#herb basics

[coven-of-genesis]

Plant Companions & Their Quiet Magick 🌿

A little guide for your window sill altar or garden bed

🪴 Basil – Protection + prosperity

A kitchen staple that wards off negative energy and invites abundance. Place near doors or cook with it for a subtle blessing.

🌼 Chamomile – Peace + dreams

Known for calming energy. Brew into tea or keep dried under your pillow to soothe nightmares and attract sweet sleep.

🌵 Aloe Vera – Healing + resilience

A plant of regeneration. Break off a leaf to soothe burns or skin irritations. Spiritually, it’s said to absorb bad energy and promote renewal.

🌱 Mint – Clarity + communication

Sharp, energizing, and sacred to Mercury. Keeps the mind alert, words flowing, and boundaries strong. Great for spells involving speech, study, or travel.

🌸 Lavender – Tranquility + spiritual connection

A soft powerhouse. Place near your bed, burn it dried, or add it to baths to cleanse your aura and calm the mind.

🌿 Rosemary – Memory + protection

An all-around witch’s fave. Burn as incense to banish negativity. Add to oil or water for cleansing sprays. Tuck into your pocket before exams.

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You don’t need a massive garden to work with plant magick. One pot in a sunny window, tended with intention, can be a whole ritual 🌞✨

[willowofthehearth]

Getting To Know Plant Allies

photo source

Use It!

One of my teachers was very insistent that before I was allowed to study a plant, I had to get to know it first. Head knowledge is one thing, but when you are working as a herbalist you have to have more than that.

Before using any herb, even for these exercises it is important to look up contraindications for the herb. Herbs are medicinal, even in small doses. Personally I like to use this book. And remember to always tell your doctor if you are taking any herbs!

Based on the type of herb, make a decoction or infusion. Fragile herbs, usually dried leaves or flowers, are better suited to an infusion (let steep in nearly boiling water for 20 minutes). Hardier herbs such as roots can be simmered in the water for 20 minutes (decoction).

Sip slowly, taking notice of how the tea feels in your mouth. Does it trigger a salivary response? How does it taste? Anything your experience is worth taking note of. I’ve never been sad I took too many notes!

Take a bath with it. If a full bath isn’t possible, do a foot or hand bath. I was taught to start with water as close to room temp as possible. This can be a good way to determine if the herb has warming or cooling properties.

Again, make notes! Lots of them.

Get creative with how you experiment. Cook with them, use them for facial steams. Any way that you’re called to, and remember, take notes!

Study It - Materia Medica

It’s time to make your own herbal! We’re going to take our observations and start a Materia Medica. This is the term herbalists have been using since the 1st century AD, thanks to the Ancient Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides. Modern science now often uses the term pharmacology but I greatly prefer the Materia Medica.

Some witches will combine this with a Materia Magica which goes into the magical correspondences for the herbs. But this post won’t be covering that.

How each herbalist organizes the Materia Medica is going to vary, but it should hit a few key points. And, of great importance, is to track your sources! Any information that you include in your MM needs to have a citation so that you can track your info.

Latin Name

My Materia Medicas always start with the Latin name for the herb. Herbs have many, many different names. Both through history and throughout the world. The best way to ensure that you’re using the correct plant is to use the latin name. But then, after that, I make not of common names and historical names.

History/Lore

If a herb has an interesting history, or appears in folk lore I make note of that next. It can be interesting and is helpful for knowing the herb. There’s a lot of knowledge to be gleaned from old stories!

Description

If you’re inclined for either wildcrafting or foraging, a section on the cultivation and appearance of the plant.

Chemicals

Now, we get into the medicine of it. Herbs work because they contain chemical compounds. A lot (all?) of modern medicine is derived from the manufacturing of these chemicals.

Make a list of the chemicals that are found in the herb. Making note, where you can, of what these chemicals actually DO. Over time you’ll want to get to know which ones are the active ingredients and how the work. Yup, it’s science!

Herbal Actions

Actions come next. Herbal actions are a whole language to learn. But as you are putting together the Materia Medicas you’ll start to get the hang of things! An action describes the way a herb works on the body.

It can seem a bit overwhelming, so here is an example.

Bitter is an herbal action, and it is aptly named. Herbs with this action typically taste... bitter! The action that they have on the body usually starts in the mouth where it stimulates saliva production as the first step of aiding in the digestive process. (they do a lot more but we’re keeping it simple for the example).

Examples of bitters are: arugula (also called rocket), dandelion greens, and black coffee.

