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Dandelion
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Wed, 05/06/2009 - 15:22.Taraxacum officinale
Dandelions are common weeds all over the world with varieties native to Asia, Europe and North America.
Dandelions grow everywhere. There's no need to propagate. But it is easier to gather roots from tilled soil than from the lawn, so till, scatter seeds and water. They like full sun.
The name dandelioni comes from the French dent de lion which means "tooth of the lion". The modern French name, however, is pissenlit, which means "to wet the bed". Indeed an English folkname for the plant is pissabeds.
Leaves should be gathered as soon as they appear in the spring as they get bitter after a short while. These do not store well and should be used fresh.
The bright yellow flowers should be gathered as soon as they open. Remove the green bits from the base of the flower before using. These can be added to wines, vinegars or jellies.
The roots should be dug up in the autumn when they are plump with stored starches for the winter or first thing in the spring when they are sweeter. Generally anytime between the first of September and the end of February is good. These can be cut into pieces 3-4 inches long and dried on a screen in an area with good ventilation. Once dried, they should be stored in a cool dry area, sealed in a bug-proof container for no more than one year.
Dandelion leaves are a great addition to the diet of breeding rabbits and lactating cattle and goats.
The dandelioni is masculine in action and associated with the planet Jupiter, the element of air and both Pisces and Sagittarius. It is also associated with any solar deity, Hecate, Brighid and Belenos.
A tea of the flowers and leaves may be drunk to increase psychic ability while pouring boiling water over a bowlful of roots will aid in calling spirits.
Make a wish and blow the seeds off a dandelion head!
Dandelion is most often used as a diuretic and in cleansingi tonics and in cases of kidney and liver issues.
For liver issues, a tincture from the flower tops and/or a broth of the leaves is said to bring relief.
For stones, make a decoction of the root and cool before straining and then sweeten with honey. Drink a mugful morning and night. This is also good for indigestion and other stomach complaints.
A very strong decoction of the herb and root is recommended for many skin eruptions as its cleansing action helps purge impurities that can cause pimples, eczema and other skin issues. Drink a mugful several times a day.
Dandelion flowers can be used in salads, to make jelly, wine and punch.
The young leaves can be used raw or blanched in salads or sandwiches, steamed like spinach or cooked into soup or broth.
The dried root can be ground up and used like coffee. Fresh roots can also be used in salads.
Dandelion Beer is made from the fermented dried leaves, Dandelion Wine is made from the flowers and homemade Root Beer sometimes includes Dandelion Roots.
In the early spring gather dandelioni leaves by the bucketful and boil them up with some sorrel, parsley, carrotsi and onions to make a delightful broth than you can then can or freeze as a base for any number of soups the rest of the year. Use this base whenever you are feeling bloated or have digestive issues or simply feel the need to cleanse.
There are lots of flowers that look like dandelion but aren't! If the leaves are branched, if there is more than one flower on the stem or if the plant is at all hairy, you're not looking at a dandelion! Don't eat it unless you're absolutely sure.
Lavender
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Wed, 12/10/2008 - 16:32.Lavandula spp
Lavender is an aromatic member of the mint family native to the Mediterranean region, Northern and Eastern Africa and parts of India.
Most lavenders prefer a warm, sunny spot with well-drained soil. Lavender is a plant that doesn't like its "feet wet" so well-drained soil is of the utmost importance. It will tolerate some drought and heat quite well, however. Most lavenders will grow well throughout the Southwestern United states, but more Northerly regions may have trouble. Try the Hidcote or Munstead variety in the North. The humid deep South may have trouble with any variety of lavender.
The good news is that it grows reasonably well in pots and can be brought indoors in cold or wet weather. Lavender doesn't need a big pot. Just an inch or two wider than the root ball is sufficient. The important thing is that the pot drains well. Mix your potting soil with equal parts sand and put a layer of loose gravel in the bottom of the pot before adding your soil. This will encourage drainage. Water when the soil feels dry and try not to wet the leaves. Make sure your lavender plant gets plenty of sun.
