT & PEPPERMINT)
G/P/E: Masculine, Mercury or Venus, Air.
Magical attributes: Money, healing, strength, augment power, luck, travel.
Uses: Mint in tea form aids upset stomachs, flu, and can be used to ease hiccups. Inhalations of the leaves in boiling water is recommended for head colds and asthma. Mint tea used instead of aspirin is great for headaches, particularly pre menstrual headaches. Nervous headaches can be relieved if you lie in a dark room with fresh peppermint leaves on the forehead. Aids the respiratory and circulatory systems. An anti-inflammatory and an antiseptic. Ideal for treating indigestion, flatulence, varicose veins, headaches, migraines, skin irritations,rheumatism, toothache, and general fatigue.


MISTLETOE
G/P/E:
Magical uses:Worn for protection and to attract love, or to help conceive.


MUGWORT
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Air.
Magical uses: Clairvoyance, psychic dreams, astral projection, protection. Place in the shoes for protection and to prevent fatigue on long journeys. The fresh leaves rubbed on a magick mirror or crystal ball will strengthen divinatory abilities. Mugwort is perhaps the most widely used Witches herb of all time.


MULLEIN
G/P/E: Masculine, Saturn, Fire.
Magical uses: Courage, protection from wild animals, protection from evil spirits, cleansing of ritual and psychic places before and after working there. Also used for cleansing and purifying ritual tools and altars.


MYRRH
G/P/E: Feminine, Moon or Jupiter, Water.
Magical uses: Purifying and protective incense for ritual areas. Can be used to consecrate tools.
Uses: Excellent insect repellent and as a tincture it is good for bad breath and gum problems.


MYRTLE
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Water.
Magical uses: Myrtle was sacred to the Greek Goddess Venus and has been used in love charms and spells throughout history. Grow indoors for good luck. Carry or wear Myrtle leaves to attract love, charms made of the wood have special magickal properties. Wear fresh Myrtle leaves while making love charms, potions or during rituals for love.


NETTLE
G/P/E: Masculine, Mars, Fire.
Magical attributes: To advert danger, protection, healing, courage, antidote for many poisons.
Uses: Use gloves to handle so as to avoid getting pricked. High in vitamin C and iron and when in tea form can ease asthma and increase your energy levels.


NUTMEG
G/P/E: Feminine, Jupiter, Air.
Magical uses: Clairvoyance and psychic power of visions.


OAK
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical uses: The Oak is a sacred tree in many cultures. A Witch will often seek out a grove of Oak to perform rites. It has always been considered unlucky to cut down an oak. After getting permission from the tree's Dryad, burn oak leaves for purification of ritual spaces. Oak is often used for all-purpose wands and they imbue great power. The acorns have been carried to increase fertility in women and to increase sexual appeal by men, preserve youth and to banish illness. Hang Oak over windows and doors to protect your house from evil spirits.


ONION
G/P/E: Masculine, Mars, Fire.
Magical uses: Protection and healing. Place cut onions in a sick persons room to absorb the illness. Leave them overnight and throw away in the morning.


ORANGE
G/P/E: Feminine, Jupiter, Water.
Magical uses: The dried and powdered peel is added to love and fertility charms.


ORRIS ROOT
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Water.
Magical uses: Love, sexual appeal. Use in charms, amulets, sachets, incenses and baths.


PARSLEY
G/P/E: Masculine, Mercury, Air.
Magical attributes: Fresh parsley leaves in tea form are a treatment for cramps, while dried root decoctions eases urinary infections and arthritis. Externally, crushed leaves relieve insect bites, and may be applied in poultice form to sprains.
Uses: Widely used as a culinary herb


PATCHOULI
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Earth.
Magical uses: Aphrodisiac and attractant of lovers for either sex


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PENNYROYAL
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Earth.
Magical uses: Protection, weariness, deters insects. Avoid Pennyroyal while pregnant.


BLACK PEPPER
G/P/E: Masculine, Mars, Fire.
Magical uses: Use in protective charms.


PERIWINKLE
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Water.
Magical uses: Protection against evil influences. Hang around doors and windows.


PIMPERNEL
G/P/E: Masculine, Mercury, Air.
Magical uses: Wear to detect falsehood to prevent or know when others are lying to you.


PINE
G/P/E: Masculine, Mars, Air.
Magical attributes: Attunement to nature, centering, cleansing, healing, productivity, purification against illness, a good winter incense, fertility charms.
Uses: Pine buds prepared by decoction act as an expectorant and antiseptic. This same mixture can be used for inhalation for head colds, although it is easier to toss some needles in hot water. Green cones and needles can be added to bath water to ease muscle pains and swelling. For magic, pine is best suited for its aromatic qualities of bringing one back into balance, and enhancing connection with the natural world.


POPPY
G/P/E: Feminine, Moon, Water.
Magical uses: Eat poppy seeds as a fertility charm, just don't take a urine test at work for a few days afterward. Carry the seeds or dried seed-pod as a prosperity charm.


ROSE
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Water.
Magical attributes: Love, friendship, luck, protection, psychic power and divination.
Uses: Conserves of roses or rose petals in honey are often recommended for nausea and sore throats. Roses are high in vitamin C.


