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A Few Common Herbs:
Healing and Spiritual Properties

*When a recommendation of adding herbs to boiled water is recommended below, do not use a metal container for steeping.  Rather, use a glass or ceramic heat-resistant container.)

I must state here that I am not a medical doctor: the information presented here regarding herbal remedies is based upon my own knowledge, research and experience, and should not take the place of a professional opinion by a medical practitioner.  Always seek competent medical advice before embarking upon any healthcare program if you have a serious medical condition.

Anise (pimpinella anisum) - Internal Uses: A tea made of 3 teaspoonfuls of crushed anise seeds to a cup of boiling water, steeped for 20 minutes, is useful for breaking up mucus when a hard, dry cough is present; take 1-2 ml three times a day. 

Essential Oil Uses:  Use Anise Essential Oil as a chest rub by mixing 5 ml Essential Oil with 20 ml carrier oil (olive oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil) and rub into the chest. 

Do not consume Anise as an herbal remedy if you are pregnant. 

Spiritual Uses:  Make a small sachet and fill it with anise seeds; place under your pillowcase to stop nightmares.  Used in incense, Anise is useful for both protection and meditation.  Fresh anise leaves placed in a room help to drive off evil entities.

Basil (ocimum basilicum) - Internal Uses:  A tea made from once ounce of basil leaves to a pint of water, simmered for 20 minutes, will be helpful for indigestion, cold, flu, kidney, and bladder troubles, headaches, cramps, nausea, vomiting, and constipation.  For fever, add 3 powdered black peppercorns per cup of tea made.

Essential Oil Uses:  Add 5-10 drops of Essential Oil to bathwater for exhaustion, fatigue or depression.  Mix 5 drops Essential Basil Oil with 10 ml almond or sunflower oil to make a chest rub for asthma or bronchitis.

Do not use Basil has an herbal remedy if you are pregnant or nursing; not recommended for internal use for infants or toddlers.

Spiritual Uses:  Used as incense, Basil helps to sooth tension between lovers.  If fresh Basil leaves are rubbed against the skin, the perfume attracts love.  Carry Basil in your pocket or purse to attract wealth.  Basil given as a gift brings good luck to a new home.

Bay (laurus nobilis) - Internal Uses:  Bay leaves are very potent, and should not be used in large quantities internally.  Historically, bay leaves were chewed or held in the mouth to produce visions and altered states of consciousness.

Essential Oil Uses:  Apply to the skin to relieve rtheumatic pain and arthritis, as well as sprains and swellings. 

Spiritual Uses: Write a wish on a bay leaf, then burn it to make it come true.  Bay leaves can burned or scattered to ward off negativity and evil.

Black pepper (piper nigrum) - Internal Uses:  Black peppercorns can be taken at the first signs of illness -- grind seven peppercorns and mix with honey, and take once daily. 

Spiritual Uses:  Mixed with salt and scattered around your property, pepper wards off evil.

Cinnamon (cinnamonum zeylanicum) - Internal Uses:  Used to treat chonic diarreah, cramps, heart and abdominal pains, coughing, wheezing, and lower back pain.  Simmer 4 teaspoons in a cup of milk.  Make an infusion by adding cinnamon
bark to boiling water, allow to steep, covered for 15 minutes.  Soak a cloth in the infusion and use as a compress for arthritis and rheumatism.

Essential Oil Uses:  Add 5 drops Essential oil to boiling water and inhale the steam for coughs and respiratory irritation.  Dilute 1 ml Essential Oil in 25 ml almond or sunflower oil and use as an external rub for diarreah or colic.

Do not use cinnamon as an herbal remedy if you are pregnant; avoid if you have febrile or infectious disorders; not for long term or regular use.
 
Spiritual Uses:  Use cinnamon chips as an incense to raise spiritual and psychic powers.  Add cinnamon to a sachet or infusion to draw money and aid in healing.

Cloves (xyzygium aromaticum) - Internal Uses:  increases circulation, improves digestion, helps vomiting and nausea.  Make an infusion by adding 1/4 c whole cloves to boiling water; cover and allow to infuse for 10 minutes. 

Essential Oil Uses:  Oil of cloves is a quick fix for toothaches.  Take 1-2 drops Essential Oil for nausea or vomiting.

Spiritual Uses: Burn cloves as incense to attract riches, and to purify your environment. 