Plant your lavender where it will get full sun but be sheltered from harsh winds and not be in a drain path. Space the plants well apart to allow air circulation. It should be fed some compost the first year to get it started; After that, ignore it except for providing some protection from cold and wet. A thick layer of mulch after the first frost will protect the roots in areas where repeated thawing and freezing may stress the plant.
For best fragrance and essential oil production, the soil should be nutrient poor and alkaline.
Lavender is a good companion for fruit trees, rue and any plant that might be troubled by white fly or that would benefit from bees and other pollinating insects lavender attracts.
Lavender deters fleas and moths. Place sachets of lavender buds or lavender wands in cupboards and closets or stuff them into pet bedding to help deter pests from these areas.
Lavender is masculine in action and associated with Mercury, the element of air and the astrological sign Virgo.
It may be used as an asperging herb (to sprinkle water for purification purposes) and dried lavender sticks or wands can be burnt like incense.
It is also useful in spells to sharpen the mind, to encourage or strengthen pure love (as opposed to the naughty sort) and to encourage fertility.
The scent of lavender is relaxing and uplifting all at once making it a great aromatherapy for stressed out or depressed individuals. Try adding some lavender oil to your bath or add it to grapeseed or a similar oil for a relaxing massage at the end of a hard day.
Stuffing a pillow with lavender buds may help insomniacs relax and fall asleep and soothes headaches.
Lavender is a good addition to wedding cakes because of its delicate flavor and its association with love and fertility.
To make lavender flavored sugar, layer dried lavender buds and sugar in a jar and let it sit in a dark place for about a month. Sift out the lavender buds and enjoy your sugar in delicately flavored cakes, custards and tea.
An easy way to scent your clothing and bedding is to stuff a knee-high stocking with lavender and knot it. Throw this in your dryer with your drying laundry. It'll come out smelling divine!
Carrot Cake
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Mon, 07/28/2008 - 14:59.1-3/4 cup sugar
1-1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2-1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
3 cups shredded carrotsi (5 to 6 medium)
1-1/2 cups chopped walnuts
Cream Cheese Frosting
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
5 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanillai
Heat oven to 300 degrees. In mixer bowl, combine sugar, oil, and eggs; beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir together flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.
This is my favorite birthday cake. Since my birthday is on Midsummer, I associate this cake with that holiday too. But its warmth and heartiness lends itself well to cooler weather and harvest celebrations as well.
This cake has energy related to prosperity, fertility and lust and is particularly aligned to the sort of sweet, devoted love of an idealistic young couple eager to starti a new family making it great for a wedding cake. That also makes it appropriate for your Heiros Gamos (or Sacred Marriage) on whatever holiday it happens to fall on.
Dandelion Wine
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Mon, 07/28/2008 - 10:38.Take a gallon of fresh picked dandelioni flowers and place them in a large tub, pour 1 gallon of boiling water over them and let it steep for about 10 or so days stirring now and then.
Dandelion blossoms are actually made up of many tiny yellow flowers that many folks take to be petals. Only these should be used in to make the wine, not the green bracht that holds them all together as that's very bitter. Taste the different parts and you'll see. Dandelion flowers are delicious!
This recipe has strong solar associations so it is great for use at sun festivals, such as Midsummer day! Also, try this wine as an aid to divinationi, especially in association with love.
Dandelion Punch
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Mon, 07/28/2008 - 09:28.If you're serving dandelioni wine for your Midsummer gathering, be sure to also serve dandelion punch for the kids and those of us that don't drink!
3 cups dandelion flowers, rinsed and separated
1 gallon orangei juice
juice of 1 lemoni
1/4 cup of sugar
Ginger Ale (Vernors is the only popular brand that actually has ginger.)
Warm the orangei juice and lemoni together, then add the dandelions. Add the sugar, stirring constantly until dissolved. Let cool and then refrigerate overnight.
