[This will be a master post of all the herbs I have researched that can be put into one's Herbal Grimore.]
~Garlic: Allium sativum~
Garlic is an biennial herbacious plant with a *history of 7,000 years of use. Garlic has the relatives of Onion, Leek, Shallot, and Chive. A Garlic's roots are irregular, condensed, and flattened. It has steep & narrow, flat leaves.
The health benifits of Garlic are many. They include smaller benefits like slightly lowering blood pressure to helping prevent cancer, especially of the digestive system. They are also used to fight infectious disorders.
Mythological beliefs stated Garlic was a herb to keep vampires away and werewolves at bay. Brailled Garlic was hung up to ward away evil spirits. A bride-to-be was 'beaten' with Garlic to protect them from future illness and to have healthy children.
**Today, Garlic is used as a common kitchen herb.
***The magickal properties of Garlic are healing, protection, exorcism, repulsion of vampires, and purification of spaces and objects. This is also used to invoke Hecate. Garlic repels negative magic, spirits, and the envy of others. Hang Garlic in a home to bring togetherness within the family or keep your will power. Garlic is also said to have warded off bad weather if worn during outside activities. It also has been said that Garlic can ****absorb diseases: rub fresh, peeled garlic against ailing body parts then throw the garlic into running water.
*-Garlic is native to Central Asia
**-Most do not even know Garlic is so much more then they think it is.
***-Garlic is also called Stinkweed
****- Of course, Garlic will not magickally make a disease you have go away.
The Onion, also known as the Bulb Onion, Common Onion, is the most cultivated species of the genus Allium. Other kinds of Onion are the Japanese bunching Onion, Egyptian Onion, and the Canadian Onion. Onion is a biennial, but can also be perennial or even triennial. Onions usually have a golden-brown papery skin. Onions can also be white and purplelish-red. When the bulb of an onion is cut, it is composed of soft, pungent tissue. The flower stalk can sometimes be seen in the center. Onion has been used to make various dyes.
As all of you know, when you begin to cut an Onion, your eyes become irritated and your eyes begin to tear. To prevent eye irritation, you should cut your Onions in a basin of water or under a running sink. You may wear goggles as well. If you are wearing contact lens, this can lessen the irritation to the eye as it is protecting your eye in a way.
Medicinally, Onions are good for guarding against many chronic diseases. Onion can help combat heart disease, inhibit strokes, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and stimulate the immune system. Onions have 25 compounds that help to inhibit the growth of cancerous cells.
In folklore, the Egyptians used to worship Onion, believing its spherical shape and concentric rings symbolized eternal life. They were used in burials as well. Athletes in Ancient Greece were given Onion to lighten their blood, and Gladiators were rubbed down with Onion to firm their muscles. In the Middle Ages, Onion was so important, people would pay rent with Onion, and give them as gifts.
The Magickal properties of an Onion are: Prosperity, stability, endurance, and protection. Burn an Onion to banish bad habits and negative influences. Cut onions in half and place in the corners of a room to absorb illness, then bury or burn the onion halves in the morning. Onions are also sacred to the moon.
Rosemary is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple, or blue flowers. It is native to the Mediterranian region. The name "Rosemary" is derived of the words "dew" (ros) and "sea" or "dew of the sea" because in some locations, it needs not the water itself, but the humidity from it to live. It is also called the ancient Greek word anthos, meaning "flower."
Rosemary is a decorative garden plant and has many culinary and medicinal uses. Rosemary is used to season various foods like stuffing and roast meats. It is also said to improve memory.
Rosemary has been used as a symbol of rememberance at weddings, war commemorations and funerals in Europe and Australia. Mourners would throw it into graves as a symbol of remembrance for the dead. It is associated with Aphrodite and is also a symbol of Her. It was used to ward off nightmares and the wood was made into musical instruments. In France, Rosemary was burned to purify the air along with Juniper berries.
Rosemary is a symbol of Fairie Magick as well.
The magickal properties of Rosemary are that it is used/carried in healing poppets for good health, used in love/lust spells, worn to improve memory, used in dream pillows to prevent nightmares, burned as incense for purification and removing negativity.It can be worn or carried while reading or completing tasks to improve memory of the material and aid clear thinking which is good for students. You can use an infusion of Rosemary to wash hands before any healing magick. You can use Rosemary in bath magick for purification and it is associated with Fairies which has been said before.
