Download Oh Great Mother Hear our call Bring Spring Blessings

Healing Herbs Hand out
The Herbs we will be working with are Elderberry, Myrrh, Hibiscus, Rose, Benzoin, Cat nip,
Peppermint, Stinging Nettle Rose Hip, Lemon Balm, Comfrey, Calendula, and Arnica. This is a
basic handout and isn’t meant to be a full education on the uses of herbs for either magical or
medicinal purposes. If you need any additional detailed information regarding the material
listed, please feel free to reach out to Annwyn or Tiffany and they can guide you in your specific
questions.
Vocabulary Terms
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Bark- The rough outer parts of a tree or shrub, often times with aromatic properties
Charge- To focus intent into an object
Decoction is a method of extraction by boiling of dissolved chemicals from herbal or
plant material, which may include stems, roots, bark.
Essential Oils - Oils that are very concentrated and very potent. They can also be very
expensive. They are oils that are extracted directly from the plant and are not diluted or
mixed with any carrier oil. DO not confuse essential oils with fragrance oils. Fragrance
oils are synthetic chemical oil.
Healing- To bring about positive change in a body, soul, land, home etc
Herb- The herbaceous non woody parts of a plant
Incense- A blend of herbs which usually contain resins and is used burnt on a live fire or
coal; a combination of plants, resins, barks, etc that is often blended together and later
burned. Often times used for rituals, offerings, and other magical purposes
Infused Oils - Oils that are created using a fresh or dried herb. Fill one jar 1/2 full with
herb, and then fill to the top with a carrier oil. Let sit for 3-8 weeks strain and use.
Mortar and Pestle- A 2-part stone device used to grind herbs.
Plant- any above ground portion of a plant, a green living entity.
Ointments- A blend of oils or animal fat, bees wax, and oils
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Resin- a sticky flammable organic substance, insoluble in water, exuded by some trees
and other plants
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Ritual- A ceremony where energy is raised for a purpose, and the God/ess are honored
Root - the part of a plant that attaches it to the ground or to a support, typically
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underground, conveying water and nourishment to the rest of the plant via numerous
branches and fibers.
Salve - an ointment typically made from an oil (either vegetable or animal) and a wax
(usually bees wax)
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Simple – using one herb at a time instead of a blend of herbs
Teas- A blend of herbs that is infused with hot water and ingested.
Wildcrafted- Herbs that are gathered from the wild
Wisewoman Way- Using intuition and experience to create recipes rather than exact
measurements and reference books.
Wortcunning - One who deals strictly with herbs and plants to bring about magic
Incense (Kitchen Counter)
Essential ingredients for incense
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Plant, Herb, Root, Bark
Resin
Oil, Honey, Wine
Igniter (such as charcoal)
Tools you will need
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Mortar and pestle
Spoon
In some cases gloves
Bowl
Incense Recipe
________ parts Elderberry
________ parts Myrrh
________ parts Hibiscus
________ parts Rose hip
________ parts White rose petals
________ parts Benzoin
________ parts oil / honey / wine
Directions:
You will be selecting the herbs and resins you want to add to the incense. Place them in your
mortar and pestle. You will grind them down. Some people prefer a fine powder while others
like large clumps of plant. In this case we will be using a liquid to help bind it together. You will
want to make sure your plants and resin are down to a fine powder. After the liquid “honey”
has been added you will make little balls by rolling them between your fingers. When finished
let them dry and they are ready to burn in about 1-2 weeks.
Tea (Kitchen Table)
Essential Ingredients for Tea
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Herbs
Tools you will need
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Tea bag
Tea Recipe
________ parts Catnip
________ parts Mint
________ parts Nettle
________ parts Lemon balm
________ parts Rosehip
Directions:
Mix herbs together. Pour boiling water over herbs when you are ready to ingest and let it sit 510 minutes.
Healing salve (Stove)
Essential Ingredients for Salve
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Infused Oil
Beeswax
Essential Oil
Carrier Oil (if not using infused oils)
Tools you will need
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A double boiler (or a sauce pan and bowl)
Container for the salve
Spoon
Salve Recipe
(note: your oil mixture should equal about 1 cup)
_______ parts Comfrey
_______ parts Calendula
_______ parts Arnica
¼ cup beeswax
Directions:
Combine the infused herbal oil and beeswax in a saucepan, and heat on low until the wax is
melted. Remove from heat and stir in optional ingredients such as dried herbs and essential
oils. Pour into sterilized containers and let cool.