Dandelion punch is a traditional beverage for MayDay and Midsummer gatherings. It has strong solar energy and strong male energy. Drink it at the beginning of a project (or season) to encourage success in your endeavors and to enhance your health and strength as you move toward completion.
To speed things up, have the kids pick your dandelions for you and use pre-squeezed juice. Otherwise, this couldn't be quicker or easier to put together!
PS Make sure you only use yellow dandelioni flowers, not the green bracts or fuzzy bits!
Pulmonaria
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Sat, 05/31/2008 - 17:51.Pulmonaria officinalis
Pulmonaria or lungwort is a European native with large hairy leaves, green often mottled with light green or white, which appear in basal rosettes.
Lungworts multiply quickly and can be propagated by division or seed. They prefer moist soil in a cool, shady spot protected from afternoon heat. In hot climates they will go dormant in the summer and return in the autumn when temperatures cool down again.
Slugs love it and woodchucks will also eat it.
The latin name Pulmonaria comes from "pulmo" which means, the lung. In English, Lungwort and the German Lungenkraut also refer to the lungs. Some Eastern European names refer to honey instead, such as the Russian "medunitza" and the Polish "miodunka"
Lungwort is associated with the element air and is used for protection when traveling through air.
Pulmonaria leaves are used in sympathetic magic to represent diseased lungs.
As its name implies lungwort is useful for bronchial and pulmonary complaints. It is best prepared as an infusioni.
Eyebright
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Sun, 01/06/2008 - 23:49.Euphrasia officinalis
Eyebright is an annual that is common to dry fields and pasture lands in its native Britain and also in the US where it has become naturalized.
Eyebright prefers alkoline soil and does not do well in perfect well-tended beds. It prefers to grow weedlike in the shadow of other plants. It doesn't transplant well, so scatter the seeds randomly among your other plants in your herb garden. It is notoriously difficult to grow in the garden and prefers to the wild grasslands. You could try growing it in your lawn if you have a section you won't be mowing. Good luck!
Eyebright is best harvested in late summer when it is in full bloom. Cut the full herb and hang upside down to dry. Use within one year. The leaves and flowers are all used together.
The name Euphrasia is taken from the name of one of the three Greek Graces, Euphrosyne, meaning gladness. According to legend, the linnet, a bird whose Greek name comes from the same root, first used this plant to clear the sight of its young and then passed the knowledge on to mankind.
Spenser, Milton and other poets mention Eyebright in their poems.
In the time of Queen Elizabeth, Eyebright Ale was a beverage believed to cheer the spirit.
Eyebright is an ingredient in British Herbal Tobacco and makes a decent smoke.
Eyebright is of masculine nature and associated with the element of air, the sun, and Leo. It is named after one of the three Graces of the Greek Pantheon, Euphrosyne, Goddess of Joy and Mirth. It is also associated with the Tower Tarot card.
Place a few drops of infusioni of eyebright on your eyelids before sleeping to have prophetic dreams and during the day to see that which is normally unseen.
Use in spells to help you (or others) see situations clearly and objectively, to avoid or remove deception and metaphorical cloudiness.
Use also in spells to help rise above difficult situations and to see the silver lining on dark clouds.
Appropriate for all rituals and celebrations of thanksgiving and any rituali associated with the Graces or any joyous event, especially one that marks the end of one era and the beginning of another.
It is appropriate for offerings of thankgiving.
Eyebright, as its name implies, is traditionally used for just about any ailment of the eye. An infusioni of one ounce of herb per pint of water is an excellent all-purpose eyewash good for removing dust, debris and relieving irritation caused by allergies and mild conjunctivitis. Just put it in an eyewash cup and perform the eyewash as you would normally. (Read the directions that came with the cup)
For external eye irritations and inflammations, and to reduce general puffiness and dark circles, make the infusion with milk instead of water and apply to the eyelids and surrounding area with a cotton ball.
Eyebright can also be smoked to help relieve chronic bronchial inflammation.
Eyebright tea may be drunk as needed for general allergy symptoms, dry coughs and sinus infections. This is also said to enhance memory function.
