Random Herb of the day

so since I can't be on all the time and usually only a few minutes worth of typing I can do. I'ma start a random herb of the day type deal.

BLOODROOT
Magical Properties: Protection, Health

aka's- bloodwort, red puccoon root, and sometimes pauson. Bloodroot has also been known as tetterwort in America, although that name is used in Britain to refer to Greater Celandine.

Special cautions: Bloodroot extracts are toxic to animal cells

A little history compliments of Wikipedia- The blood of the root (when cut open) was used as a dye and was used for a herbal remedy by the native population. A break in the surface of the plant, especially the roots, reveals a reddish sap.
In physician William Cook's 1869 work The Physiomedical Dispensatory is recorded a chapter on the uses and preparations of bloodroot. [19] described tinctures and extractions, and also included at least the following cautionary report:
The U. S. Dispensatory says four persons lost their lives at Bellevue Hospital, New York, by drinking largely of blood root tincture in mistake for ardent spirits ...

Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus), a member of the Poppy family (Papaveraceae) was used in Colonial America as a wart remedy. Bloodroot has been similarly applied in the past. This may explain the multiple American and British definitions of "Tetterwort" in 1913.


Excerpt from http://www.2bnthewild.com/plants/H261.htm


This is the only species of the genus Sanguinaria. While sometimes locally abundant, this plant is generally somewhat rare. It is known from areas that have been little disturbed usually on hills and mountains. A blood red juice can be extracted from the reddish orange root, actually a rhizome, hence the name Bloodroot.
Lore: The juice from the root was used as a body paint and dye by Native Americans. Warriors painted their faces with it and maidens their bodies. Reportedly a woman was given as a bed mate to a colonist at Jamestown by a local tribe and was presented wearing only a coat of red body paint made from Bloodroot.(Dobelis) The root juice has been used as a dye for fabrics producing a yellow orange color that is very fast. It has also been used as a charm. Young men of the Ponca tribe would put the juice of the root on their palm and contrive to shake hands with the maiden they desired to marry and in five or six days she would be willing to marry him.(Foster & Duke) Applying the root or juice to the skin is a questionable activity as the plant is known to be an escharotic, a substance that kills tissue. See warnings below.

Medical Uses: Native Americans, early settlers and herbal practitioners have prescribed Bloodroot for myriad medical conditions from skin cancers to sore throats. Its most persistent and possibly valid use takes advantage of the flesh destroying properties of the root juice or powered root for treating conditions of the skin such as ringworm, warts, polyps, fungal growths and the like. Researchers are investigating the root's value in cancer treatment. An extract has long been used in toothpaste and mouthwash to fight plaque and gingivitis and this use is now sanctioned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The root has been used internally, in very small doses, to stimulate the digestive system and as an emetic. Self medication should be avoided, as the plant can be toxic. Even small doses can produce unwanted effects such as visual distortions. Warning:T The FDA considers Bloodroot "unsafe" and urges that it not be used by herbal healers. It is far to attractive a plant to dig up anyway

WHITE HOREHOUND Marrubium vulgare
FOLKLORE/COMMON NAMES White Horehound, Houndsbane, Bull's Blood, Eye of the Star, Haran, Hoarhound, Huran, Llwyd y cwn, Marrubium, Maruil, Seed of Horus, Soldier's Tea

HISTORICAL REFERENCES

- The use of Horehound goes back to our most ancient cultures, most notably found in the records of the Ancient Egyptians who called Horehound the 'Seed of Horus', as well as 'Bull's Blood', and the 'Eye of the Star'. Their use for it was both spiritual and practical, as they used it commonly as an antidote to certain poisons, including snakebite, and also believed it had anti-magical properties as well.

- Horehound is recorded as one of the 'bitter herbs' eaten at the feast of Passover, and some speculate that the Latin name comes from the Hebrew "marrob," meaning bitter juice. Others believe the original spelling of 'hoarhound' takes its name from the greyish color of the plant, reminiscent of the terms 'hoary frost,' etc. Still others link the first part of the name directly with the association to the Egyptian Horus, and the hound to the practice in Ancient Greece of using Horehound to cure the bite of a mad dog.

- In medieval Europe, we once again see use of Horehound in 'warding off witches' spells'.

- Horehound was often used a flavoring for beers and cordials up through this century.

- Folklore tells us that Horehound put in a bowl of new milk will kill all flies in an infested area.

From the Ancient Egyptians through centuries of folklore, and well into modern times, Horehound has maintained its reputation in one primary area - as an effective medicinal treatment. Horehound tea is still the first recommended treatment for such ailments as cough, cold and other respiratory disorders in many parts of the world today.