Here’s a very simple way to experiment yourself! Take some time to sample one of the above mentioned bitters and see how your body reacts.

Christopher Hobbs is an herbalist I respect a lot. He has a handout that he uses in his classes which lists herbal actions, indications (we’ll get into that next), and lists example herbs.

http://www.christopherhobbs.com/webdocs/class-handouts/keville-hobbs-2016/Herbal-Actions.pdf

I highly suggest printing this sheet out and keeping it handy, reading it over often. Eventually it’ll become more intuitive, but it takes time and practice.

Indications

Indications are where we want to use the herb. IE: where is the herbal action of the herb indicated? This is going to be a list of conditions that the herb in question is good for treating.

For example, Corn Silk (zea mays) is an antiseptic, demulcent and a diuretic. Because of this, it’s indicated for use with a urinary tract infection. (it’s indicated for other things too, but I’m trying to keep things fairly basic!)

The demulcent soothes the irritated skin, the diuretic helps to increase urine output, and the antiseptic of course helps to prevent the growth of harmful organisms.

Medicine

The last section of my Materia Medica deals with dosing and contraindications. 

I like to include dosing for both teas and tinctures as they are my personal favorite ways for treating people.

Contraindications means anything that counteracts with the herb. St John’s Wort is a popular one for this, as it has many. It is a highly reactive herb and can interact negatively with many drugs! 

It is very important to know how the herb interacts. People think that because herbs are natural/plants that somehow this excludes them from the realm of medicine. But the very reason that herbs are effective is because they ARE medicine!

When I am working with a client, I do my best to take a detailed history, even things they don’t think is important. But I also inform them of every herb I am giving them and encourage them to do their own research. And it’s important to be aware of your body when you are taking herbs. From the practitioner to the person taking the herb, everyone needs to do their own due diligence.

If you found this post useful, or have any comments/thoughts/etc I would love to hear it. If there is interest I can do posts on salves, tinctures, etc. And perhaps examples of my own materia medicas.

[coven-of-genesis]

Herbs I Wish Grew in My Backyard (and Why)

If I could plant a little garden of magic, these are the herbs I’d want growing wild and free — each one carrying a secret spell in its leaves.

• Lavender — for peace, sleep, and soft dreams woven into the air

• Rosemary — for memory, protection, and cooking with a little bit of magic

• Chamomile — for calming storms inside my chest

• Thyme — for courage when the world feels too loud

• Mint — for energy, healing, and sweetening every breath

• Mugwort — for vivid dreams and wandering through them safely

• Basil — for luck, prosperity, and the feeling of being cared for

• Lemon Balm — for joy, gentleness, and mending what is frayed

• Rue — for strong protection, old-world magic, and standing tall

• Yarrow — for healing wounds you can’t even see

• Vervain — for drawing love, inspiration, and secret strength

A backyard not just full of green things — but of whispered spells, stitched into the roots.

Masterlist | linktree | Patreon

[coven-of-genesis]

Herbs that transmute negative energy into positive energy

Basil: This fragrant herb is believed to have purifying and protective properties, and is often used in spiritual practices to promote positive energy and ward off negative energy.

Thyme: Known for its cleansing and purifying properties, thyme will clear negative energy from a space.

Peppermint: With its refreshing and energizing properties, peppermint is often used in aromatherapy to promote positive energy and mental clarity.

Bay leaves: These leaves are believed to have protective and purifying properties, and can be burned to manifest.

Mugwort: Often used in spiritual practices for its protective and grounding properties, mugwort can be burned or placed under a pillow to promote positive energy and clarity.

Angelica: Known as the "holy herb," angelica is believed to have spiritual and protective properties and can be used in various forms to promote positive energy.

Rue: Used in various cultures for centuries, rue is believed to have protective and cleansing properties, and is often used to ward off negative energy.

Juniper: The berries and branches of the juniper tree are often used in spiritual practices to purify a space and promote positive energy.

Cinnamon: This spice is believed to have warming and energizing properties that can help transmute negative energy into positive energy.

[coven-of-genesis]

Herbal teas that assist with sleep:

Chamomile tea: Chamomile is a natural sedative and is known for its calming properties. Drinking chamomile tea before bed can help relax your muscles and calm your mind, making it easier to fall asleep.

Valerian root tea: Valerian root has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for insomnia. Drinking valerian root tea before bed may help you fall asleep faster and improve the quality of your sleep.

Lavender tea: Lavender is well-known for its soothing and calming effects. Drinking lavender tea before bed can help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation, which may help you sleep better.

