Herbal Magic 101 - overview

Herbal Magic 101 : Herbal Magic 101

Slide 2 : Overview Disclaimers Why Herbs? What can you do with Herbs? Folklore Herbs for this Class – Mint and Rose

Slide 3 : Classes Jan 12 - Overview Jan 19 - Medical (aromatheraphy) Jan 26 - Magical Uses Feb 2 - Arts and Craft Uses Feb 9 - Kitchen Uses (cooking) and wrap up

Slide 4 : Medical uses Rose - In the perfume industry in France, the variety of rose used is Rosa. x centifolia. The oil is popular in aromatherapy and is said to have mild sedative activity and is used to treat anxiety and depression. Rose oil also predominates in the anointing oil used in the coronation of British monarchs. Rose water, made from rose oil, is used to flavor candy, desserts, and syrups, and is also used to treat eye irritations. Rose hips of some species, especially the Dog Rose (Rosa canina) and Rugosa Rose (Rosa rugosa), are a rich source of vitamin C. With one to two percent vitamin C, by dry weight, rose hips have a higher content than citrus fruit. During World War II when imports of citrus products to Great Britain were limited, tons of rose hips were harvested there from the wild to make rose hip syrup as a vitamin C supplement for children. The anti-inflammatory properties of rose hips have recently been shown to be useful in the treatment of patients suffering from knee or hip osteoarthritis. Source http://www.vegetarian-nutrition.info/herbs/rose-hips.php

Slide 5 : Mint As for the garden of mint, the very smell of it alone recovers and refreshes our spirits, as the taste stirs up our appetite for meat...Pliny the Elder It is well known for its properties related to indigestion, stomach cramps, menstrual cramps, flatulence, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, and colic in children.  Make a Tea out of fresh or dried leaves for a tasty and refreshing after-dinner stomach soother.  For the younger crowd, it can also be heated with milk for the same effect (and they will like it).

Slide 6 : Magic uses ROSE oil for blessing -Feminine, Venus, Water.Love, friendship, luck, protection, psychic power and divination. Used in love and harmony spells.  Roses planted in your garden will attract fairies.  Rose petals sprinkled around the house will calm stress and reduce household upheavals. MINT Masculine, Mercury or Venus, Air. Money, healing, strength, augment power, luck, travel.Mint is used in travel spells and the bright green leaves can be used in money and prosperity spells.  Fresh mint laid on the altar will call good spirits.

Slide 7 : Cooking Rose Petal Butter A pink and delicately flavoured butter than can add a touch of roses to anything you choose. What a lovely spread for fresh muffins or biscuits. Makes just under a cup of butter. 1 cup of fresh rose petals ¾ cup of butter Let butter sit at room temperature long enough to soften up for mixing. Once the butter is soft, chop rose petals finely and stir into the butter. Cover the bowl and refrigerate. Let it sit for at least 24 hours so the rose blossom flavour can settle into the butter.

Slide 8 : Cooking Rose Petal Tea - A lightly floral tasting tea that is pretty and pink. Serves 4. 2 cups of fresh rose petals 3 cups water In a small saucepan, heat water and rose petals to a boil and simmer for about 5 minutes. The petals will start to darken. Strain out the petals and serve while hot. Add honey for some extra sweetness. Rose Water Sugar Cookies Not make with rose petals, but with rose water that you can find in most large supermarkets (usually in with the ethnic foods). You still get the same flowery taste. 1 cup sugar ½ cup butter, soft 1 egg 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp lemon extract ½ tsp baking soda ½ cup sour cream 2 tsp rose water 3 cups flour Preheat oven to 325F In a small bowl, beat together the butte and sugar until creamed and smooth. Stir in egg, vanilla and lemon. Mix the baking soda and sour cream into the creamed sugar mixture. Add rose water. Add the flour to the mixture and stir well to combine into a dough. Roll out the dough and cut out your cookies Bake on a greased cookie sheet for approximately 15-20 minutes. It may take less time if the cookies are quite thin or small.

Slide 9 : Myth about How Mints became Minthe in Greek Mythology Minthe was a type of nymph in Greek mythology. Some ancient sources specifically classify Minthe as a Naiad or water nymph. She was associated in legend with the plant that is said to be named in honor of her myth, and this is the familiar aromatic mint plant. So let us now learn more about how the nymph Minthe was transformed into mint. According to the story, Minthe was a beautiful water nymph who attracted the attention of Hades. Hades was the stern ruler of the Greek Underworld and the husband of the goddess Persephone. It seems, however, that even Persephone's obvious charms could not keep the attention of Hades at all times. The Underworld god therefore engaged in an illicit - but not terribly well hidden - affair with the Naiad Minthe. Naturally, Persephone found out about the relationship between her husband and the water nymph. And in a scenario that is all too familiar in Greek myth, the spurned wife took revenge on her husband's mistress. Minthe became the unfortunate object of Persephone's wrath. The goddess of the Underworld began to step on Minthe, beating the poor Naiad with furious kicks. Minthe however was transformed into the mint plant, and with each tread of Persephone's foot, this plant released a delightful scent. This is the myth of how the aromatic mint plant received its name. It is worth mentioning that there is an intriguing reference to the transformation of Minthe in the Metamorphoses of Ovid (Book X, line 729 ff.). The name Minthe is sometimes spelled Menthe by some writers.