Dimming of eyesight can result from prolonged us, or use of strong concentrations of eyebright.
None of the traditional uses of eyebright have ever been officially studied.
Because the safety of eyebright's use during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established, it is best avoided during these times.
Infusioni of eyebright is a must-have for your herbal first aid kit.
Eyebright can be added to teas.
Anise
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Sat, 01/05/2008 - 16:19.Pimpinellaa anisum
Anise is a graceful, feathery annual resembling members of the carrot family with branching ridged, round stems and small, star like white flowers which appear in clusters in the late summer.
Anise likes a sunny, sheltered site with well-drained, alkaline soil. It is suitable for all areas of North America, but the seeds won't ripen without a good hot summer. Anise needs 120 days to produce fully ripened seed heads. It is an annual, and grows 1-2 feet high. It does not transplant well, though it will live happily in a pot indoors or on a patio. Sow in the late spring.
It is a good companion plant with coriander, but shouldn’t be grown with carrot.
Anise is one of the oldest known plants that were grown for both culinary and medicinal use. It was an important in 2nd century BCE Egypt where it was grown for food and medicine and as an ingredient in liquor.
Anise was one of the ingredients in mustaceus; a special cake made with digestive herbs that was served as a finishing dish for feasts. This may be the origin of the modern-day wedding cake.
In 1305, King Edward I declared anise a taxable drug and the revenue earned through its import helped repair damages to the London Bridge.
The Native Americans called anise “Tut-te See-hua”, which means, “It expels the wind”
The best anise is grown in Spain, but it is also grown in Turkeyi and Egypt.
Pick the leaves as you need them and collect the flowers as they open. The fruits are ready for harvesting when they are gray-green at the tips. Cut the plant, retaining a good deal of stem and hang upside down in a paper bag to dry. The seeds will drop off and collect in the bottom. Store the seeds in a dark, dry place.
Gather the stems and dig up the roots in autumn.
Crush the seed and use in potpourri.
Roast the seed and use as a breath freshener.
Oil of anise is a natural insecticide.
Animals on the other hand seem to love it. It is said that the oil added to bait to catch fish, rats, mice, or anything else, will increase your chances. Dogs also like anise, and it is sometimes added to dog food. Anti-bloodsport activists would use it to put hunting dogs of the scent and ruin the hunt.
Anise is associated with the element of air, the God Apollo, the planets Mercury and Jupiter and the astrological sign Gemini. Anise is also considered masculine.
Hang an anise seed head from your bedpost to restore lost youth.
Use anise in dream pillows to keep away nightmares and ensure a good night’s sleep.
Fresh anise leaves or anise seeds used in a potpourri will protect a room from evil spirits and intentions.
It can be used in holy waters for blessing and exorcisms.
It is said that the scent stirs up lust.
Anise seeds carried in a sachet will ward off the evil eye.
Anise aids in divinationi and may be added to a rituali bath and/or burned while meditating or divining.
Anise has been used as an offering to entice spirits to aid in magical operations.
Anise is helpful for all sorts of coughs and helps to relieve congestion. It is useful added to syrups and lozenges. Or a tea can be made by steeping one teaspoon of the seeds in a cup of boiling water for ten minutes. Take up to one and a half cups per day. You can also make a tincture to keep on hand by using two ounces of seeds per ½ quart brandy and a pinch of lemoni peel. Let sit two to three weeks. Take one teaspoon as needed.
Some say anise is high in estrogen content and can be used to stimulate the flow of breast milk. It is also used to ease the pangs of childbirth. It may also help relieve the discomfort of menopause.
Anise seed is good for the digestive system and can be used to stimulate the appetite, aid in digestion, or relieve cramps, nausea, flatulence, or colic. A few seeds taken with water will cure hiccups.
Anise may increase the amount of iron that is absorbed into the body.
Anise is popular for desserts and baked goods. The seed may be used whole or crushed in breads, cakes, fruit dishes or cookies.
Try adding anise to the water when boiling shellfish.
The leaves or flowers may be added to fruit salads or used as a garnish.
