Herbs

Belladonna

Botanical Name: Atropa Belladonna or Atropa Bella-Donna

Belladonna (also called Deadly Nightshade or Devil’s Berries) is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Solanaceae family. Native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, the foliage and berries are extremely toxic. The toxins are tropane alkaloids, containing scopolamine and hyoscyamine, which cause delirium and hallucinations.

Belladonna has a history of use in medicine, cosmetics, and poison. It was used as an anesthetic before the Middle Ages. The ancient Romans used it as a poison on arrow tips. Both the wife of Emperor Augustus and the wife of Claudius used it to murder contemporaries. The name “Bella-Don means “beautiful woman” in Italian, and the genus name “atropa” comes from Atropos, one of the three Fates in Greek mythology.

Kava-Kava

Botanical Name: Piper Methysticum

Folk Names: Intoxicating Pepper, Ava, Ava Pepper, Ava Root, Awa Root

Photo by wallyg

Piper methysticum, means “intoxicating pepper.” It is a mild hypnotic, used traditionally in Polynesia for ceremonial purposes. Young people with strong teeth would chew the tough roots, it was then strained and added to water or coconut oil.

The tonic was drunk at peace ceremonies and other ritual occasions to welcome visiting dignitaries. It was not only used for ceremonial consumption, but also to relax social barriers and enhance social cohesion. Kava-Kava was used as an Offering to deities, it was taken to enhance visions or to increase the power when a priest wished to identify the spiritual cause of an illness.

Jasmine

Botanical Name: Jasminum officinale, Jamsminum grandiflorum, Jasminum odoratissimum

Folk Names: Anbar, Jessamin, Moonlight on the Grove, Peot’s Jessamine, Yasmin

Photo By snopek

Jasmine is a woody perennial. The shrub climbs up to 50 feet, with green stems and leaves. J. grandiflorum is mostly used in herbal remedies, while J. officinale is used in aromatherapy.

In Europe, jasmine was used to aid in childbirth. The oil would facilitate birth by “warming the womb.” Burning Jasmine leaves would attract wealth and bring money. If the leaves were burned in the bedroom, it was believed that it would result in  prophetic dreams.

Clematis (Vitalba)

Clematis (also called Traveler’s joy or Old man’s beard) is a flowering vine of the Ranunculaceae family. The vines can grow up to 100 feet long and can completely blanket trees and other plants. Each  blossom is made up of 4 greenish-white fluffy sepals and feathery filaments that turn silvery and thread-like in the fall.

Photo By Shotaku

Clematis can be a great remedy for someone who tends to live in a dream world, and takes little interest in day-to-day events. It also helps with people that may be frustrated with life and have unrealistic ideals. It can stimulate creative potential and encourage a person to envision their dreams and become focused.

Indian Paint Brush

Botanical Name: Castilleja

Folk Names: Snake’s Maiden, Snakes Matches

Photo by kloppster

Native to North America, Indian Paintbrush is a genus of about 200 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants.

According to Native American legend, a young brave became frustrated in his attempts to paint a sunset with his war-paints. He then asked for guidance from the Great Spirit****. The Great Spirit gave him paintbrushes laden with sunset colors**. With these gifts, he painted his masterpiece. He then left the spent brushes in fields across the landscape.** The brushes sprouted into the vibrant reds, scarlets, yellows and purples of the Indian paintbrush.

Lavender Oil

Photo by lokenre

Native to the Mediterranean, lavender is primarily cultivated in Provence, in the south of France. It usually grows in open fields and stony mountain slopes. Today, it can be found throughout southern Europe, Australia, and the United States. Lavender is a short shrub that grows to a height of roughly 24 inches. When in bloom, lavender’s blue-violet flowers gives the herb its aromatic scent. The flowers are aligned in spirals of 6 - 10 blossoms, forming interrupted spikes above the foliage.

Hawthorn

Botanical Name: Crataegus Oxyacantha

Folk Names: Ban-Sangli, Bread and Cheese Tree, Gazels, Hagthorn, Halves, Haw, Hazels, Hedgethorn, Huath, Ladie’ Meat, May, Mayblossom, May Bush, Mayflower, Quick, Thorn, Tree of Chastity.

© Copyright David Hawgood and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Hawthorn is a member of Rosaceae family. A spiny tree or shrub, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia and North America, It may reach a height of 30 feet.

Malva Tea

Malva, or Althea sylvestris, has light-pink to purple flowers. Overseas it is commonly referred to as “mallow.” In the United States, It is commonly known as “Malva”. Young leaves of Malva are harvested in the spring, and its blossoms are gathered in the summer and early fall. Both plant parts can be used to make many teas, the preparations made with flowers are more commonly found in the U.S. The word “Malva” is derived from malakos, which in Greek means “soothing”; not surprisingly, Malva tea is often given as a gargle to reduce throat inflammations. Drinking the tea also helps calm stomach and intestinal irritation. Warm compresses can draw toxins from pimples, abscesses and other skin inflammation while cool tea compresses can help to relive superficial burns. The active components of Malva are mucilage (which is a viscous substance), tannins and Malvin, a red pigment.

Birch

Botanical Name: Betula Pendula

The silver birch was  regarded as a symbol of spring - a tree of life and fertility. Folklore has honored it as a protector against demons, and the trees leaves, bark and sap have long been used to fight illness such as bladder infections, kidney stones, eczema and rheumatism.

Plant Facts: A member of the Betulaceae, or birch, family. It grows to a height of 100 feet and is recognized by its grayish-white, peeling bark and dark cracks at the base. The bark and leaves have an organic, bitter taste and act as an astringent.

Vitamin Deficiency

Important Vitamins:

• Pantothenic acid for the brain.

• Vitamin D for the bones.

• Vitamin B12 for the blood.

• Vitamin A for the heart and circulation.

• Thiamin for the muscles.

Every cell in the body relies on a sufficient supply of vitamins to do its metabolic work. Vitamins perform many functions, they promote blood formation and healthy skin, hair and vision, as well as the maintainability of  nerves and muscles. Most vitamins must be obtained from foods or supplements because the body cannot produce them.