Coriander (coriandrum sativum) - Internal Uses:  A tea made from 2 teaspoons of crushed coriander seeds to a cup of boiling water, steeped for 20 minutes, helps to relieve fever. 

Spiritual Uses:  Add powdered coriander seeds to warm wine to make a lust potion.  Wear the seeds for healing assistance.

Cumin (cuminum cyminum) - Internal Uses:  prevents and relieves gas.  Can also help increase breastmilk in women after childbirth. 

Spiritual Uses:  Give Cumin as a gift to your lover to promote fidelity. 

Frankincense (boswellia carterii)  - Spiritual Uses:  Frankincense a powerful cleanser and purifer, and is burned as incense to drive out all evil and negtivity, to induce visions, and aid in meditation.

Essential Oil Uses:   Add 2-3 drops of Essential Oil to the bathwater to purify the body and spirit.

Garlic (allium sativum) -  Internal Uses:  Garlic is useful in the treatment of all lung ailments and for high and low blood pressure.  The fresh juice pressed from the garlic clove is most effective and potent; for high blood pressure, eat one clove of garlic each morning.  

Avoid garlic as an herbal remedy if nursing.

Essential Oil Uses:  For colds, flus and fevers, take one teaspoon of oil every hour. For earaches, insert a few drops in the ear with a cottonball.  For aches, sprains nd minor skin disorders, rub the oil directly onto the affected area. 

Spiritual Uses: Garlic is extremely protective.  Carry it for protection against evil, robbery and envy.  Hung in the home, garlic guards against evil entities and robbery.

Ginger (zingiber offinale) - Internal Uses:  Ginger tea is used to treat indigestion, cramps and nausea.  Prepare by grating one ounce of ginger root and simmer for ten minutes in a pint of water.  The tea, added to honey and lemon, is also good for colds and flus.  

Essential Oil Uses:  Mix 5-10 drops Essential Oil to 25 ml almond oil and use as a massage remedy for arthritis or rheumatism.   Take 1-2 drops of Essential Oil, mixed with honey, for gas, menstrual cramps, nausea, or stomach aches.

Spiritual Uses:  Sprinkle powdered ginger root into your pockets or onto your money to attract money. 

Lavender (lavandula spp.) - Internal Uses:  Make an infusion of dried lavender added to boiling water; take for exhaustion, tension headaches, colic and indigestion.  Use as mouthwash for bad breath.

Essential Oil Uses:  Add 1 ml Essential Oil and 5 drops Chamomile Essential Oil to 1 ml carrier oil (sunflower or almond); use as a chest rub for asthma and bronchitis.  Add 1 ml Essential Oil to 25 ml carrier oil and massage into painful muscles.  Dilute 10 drops of Essential Oil into 25 ml carrier oil and massage into the temples and nape of the neck for tension headaches or migraine headaches. Apply undiluted to insect bites and stings.  Add 2-3 drops to the bathwater to promote relaxation and relieve stress.

Marjoram (origanum majorana) - Internal Uses:  A tea made with one-half ounce of marjoram steeped in a pint of boiling water is useful for upset stomach, headache, colic, cramps, menstrual cramps and abdominal cramps.  

Spiritual Uses:  Add Marjoram to food to strengthen love between the people eating it.  Marjoram is protective and relieves depression when carried.

Mustard seed (brassica nigra) - Internal Uses:  One teaspoonful of crushed mustard seeds in warm water acts as a mild laxative and blood cleanser; a tablespoon acts as a powerful emetic (induces vomiting.)  Not for long term or regular use. 

Spiritual Uses:  Carry mustard seeds in a red sachet to guard against colds.

Myrrh (commiphora myrrha) - Internal Uses:  Take 5 ml. powdered myrrh a day in 1-2 ml doses well diluted with water for upper respiratory problems, fevers, head colds, and infections.

Essential Oil Uses:  Mix 10 drops Essential Oil in 25 ml. water and use externally on wounds.  Mix 1 ml Essential oil in 15 ml almond or sunflower oil and use as a chest rub for bronchitis and chest colds.  Add 2-3 drops Essential Oil to the bathwater to purify the body and spirit.

Spiritual Uses:  Mixed with frankincense and burned as incense; see frankincense. 

Nutmeg (myristica fragans) -  Internal Uses:  No more than a pea-sized amount can be taken once daily to relieve chronic nervous disorders and heart problems.  (Large doses are poisonous. Do not consume nutmeg if you are pregnant or nursing.)   Spiritual Uses: Sprinkle ground nutmeg onto a green candle and burn to bring money. 