The stem and root may be mixed into soups and stews.
Many liquors are flavored with anise including French pastis, Greek ouzo, Spanish ojen, Turkish raki, Italian anesone, Arab arrak and Egyptian kibib.
Do not overdo it. Large quantities of anise can be toxic. Do not use the essential oil without dilution.
Because anise may increase the amount of iron that is absorbed into the body, use caution when taking both iron supplements and anise at the same time.
Anise can be used with dogs like catnip with cats. Don't let them overdo it though, see above toxicity warnings!
Sage
Submitted by kitchenwitch on Sat, 12/29/2007 - 14:00.Salvia officinalis
Sage is a hardy perennial of the mint family. Purplish flower spikes appear in the summer. Many species become shrubby and woody. Some are verigated. Sage has a wonderful scent.
This lovely perennial enjoys sun and well-drained soil. Keep fertilizer to a minimum. Most varieties are winter hardy. Sow seeds up to two weeks before the last danger of frost. Plants grown from cuttings do better than those grown from seed.
Prune after it flowers and then don't harvest anymore until spring so the plant has a month or two to harden off so that it can survive the frost.
Harvest lightly for the first two years to allow the plant to get established. Then large bunches can be harvested and hung to dry. The flavor is better if you freeze sage rather than dry it though.
The name Salvia derives from the Latin word Salveo, "to heal" or "to save".
It has long been used in healing. An old proverb says "why should a man die who has sage in his garden?". It was used in the Middle Ages to treat fevers, liver disease and epilepsy. In England, the tea drunk as a healthful tonic. It was also believed to strengthen the memory. An old English custom states that eating Sage every day in May will grant immortality. It was also said that a woman who ate sage cooked in wine would never be able to conceive and its fresh leaves were said to cure warts.
It is said that where sage grows well in the garden, the wife rules and that sage will flourish or not depending on the success of the business of the household.
During the Middle Ages, sage was used to mask the taste of rancid meat. Perhaps its antibacterial action also protected people from dying of rancid meat...
The Romans regarded sage quite highly and much sacrifice and ceremony was associated with its harvest. They believed it stimulated the brain and memory and used it to clean their teeth.
The Dutch in the 17th century traded Sage for Teai with the Chinese.
Sage makes a nice rinse for dark hair.
Sage's attractive leaves hold their shape and fragrance well when dried and are an attractive addition to dried arrangements and potpourri.
Store dried sage in the same place as you store your potatoesi to help them keep longer.
Sage is masculine in nature and associated the the element of air and the planet Jupiter.
Sage is sacred to the Greek Zeus and Roman Jupiter. It is also a symbol of the Virgin Mary.
White sage (Salvia apiana ) is sacred in many Shamanic and Native American belief systems and is used in smudgingi, and other, ceremonies to purify the body. This plant is difficult to grow in captivity and is largely wildcrafted which threatens native populations. Garden sage is a suitable substitute. Indeed, most Salvia species can be used for smudging.
Sage is used in magical workings for immortality, longevity, wisdom, protection and the granting of wishes.
Sage is also believed to help aleviate sorrow of the death of a loved one.
To make a wish, write your wish on a sage leaf and sleep with it under your pillow for three days and then bury it.
Add Sage to mojo bags to promote wisdom and to overcome grief.
Burn sage at funeral and remembrance ceremonies to help releive the grief of the mourners.
Sage tea has antiseptic qualities and makes a good gargle for sore throats.
Sage may boost insulin action, and therefore, a daily cup of tea may be helpful for those with diabetes. Use one or two teaspoons of dried sage leaves to one cup of boiling water.
Only Salvia officianalis is suitable for culinary use
Sage aids in the digestion of fatty foods and is therefore good for seasoning meats, especially pork. It's also famously useful for stuffing poultry. It is also awesome in various beani and pork dishes, like split pea soup and vegetarian bean dishes.
Sage blossoms are good in salads.
Pineapple sage is good in fruit drinks, salads and with ham.