Ritual
Before we start to make our “herbals” we are going to first create an offering or sacrifice. We
have all chosen a bouquet of flowers that will be arranged into a mandala. This is the offering,
we will lay it on the foundation of last years ashes. Once the Mandala is created which is a fun
and organic process we will then charge the herbs by passing them around in a circle. Each time
you have the jar of herbs, focus your intent “healing” into the jar to “charge” the plants with
our intent. While we raise energy we will chant……
Oh Great Mother
Hear our call
Bring Spring Blessings
to us all
Chart of herbal correspondences
Herb/Resin
Magical
properties
Purification,
Psychic
Abilities,
Medicinal
Properties
Bruises,
Contusions,
Rheumatic
Muscle and joint
problems,
Inflamed Insect
Bites
Contraindications
Benzoin
Purification,
Prosperity
Hoarseness, Skin
Ulcers, Bedsores,
Cracked skin
Do not use if taking
Lithium
Calendula
Prophetic
Dreams,
Psychic
Powers,
Necromancy,
Legal Matters
Rashes, Cuts,
Skin
Inflammation,
Skin Ulcers,
Muscle Spasms,
Varicose Veins,
Hemorrhoids
Do not use if you
suffer from Ragweed
Allergy, May
interfere with
anesthesia, May
Interfere with
sedatives
Cat Nip
Cat Magic,
Love, Beauty,
Happiness
Mosquito
Repellant,
Migraines, Colds,
Flus, Anxiety,
Gas, Arthritis,
Hives, Insomnia
May interfere with
anesthesia, May
Interfere with
sedatives. Do not use
if taking Lithium
Comfrey
Safety during
travel, Money
Sprains, Bruises,
Osteoarthritis,
Skin Ulcers,
Wounds, Broken
Bones, Heavy
Menstruation,
Gum Disease
MAY cause liver
damage if ingested,
Do not use if taking
Hepatotoxic drugs.
Arnica
Photo
None
Elderberry
Exorcism,
Protection,
Healing,
Prosperity,
Sleep
Flu, Cold, Heart
Disease, Nerve
Pain, Hay Fever,
Constipation
Hibiscus
Lust, Love,
Divination
High Blood
Pressure, High
Cholesterol, Loss
of Appetite,
Heart Disease,
Nerve Disease
Lemon
Balm
Love, Healing,
Success
Anxiety,
Coldsores, Colic,
Dementia,
Insomnia,
Migraines, IBS,
ADHD, Nervous
Stomach
Mint
Purification,
Love, Sleep,
Psychic
Powers,
Healing,
Money, Lust,
Travel,
Exorcism,
Protection
Protection,
Exorcism,
Healing,
Spirituality
IBS, Heartburn,
Migraine,
Tension
Headaches,
Nausea,
Infections
None
Indigestion,
Ulcers, Colds,
Cough, Asthma,
Congestion
May decrease blood
sugar levels so be
cautious if diabetic,
May interfere with
anesthesia, May
interfere with blood
thinners
Myrrh
Activates immune
system so use with
caution if you have an
autoimmune disease,
Do not use if taking
immunosuppressant’s
May decrease blood
sugar levels so be
cautious if diabetic,
May lower blood
pressure so be
cautious if your blood
pressure is already
low, Minorly interacts
with Acetaminophen
but decreasing its
effectiveness
May Interfere with
sedatives
Nettle
Exorcism ,
Healing,
Protection,
Lust
Osteoarthritis,
Hay Fever,
Seasonal
Allergies,
Asthma, Poor
Circulation,
Wounds
Rose
Love, Pschic
Powers,
Healing,
Divination,
Luck,
Protection
Infections, Cuts,
Bruises, Skin
Inflammation,
IBS, Fever
Rose Hips
Same as the
Rose + Birth,
Cycle of Death
and rebirth,
nourishment,
and beauty
Osteoarthritis,
Rheumatoid
Arthritis,
Infections, Fever,
IBS, Cold’s, Flu’s
May decrease blood
sugar levels so be
cautious if diabetic,
May lower blood
pressure so be
cautious if your blood
pressure is already
low, May interfere
with blood thinners,
May Interfere with
sedatives, Do not use
if taking Lithium
May interfere with
blood thinners, Do
not use if taking
Lithium, May
decrease blood sugar
levels so be cautious
if diabetic.
May interfere with
blood thinners, Do
not use if taking
Lithium, May
decrease blood sugar
levels so be cautious
if diabetic.