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) - Internal Uses:  Make an infusion of peppermint leaves to boiling water and take for nausea, travel sickness, indigestion, gas, fevers, and migraines.  Soak a pad in the infusion and use as a compress for inflamed joints, rheumatism or neuralgia.  Add fresh leaves to boiling water and inhale the steam to help nasal congestion. 

Essential Oil Uses:  Use 2-3 drops of Essential Oil in 10 ml water for skin irritations, itching, burns, inflammations, ringworm, scabies, or to repel mosquitos.  Dilute 5-10 drops Essential Oil in 25 ml carrier oil and use on the temples for heachaches or fever.

Rosemary (rosmarinus officinalis)  - Internal Uses:  The very best headache remedy.  Make a tea from one-half ounce of rosemary to a point of boiled water, and steep for ten minutes in a covered pot.  Rosemary is also good for the hair and scalp (when cooled, naturally!) - use the infusion as a rinse after shampooing.  The infusion is also helpful for colds, rheumatism and indigestion.  Soak a pad in the hot infusion and use for sprains and aches.

Essential Oil Uses:  Add 10 drops to the bath to sooth aches and pains.  Dilute 1 ml Essential Oil in 25 ml carrier oil and massage into painful joints and muscles, into the scalp to stimulate hair growth or into the temples for headaches.

Do not use Rosemary if pregnant or nursing.

Spiritual Uses: Rosemary is an effective cleansing and purifying incense. Place rosemary under your pillow to ensure rest and freedom from nightmares.  Add fresh, dried, or Essential Oil to your bath to purify. 

Sage (salvia officinalis) -  Internal Uses:  Can be used to treat excessive perspiration, night sweats, diarreah, cold and flu, sinus congestion, and bladder infections.  Make a tea using 1/4 ounce of sage in a pint of boiled water, steeping in a covered pot for ten minutes.  Consume up to three times daily, but for no longer than a week at a time. Sage tea can also be used as a gargle for sore throats.  The infusion can be used as a rinse for dandruff, or to restore color to graying hair. 

Do not use Sage if pregnant - can be toxic in high dosages or if used over a long period of time.

Spiritual Uses:  Carry sage to promote wisdom.  Burn sage as incense to purify your environment.

Thyme (thymus vulgaris) - Internal Uses:  Can be used for bronchial problems, such as bronchitis, whooping cough and laryngitis, and alr irritable bowel s.ndrome Make a tea by adding one ounce of thyme to a pint of boiled water, steep for ten minutes, and sweeten with honey.  Consume no more than once daily.   Use the infusion as a gargle for sore throats.

Essential Oil Uses:  Mix 10 drops Essential Oil in 20 ml carrier oil and use as an external rub for chest infesions.  Dissolve 10 drops Essential oil in 20 ml water and apply to insect bites and infected wounds.  Add 5 drops undiluted Essential Oil to the bath for arthritis and sore joint and muscles. 

Spiritual Uses:  Burn Thyme as incense to purify your environment, and also to attract good health.  Wear thyme to promote psychic development.
What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are highly concentrated substances extracted from plants and trees. They are usually captured by steam distillation, cold infusion or by cold press methods. The natural chemistry of essential oils is complex. Most consist of hundreds of components, such as terpenes, alcohols, aldehydes, and esters. For this reason a single oil can help a wide variety of disorders. Lavender, for instance, is endowed with antiseptic, antibacterial, antibiotic, antidepressant, analgesic, decongestant and sedative properties. Moreover, due to their tiny molecular structure, essential oils applied to the skin are be absorbed directly into the bloodstream. 

They also reach the blood as a result of the aromatic molecules being inhaled. In the lungs, they pass through the tiny air sacs to the surrounding blood capillaries by the process of diffusion. Once in the bloodstream the aromatic molecules interact with the body's chemistry.

Essential Oils are derived solely from plant matter, and are radically different from Fragrance Oils.  Fragrance Oils are synthetic, man-made reproductions of the scent of the duplicated Essential Oil, but contain none of the naturally occurring healing properties of the Essential Oil. 