Common sage blends well with the flavors of balsamic vinegar, basil, bay, black pepper, cream cheese, garlici, lavender, lemoni, mushrooms, onions, oregano, rosemary, thyme and red wine.
Most sage grows like crazy, but the most commonly used sage in spiritual practice, white sage, grows only in the American Southwest and is being over-collected in the wild. In my experience, garden sage works just as well and grows quite easily just about anywhere.
You can find more information about sage at http://www.souledout.org/healing/secretgarden/sage.html
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Agrimony
Submitted by DawnBlack on Wed, 12/19/2007 - 11:37.Agrimonia eupatoria
Agrimony is a perennial native to Europe, Western Asia and Northern Africa that has naturalized to most of the US and Canada. It grows in open areas, fields and waste places and hedgerows.
Agrimony will grow well throughout most of North America. A perennial herb, it should be sown from seed in winter, or they may be stratified by putting them in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks before spring planting. Agrimony seeds are suitable for Midwinter planting ceremonies.
Agrimony prefers well-drained soil and full to partial sun and tolerates dry spells well.
The name Agrimony comes from the Greek Argemone, which means a plant that is healing to the eyes, although Agrimony isn't often used in this capacity. Eupetoria is a reference to a king who died in 63BCE and was renowned for his herbal skill and knowledge.
The Anglo-Saxons called it Garclive and used it to treat wounds and skin blemishes. During Medieval times it was a treatment for internal bleeding, in combination with pounded frogs.
Once this herb was used to aid in detecting witches.
Agrimony can be harvested at Midsummer or when the flowers just come into bloom. Cut the whole plant and hang outside to dry. Or pluck the leaves as needed.
Agrimony is an invasive perennial so be sure to cut it before it goes to seed.
This plant works well in a perennial border. It also yields a yellow dye. The later in the season the plant is collected, the darker the dye will be.
This plant also contains a good deal of tannini and may be useful in dressing leather.
Agrimony is masculine in nature and associated with the planet Jupiter, Cancer and the element of air.
Agrimony is useful for spellwork for those who who need to explore their true feelings and to help balance the emotions applied to a situation.
The plant is also used in protection spells, to help build a psychic shield, to reduce the influence of another's negativity and to banishi negative energies and spirits. It is said to reverse harmful spells cast on you, causing them to rebound on the sender. Use in all protective sachets, spells and medicine bags. It is useful also as a banishing smudge or as a wash to cleanse the aura.
It is especially useful in healing magic as it enhances the strength of all healing spells, especially at a distance. You could use it in a rituali bath before beginning, as a wash for your tools, in a smudge or simply decorate your alter with it.
Agrimony can be added to pillows, or placed under the pillow to ensure a deep, dreamless sleep. This is especially useful for those who are too troubled to sleep properly. This is an old traditional use for this herb
as the following rhyme indicates:
'If it be leyd under mann's heed,
He shal sleepyn as he were deed;
He shal never drede ne wakyn
Till fro under his heed it be takyn.'
Agrimony has astringent properties which makes it very useful for drawing out stings and thorns and for acne. Use a fomentation for these problems.
A tonic infusioni, a 1-2 teaspoons per teacup, three times a day(or make it by the jugful, adjusting measurements accordingly, and store it in the fridge to drink cold), can be used as a diuretic and for urinary and kidney infections, for jaundice and general liver ailments, ulcers, diarrhea and general digestive complaints and for excessively heavy menstruation and hemorrhage. Agrimony is also a popular "spring tonic".
The same infusion may also be used as a gargle for throat irritation, especially useful for singers.
A poultice of the leaves may be used for migraines.
Caution
Do not use this herb internally if you are constipated. It will make you worse.
Agrimony makes a lovely fragrant tea good hot or iced. Steep 1 teaspoon of dried leaves and flowers in one cup of hot water for 15 minutes. Add honey to taste.
Contains vitamins B3, K, iron and niacin
If you're not the gardening type, or you haven't got a yard, you can buy organic agrimony already prepared.