Lemon balm tea: Lemon balm is a member of the mint family and has been used for centuries to help promote relaxation and relieve stress. Drinking lemon balm tea before bed may help reduce anxiety and improve the quality of your sleep.

Passionflower tea: Passionflower is a natural sedative that can help promote relaxation and reduce anxiety. Drinking passionflower tea before bed may help you fall asleep faster and improve the quality of your sleep.

It's important to note that while herbal teas can be helpful for improving sleep, they are not a substitute for proper medical care. If you are experiencing chronic sleep problems, it's best to consult with a healthcare professional.

[willowofthehearth]

Medicinal Herbal Resources

This post is a followup to my Herbalism 101 which gives an overview on how to get to know herbs from a medicinal perspective. And lays out how to create a Materia Medica.

Knowing which sources are credible and which aren’t is a bit of a matter of personal preference. There is some scientific studies into herbs, but not nearly enough in my opinion, so much of the knowledge is the culmination of a herbal culture which goes back as far as people have been around. One of the hardest things for me personally was knowing where to start.

That is where working with qualified teachers can really been a boon. Picking their brains for resources, book and website suggestions, is priceless. However I know that’s not a route everyone is able to go for all kinds of reasons.

Obviously, there’s no reason to trust me, an anonymous witch on the internet, more than any other source. So I highly encourage anyone pursuing herbalism should do their own due diligence in checking out the sources. And if anyone has a source they’d like to submit, or correction, please send me an ask so I can update this list!

Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions Third Edition

https://www.abebooks.com/9781888483116/Herb-Contraindications-Drug-Interactions-Third-1888483113/plp?cm_sp=plped-_-2-_-image

This is hands down the cheapest I have found this book, ever.

If you are looking at getting into herbalism at ALL, this is the first book I would purchase. It’s been suggested to me by several teachers. Before you even start with herbs, you have to make sure they’re safe for you to take.

Herbal Therapeutics: Specific Indications

http://www.herbalist-alchemist.com/item/Herbal-Therapeutics-Specific-Indications-1114

Written by David Winston AHG who is a member of the American Herbal Guild. So it’s one of my go-to resources for information on plants.

Rosemary Gladstar

https://www.google.ca/search?tbm=bks&hl=en&q=rosemary+gladstar

I didn’t list a specific book because pretty much anything by her is something that should grace my shelves, lol. Google Books has most of her stuff available to read for free, which is fantastic.

If I had to suggest just one, it would be Medicinal Herbs - A Beginner’s Guide

American Medicinal Plants

An Illustrated and Descriptive Guide to Plants Indigenous to and Naturalized in the United States Which Are Used in Medicine

http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/26077490#page/7/mode/1up

This book was published in 1887 and has gorgeous drawings of herbs. And the information is still very useful!

Southwest School of Botanical Medicine

http://www.swsbm.com/HOMEPAGE/HomePage.html

Okay, this page can be a little overwhelming. It is the collection of the renowned herbalist, Michael Moore, who founded the SWSBM. The next few resources are some that I found through there, to help narrow down that mess of text.

Henrietta’s Herbal

http://www.henriettes-herb.com/

This website is one of the oldest herbal resources online. She pulls a lot of her information from the stuff found on the SWSBM but it’s a lot more searchable than that text page.

The Dispensatory of the United States of America Twentieth Edition (1918)

http://www.swsbm.com/Dispensatory/USD-1918-complete.pdf

Alright, unless you’re a herbal nut, you’re probably not going to like this one. It was compiled near the end of when herbs were used for popular medicine. There are no pics, but it’s a wonderful source of information!

Ellingwood's Therapeutist

http://www.swsbm.com/Ellingwoods/Ellingwoods.html

Started by Ellingwood in 1907, the Therapeutist, unlike other major Eclectic journals, suffered a bit from hero worship. Ellingwood was a near mythic clinician, particularly in the field of ob/gyn, and it seems that most docs subscribed initially just to read Finley rant and cajol. It wasn't until the middle of the second year that the publication matured into what Ellingwood really wanted - a physician's free-for-all with the Good Doc moderating. In effect, "alt.eclecticmed.moderated" The purpose of the publication was, from the beginning, to be a platform wherein clinicians could share their experiences, offer tips, and disagree. Rather unique then, DEFINITELY unique now. If you are a physician, you know what I mean. If you aren't, trust me...cool stuff.

The link leads to a more organized version of the journals. However there’s a link for the original journals as well on the page.