Essential Oils have a multitude of uses, from inhalation therapy (aromatherapy), to internal use, external use on the skin or added to the bathwater.  Some oils are somewhat irritating to the skin in their pure Essential form and need to be diluted in a carrier oil, such as sunflower or almond oil.  Do not automatically assume that an Essential Oil is safe for internal consumption -- many Essential Oils are readily available from plants which are toxic, and are meant for external use only.  Also, many so-called "Essential Oils" available are in fact synthetic fragrance oils, which would not only have no therapeutic value, but could be toxic in and of themselves.  So take the time to look into the properties of the plant derivative -- as well as inquiring with the retailer about the source of the oils they are selling -- before ingesting anything. 


Practical Applications

Herbs can be a wonderful beginning for your path to well being.  They have literally hundreds of applications, from fresh herbs for teas and infusions, (which have hundreds of specific applications themselves), ground herbs used in gelatin capsules, herbal baths, Essential Oils, herbal balms and poultices, and fresh herbs and resins for pure Incense to be used during meditation.  For example, a common herb, Rosemary, has many applications.  An infusion of Rosemary (similar to a tea-like brew) is a powerful anti-bacterial skin cleanser.  An infusion of Rosemary is also an incredibly effective headache remedy.  A Rosemary herbal bath is a physical and psychic cleansing tool.  As an incense, Rosemary has a powerful cleansing and purifying effect, ridding a dwelling of negativity.  In fact, it is one of the oldest known incenses.  (More on herbal remedies you can utilize for common ailments below.)

The number one rule when using herbs is to be absolutely certain of what you are purchasing and ingesting.  Many herbs, even the common variety used in cooking and baking, can be toxic in high dosages.  Others are virulently poisonous, even in small amounts.  Some are so toxic that they should not be handled with the naked hand.  I do not mean to scare you off from herbalism altogether, but am advocating education and caution.  If you have a serious medical condition, or are taking prescription drugs, check with your physician and a reputable herbalist before self-prescribing herbal remedies --  there may be serious contraindictions between your own medications and the compounds found in your own home herbal remedies.

Unfortunately, not all sales clerks are knowledgeable about what they are selling, or worse, will assume that you are, so be sure that you are well read on the subject when purchasing and using herbs.  Suggested reading materials are The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, and Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs.   

Herbs should always be stored in a cool, dark place, preferably in a dark colored container to keep out light and heat.  Make sure you label your herbs prior to storage -- you'll find that as you accumulate more herbs, a little organization goes a long way.  (And the last thing you want to have happen is to unwittingly confuse your supply of Vervain (Verbena) with that of your stock of Mistletoe.)
Introduction

The term "herb" is a catchall phrase which refers to plant matter -- flowers, roots, bark, berries, leaves, seeds -- which are utilized in spiritual practices, and used both internally and externally for healing.

Herbs were the first medicines, known to medicine men and women since the dawn of mankind.  Knowledge of herbalism grew out of woman and man's basic needs for cures for illness and injury, and by trial and error, they discovered the most effective plants for individual applications.  Herbal healing traditions were passed down through the generations from one healer to her or his successor.  The members of the clan or family unit that possessed this information were valued assets to the community, and were treated with honor and respect above the other members.  The healers did not understand exactly how the different plant materials worked in healing the body, but they did recognize their efficacy.  Today, armed with a more sophisticated knowledge of human physiology and chemical analysis, we understand the basic chemical properties of the plants, and the precise nature in which they affect and heal our bodies.

Since the advent of the "modern" healing arts, the medical community has historically been quick to scoff at the efficacy of herbal cures.  In recent years, however, many scientists and researchers are "rediscovering" the healing powers of plants used by traditional healers for thousands of years.  For example, the heart meditation digitalis, a relatively recent "discovery" is derived from the leaves of the foxglove plant.  Herbal healers have been preparing tea brewed from the foxglove leaves for centuries as a cure for weak hearts!  Many herbal supplements are now appearing on supermarket shelves for cures for a myriad of ailments -- St. John's Wort, for example, as one of the more popular -- has been used by traditional herbal healers for centuries for depression.  Yet the general public is still largely relucant to accept the efficacy of herbal remedies until something appears in pill form on a grocer's shelf.   In addition to having medicinal and healing benefits, herbs have long been used for their spiritual (etheral) healing as well, and in spiritual practices for thousands of years.  Herbs added to baths, and herbs used in the cleansing and purification of homes and persons, either in the form of burning Incense, or those which are scattered about the property, just to name a few.
Herbs and Essential Oils

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