Information (c) It's original and respectable authors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosemary
http://www.witchipedia.com/herb:rosemary
http://www.themagickalcat.com/Articles.asp?ID=242
Sage (common Sage, garden Sage) is a perennial, evergreen subshrub, with woody stems, grayish leaves, and blue to purplish flowers. It's leaves are oval, silvery green and have a pebbled, veined, and fuzzy appearance. The undersides of the leaves are lighter and more silver in color than the upper side of the leaf.
Sage is native to the Mediterranian region and is apart of the family Lamiaceae. Sage is widely known as ada?ay, meaning "Island tea."
Sage contains the compounds thujone and rosmarinic acid. Those have have astringent, antiseptic, antiviral and antifungal properties as well as being anti-hidrotic (reduces perspiration). They also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Sage tea with honey, lemon juice or apple cider or vinegar is considered an excellent gargle for ailments like tonsillitis, sore throats and laryngitis. This is even used by Opera Singers who have strained their voices.
You can use Sage as an astringent, stimulant, nervine agent, diuretic, expectorant, memory booster, anxiety reliever, anti-microbial, and as an antioxidant. Sage can also ease joint pain, menopausal symptoms, abdominal troubles, sore throat, mouth ulcers, cuts, sprains, swelling, and impaired digestion.
Sage as a lotion is a good beauty aid for clearing oily problem skin and tightening and toning pores. To make this lotion, you take 1 and half cups of Sage, 1 liter of water, and 10 Cloves and two Star Anise seeds. You simmer it for 15 minutes, stirring it often, and then you cool it. You can put it into a sterilized bottle and cork well. This can be used as a splash or you can use it on a cotton and dab it on your skin.
To make a Sage tincture, you can take half a cup or a full cup of Sage and put it into a pot, let it boil for 10-15 minutes, making sure the water turns to a dark-brownish color. When done, put it into a bowl and let it simmer. You can sprinkle this around your home and wipe down the main door(s) of your home for protection.
Gardening folklore of Sage suggests that the woman will rule the home if Sage is grown well in the garden. It tells us also that the growth of Sage will depend on whether the household's business prospers or fails. Sage symbolizes domestic virtue, wisdom, skill, esteem, long life, good health, mitigates grief, and increases psychic powers.
The magickal herbal properties of Sage are that it is used for self purification and dealing with grief and loss. It is carried to improve mental ability and bring wisdom. It is used in healing sachets & incense. Sage promotes spiritual, mental, emotional & physical health and longevity. It removes negative energy. You can place Sage near a personal object of a person who is ailing when performing healing spells or rituals. Write a wish on a Sage leaf and place it under your pillow for 3 nights -- if you dream of your wish, it will come true; if not, bury the leaf in the ground so that no bad will come to you.
Information (c) It's orginal and respectable authors:
Prunella vulgaris (Heal-All, Self Heal) is a plant that is 6-12 inches tall and usually single stem. It's leavea are 1-2 inches long, it has a long oval shape, narrowing tipes and are sparsely toothed. It's flowers are purple, pink, or white in dense heads. It blooms sometime in June-September in meadows or the edges of the woods.
Medicinally, the whole plant is poulticed onto wounds to promote healing. A mouthwash made from an infusion of the whole plant can be used to treat sore throats, thrush and gum infections. Self-heal can be taken internally as a tea for sore throat, fevers, wounds, diarrhoea, internal bleeding, and weaknesses of the liver and heart. The Chinese considered it to "change the course of a chronic disease".
Prunella vulgaris was once proclaimed to be a Holy herb and thought to be sent by God to cure all ailments of man or beast, and said to drive away the devil, which lead to the belief that Heal-All was grown in the Witches garden as a disguise. The root of the herb was once used to make a tea to drink in ceremonies before going hunting by one Native American tribe to sharpened the powers of observation.
The herbal magickal properties of the Heal-All plant is all purpose healing and successful gambling.
Sources:
A Book of Nature by Pelagie Doane
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunella_vulgaris#Description
http://en.parsiteb.com/acology.php?nid=12197
http://www.themagickalcat.com/Articles.asp?ID=242