What is neat about this particular resource is that Ellingwood arranged the herbs by what system they act on.

Bio Diversity Library

http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/browse/collections

This one is a rabbit hole of information. I have not vetted even a smidgen of it. But if you’re interested in herblore, it’s a link you want to have up your sleeve.

Website - Herbal Transitions

http://www.herbaltransitions.com/BotanCom.html

Tidbits from Dr Sharon Tilgner’s book. She takes a very practical approach to herbs which I really appreciate.

Website - Medicinal Herb Info

http://medicinalherbinfo.org/herbs/Herb-index.html

So. Many. Herbs.

Aside from having a wealth of information. I really appreciate how much this site cites their resources.

Website - Materia Medica Resource

https://materiamedicaresource.wordpress.com/

I love that this site has the ability to search by indications and actions, as well as by herb name. It makes it an incredible resource. She doesn’t have a lot of resources for each, but it’s still a worthwhile source.

Advice

To include in my Materia Medica I usually try and have two sources for the information I include. It helps me feel more confident. I also use footnotes to keep track of where I get information from.

Phew, that was a wall of text. But if any of you are looking to become herbalists, knowing where to get information you can trust is a very huge part of the battle. There are just too many herbs to memorize them all!

If anyone has resources they think I should add I would love to hear them!!

[willowofthehearth]

Using Herbs

Alright, so we’ve learned about contraindications and getting to know plants and herbs in Herbalism 101. 

Then we talked about doing our own research on herbs, and more contraindications in Herbalism 201. 

In case you couldn’t tell, being informed about herbs is pretty important. Just because they’re natural does not mean they’re safe! Herbs can have serious side effects, and interact with medication that you’re taking in all sorts of ways. 

So, this post is not going to talk about any specific herbs at all, because that’s not what the series is about. What it IS about is giving folks the mechanical knowledge. 

Buying Herbs

It can be tempting, when first getting into herbs, to get the biggest bang for your buck, quantity wise. Jars and jars of herbs are great to look at, but it’s really important to buy herbs from a trust source.

Personally, I feel that it’s important to go organic when it comes to herbs. And buying from trusted sources. My two favorites, as I’ve said many times before, are Mountain Rose Herbs and The Herbiary. But as with everything to do with herbs, make sure you do your own research!

Using Herbs - Tinctures

Properly stored (glass jars, away from sunlight) the average shelf life for maximum potency is roughly a year. However they are technically good for longer than that, they just may not pack the same punch. That’s why the first way I want to talk about using herbs is as tinctures. 

tincture: a medicine made by dissolving a drug in alcohol.

First thing here to note, is that now we are moving into the medicinal use of herbs. So please, please, please do the research. Check out the contraindications, and if you aren’t sure, don’t use it!

What we’re doing is infusing the herb, or herb mixture, into alcohol, often vodka. This allows for long term storage, and allows us to give a concentrated dose. This process takes a few weeks.

If we want to get magical about it, using the moon cycle is a great way to do this. Going new moon to new moon is my personal preference. But full to full works as well. Four weeks is a perfect amount of time, although it can go as long as six for a more concentrated tincture.

So, how do we do this thing??

First, let’s talk about the alcohol. As I said, vodka is my preference. The higher the proof the better! Brandy or rum can also be used. Why vodka is the standard is because it adds the least flavoring.

Mason jars are my personal preference. Make sure it’s clean, often I use mine fresh from the dishwasher, but if you don’t have one, pop it in the oven for 20 min at 250F. Then just be careful, because obviously it’s hot (lol).

Add your herbs to the jar, about half will do. As mentioned, this can be a single herb, or a mixture. Then cover with vodka. You want it roughly ¾ full.

Personally, I give the tincture a shake every week or so.

After the tincture is finished, I use a fine mesh sieve and cheesecloth to strain out the herbs, leaving me with the vodka tincture. Label the jar with what herbs are in it, what alcohol was used, and the date of the tincture.

Store in a cool dry place for years to come!

But Madame Hearth, I Don’t Use/Drink Alcohol!

Technically, the only proper way to make a tincture is with alcohol, it’s in the definition!

However, sometimes that’s not a good option. Particularly if the tincture is going to be used on minors. So… what do??

Glycerin is my personal favorite substitute. Something to note, the shelf life is NOT the same. We’re talking a year and a half, to two years instead of 5+.

The procedure used the same, although technically it’s an extract instead of a tincture.

Another option is a vinegar extract, but that’s going to be a separate post covering shrubs and oxymels. (coming soon!)