PARTS USED All of the aerial parts of the plant when fresh, the flowering branches are medicinal when dried.

MEDICINAL USES

***If you are gathering your own herbs for medicinal use, Do Not confuse White Horehound with Black or Stinking Horehound, which can be toxic in large amounts.

While you can still find Horehound candies in some stores, they no longer contain the label "Medicinal" as they once did. Still, they remain a staple in many Winter medicine cabinets, just as the herb itself remains a part of some prescription drugs, especially cough syrups.

In addition to coughs and colds, folk medicine traditionally recommended Horehound for a number of complaints, including whooping cough, asthma, tuberculosis, respiratory infections, lung inflammation, diarrhea, jaundice, painful menstruation, constipation, sores and wounds, fevers, malaria, as well as to calm a nervous heart. Interestingly, Horehound has been scientifically proven to have a normalizing effect on an irregular heartbeat.



Read more at Suite101: Heard of Horehound? http://www.suite101.com/pages/article_old.cfm/herbalism/41454#ixzz0uZNyLFav

Thanks Vixy!
I need this info...i do lots of products from herbs and i love learning about herbs as well...it's funny sometimes...English's not my 1st language and i always have to look up Latin name first then do a google search on that to get a Slovene name of the herb. Sometimes they say that google is your friend but that's not always the case lol
Again, thank you very much for sharing this great information =)
Blessed be!

Rose

Magical properties: Used in love and harmony spells. Roses planted in your garden will attract fairies. Rose petals sprinkled around the house will calm stress and reduce household upheavals

Medicinal: as an infusion- headaches/ dizziness, w/ honey heart&nerve tonic,
decoction of petals- mouth sores, and uterine cramps
used w/ wine as mouthwash- toothache
as a cold compress- headache
trickled into ear- ear ache
rose hone- sore throat.

history: The Rose is said to be one of the most ancient flowers in existence; rose fossil remains, dating back over 35 million years, have been discovered in Colorado, North America, as well as throughout Europe and Asia. It is thought that these early flowers, which resembled the wild Sweetbrier, were used for food and medicine. They had five petals and were usually either pink or white in color.

However, the roses found in China were yellow and as trade routes opened up between East and West the early species of roses became subject to cross pollination and thus the emergence of new species of roses. The Chinese kept written records of their roses and Confucius (500 BC) recorded the growing and cultivation of roses in the Imperial Rose Garden of the Chinese Emperor.

Greek Use of the Rose
The Greeks saw the rose as a symbol of the future for their culture and were credited with defining the term sub rosa. The Greeks decorated the ceilings of their conference rooms with roses, wherever a secret meeting was held. Everything discussed in the room was considered to be confidential; hence sub rosa. Greek poets wrote about roses and the Greek island of Rhodes means roses.

Roman Use of the Rose
The Romans originally used the rose for medicinal purposes but the popularity of the rose for other uses soon grew. Roses became so popular in ancient Rome that local trade could not fulfill the demand; even Cleopatra was said to have her bed and floors covered in fresh rose petals when entertaining guests. As a result of the demand, roses were shipped from Egypt in huge copper containers to maintain their freshness.

Roses were used in Roman houses for table decorations and the floors of banqueting halls were strewn with rose petals. Guests were showered in fragrant rose petals, in the belief that the rose was both an aphrodisiac and an antidote to combat drunkenness. The Romans also began the custom of planting a red rose on a dead lover's grave and a white rose on the grave of a young woman (to demonstrate purity).

English Use of the Rose
Monastery gardens of Medieval England were full of roses; roses were closely associated with the church, particularly the wild red rose which was considered to represent the blood of Christ and each of its five petals represented his five wounds. Rose hips were used to make rosaries and many Rose windows are found in English cathedrals.

The rose was represented in poetry, symbolism, heraldry and art throughout the West. The famous War of the Roses of fifteenth century England was symbolized by the white and the red rose; the House of York was represented by the white rose and the House of Lancaster by the red rose.


French Use of the Rose
Roses were the favorite flower of the Empress Josephine of France; the best botanists created some of the most perfect roses for Josephine for her Paris estate and were forever preserved in art paintings by Redoute. Throughout the Napoleonic wars, rose seeds were transported between England and France without resistance due to her patronage. As a result, France was the leading exporter or roses in the 19th century Western hemisphere. Today, roses are still as popular and considered to be the 'world's favorite flower'.

References:
Botanica, 1998 Roses New York, USA: Welcome Rain

Taylor, Barbara Lea 2004 Old-fashioned and David Austin Roses New Zealand: Firefly Book
http://rose-gardens.suite101.com/article.cfm/uses_of_rose_throughout_history