ROSEMARY
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical attributes: Improve memory, sleep, purification, youth, love, power, healing, protection, intellectual.
Uses: Promotes healing of wounds, acts as an antiseptic, and can be a mild stimulant. Good in teas for treating flu, stress, and headaches or body aches. Mental and physical booster. Used for treating (oil form) muscular sprains, arthritis, rheumatism, depression, fatigue, memory loss, migraine headaches, coughs, flu and diabetes. Excellent remedy for acne or cellulite. When the leaves are soaked in wine for two weeks, small glasses may be taken as a digestive aid. Oil of rosemary is excellent in hair conditioners, and the flowers of this herb may be added to lotion recipes to improve the complexion. Add to all purification bath sachets, love incenses, and protection incenses. Make a simple of rosemary and use it to cleanse the hands before working magic, if you have no time for a regular ritual bath. Burn rosemary and juniper as a healing and recuperation incense.


ROWAN
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical uses: Protection, good luck, healing.


RUE
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical uses: Protection, preventing illness, clearness of mind, purification of ritual spaces and tools, clearing the mind of emotional clutter.


SAFFRON
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical uses: Prosperity, healing and sexual prowess in men

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SAGE
G/P/E: Masculine, Jupiter or Venus, Air.
Magical attributes: Fertility, longevity, wishes, wisdom, protection, healing, health.
Uses: Can be used in an infusion to aid digestion, or as part of a honey wine to fight colds and fever. When applied in compresses it can ease many skin discomforts, including dandruff. If made into cream it is good for muscular pain, and if dried and smoked sometimes gives relief to asthma.


ST JOHN'S WORT
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical uses: Protective charms, ward off fever and illness, a banishing or exorcism incense, the tea increases courage and will power. Gather on Midsummer's Eve, pass through the smoke of bonfires to purify, and hang in the house as protection and to prevent nightmares.


SANDALWOOD
G/P/E: Feminine, Moon, Air.
Magical uses: Purification, protection and healing.


SUNFLOWER
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical uses: Welcomes and invites the blessings of the Sun into the garden. The seeds are eaten by women to increase fertility.


THYME
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Water.
Magical attributes: Sleep, psychic energy, courage, healing, purification incense, magickal cleansing baths, a renewing of one's personal energy, warding off of negative energy.
Uses: Powerful antibacterial, antibiotic, and diuretic properties. It helps eliminate wastes from the body. It is used in treating whooping coughs, warts, rheumatism and acne. A strong antiseptic which when prepared by infusion is useful for poor digestion, exhaustion, colds, and infections, and with honey is an effective treatment for sore throats. Also used in tea form as a fever breaker, headache reducer and to be rid of intestinal worms, and can be used as a mouthwash. Also, a great insect repellent. Use both the leaves and flowers. This tea works best for headaches when taken cold. Take a magical cleansing bath in the spring of thyme and marjoram ( used in tea form or whole herbs). A pillow stuffed with it cures nightmares.


TUMERIC
Uses: added to warm milk it regulates menstrual cycle.


VALERIAN
G/P/E: Feminine, Mercury or Venus, Water.
Magical attributes: Love, calming, sleep, purification or relaxing baths.
Uses: Use the dried, powdered root. Promotes relaxation while counteracting the effects of insomnia, anxiety, nervousness, headaches, pre menstrual syndrome and menstrual cramping. For sleep, before bed take 1 teaspoon of herb to 1 pint of water and simmer. Also acts as a good substitute for catnip. Use the fresh herb in spells of love, also to get fighting couples together. Used in the Purification bath sachet.


VANILLA
G/P/E: Masculine, Jupiter, Fire.
Magical uses: The bean is used in a love charms, the oil is worn as an aphrodisiac.


VERVAIN
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Water.
Magical uses: Ritual cleansing or sacred space, magical cleansing baths, purification incenses. Hang over the bed to prevent nightmares. Love and protection charms, Vervain is also an excellent for use in prosperity charms and spells as it brings good luck and inspiration.


VIOLET
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Water.
Magical uses: Mix with lavender for a powerful love charm. A Violet and Lavender compress will aid in eliminating headaches. The flowers are carried as a good-luck charm. The scent will soothe, clear the mind and relax the wearer.


WALNUT
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical uses: Carry the nut as a charm to promote fertility and strengthen the heart.


WILLOW
G/P/E: Feminine, Moon, Water.
Magical uses: Willow wands can be used for healing. The Willow will bring the blessings of the Moon upon those who plant it or have it on their property. Willows can be used to bind together witch's brooms and a forked willow branch is widely used in water witching and dowsing.

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WITCH HAZEL
G/P/E: Masculine, Saturn or Sun, Fire.
Magical attributes: Protection, chastity, healing the heart.
Uses: In tincture form it is good as a mouth rinse and to ease hemorrhoids. As a compress, witch hazel can be applied to insect bites and other skin irritations.


WORMWOOD
G/P/E: Masculine, Mars, Air.
Magical uses: Wormwood is burned to gain protection from wandering spirits. Used in divinatory and clairvoyance incenses, initiation rites and tests of courage. Enables the dead to be released from this plane so they my find peace.


YARROW
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Water.
Magical uses: Courage, love, marriage charms, dispelling negativity, psychic abilities, divination.
Uses: A very potent healer, it intensifies the medicinal action of other herbs taken with it. Helps eliminate toxins (good for colds). Most useful in its abilities to staunch blood flow. In poultice form , it is useful against infections and swelling. In magic there is evidence that yarrow was often used as a component in incantations. The tea drunk prior to divination will enhance one's powers of perception (a touch of peppermint brightens this brew up and always works better). Also drink the tea to stop arthritis symptoms such as swelling and inflammation associated with weather divination and generally end all aching, sore muscles, or stiff joints or back pain. A powerful incense additive for divination and love spells.

*From Bewitching Ways*