Slide 10 : ROSA SPP.   It's nature is feminine, it belongs to the element of water, and is ruled by Venus. It is sacred to Hathor, Hulda, Freyja, Eros, Cupid, Demeter, Isis, Adonis, Harpocrates, Aurora. It's magical powers covers love, psychic powers, healing, love divination, luck, and protection. The rose, cultivated for well over 3,000 years and known from time immemorial as the queen of the flowers, is thought to have originated in Asia Minor. The genus name Rosa, is from the Greek word "rodon" meaning "red". The Persians, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used the rose not only as a garden ornamental but also as the main ingredient in various perfumes and cosmetics. In Greece and Rome, the rose was the favorite flower of the goddess of the flowers, Greek Chloris / Roman Flora. In festivals for these goddesses, people bedecked themselves sand their animal with flowers using mostly roses. (An ancient Rose parade!). At Roman dinners roses were used lavishly for decoration and were even strewn on the floors. The diners often wore roses garlands as a preventative against drunkeness. In Greek myth, Cloris was said to have created the rose from the dead body of a beautiful nymph that she came upon in the woods. Chloris called on the other gods to help her change the nymph's body into a flower that would surpass all others in beauty. Aphrodite bestowed upon it beauty, the three Graces - Aglaia, Euphrosyne and Thalia - give their qualities of brilliance, joy and youthful bloom. Dionysus gave it nectar and fragrance. When the flower was done, Chloris crowned it with a diadem of dewdrops proclaiming the queen of flowers.

Slide 11 : The beautiful rose is the most used flower in all lore. With its thorns, it has been a symbol for love thru the ages. The bloom is joined to love, beauty, youth, perfection and immortality. It's thorns with pain of love, guilt, and the dying blossom with the passing of youth into old age. In Christian legend the Rose was thornless until Christ died, but grew thorn after to remind man of his weak nature. The color of roses have special meaning. Pink for simplicity or happy (romantic or spiritual) love, white for purity and innocence and is associated with the Virgin Mary. Yellow means perfect achievement or jealousy, red is associated with Physical love (lust and passion) shame and sometimes blood and sacrifice. In another legend, the rose was originally white but turned red because Aphrodite pricked her foot on the thorns while trying to help her dying lover, Adonis. The Moslems claim it was stained by the blood of Mohammed, and Christians by the blood of martyrs. From the times of the ancient Egyptian the rose has been token of silence. The Greeks gave it this meaning in a legend in which Cupid bribed Harpocrates, the god of silence, with a rose to induce him to conceal the amorous affairs of Aphrodite. For the Teutonic people, the rose is a flower of Freyja, who was known for her ability to keep secrets.

Slide 12 : The expression "Sub Rosa" means "Under the Rose". It means, that a matter is to be kept in strict confidence. That stems from the custom of attaching a rose to the ceiling or having one sculptured or painted there, to remind partiers that anything said while drinking is not to be repeated. The rose has also been a popular heraldic flower for a soldier's shield since Roman times. You will see it in all kinds of different banners, shields, clothing and paintings. Roses have long been used in love mixtures, due to the flower's association with the emotions. Roses on the altar are powerful love magic aids. Rose water distilled from the petals is added to love baths, Rose hips (the fruit of the rose) are strung and worn as love attracting beads. A tea of rosebuds drunk before sleep induces prophetic dreams. To discover their romantic future, women used to take three green rose leaves and name each for one of her lovers. The one that stayed green the longest answered the question of "which one?". Rose petals and hips are also used in healing spells and mixtures. A cloth wet with rose water laid on the temples will relieve headache pain. Roses are also added to fast luck mixtures and when carried, act as personal protection. Rose petals sprinkled around the house calm personal stress and household disturbances. Rose planted in the garden attract faeries and are said to grow best when stolen.

Slide 13 : The delicate fruity flavor of rose hips can enhance fruit dishes and drinks. Both hips and rose peals are made into jellies and ice cream. I have had rose ice cream, it is VERY, VERY good. I am told that you can find it in some Middle Eastern food stores but it is very, very expensive. 10 years ago it was about $20.00 a gallon. The common red garden rose has long been a favorite medicinal plant of folk medicine. A tea of dried rose petals is taken for headache and dizziness and with honey added as a heart and nerve tonic and a blood purifier. A very strong tea (steeped about 10 min.) of the petals serves to treat mouth sores and added to wine invigorates the tired body and is also useful for uterine cramps. As a mouthwash, the wine decoction helps allay toothache, as a warm trickle into the ear, it helps earache. Clothe soaked with rose vinegar can also be used as a compress for headache and rose honey is an ancient remedy for sore throat. Red roses are considered best for medicinal use. Of the different types of roses, those classified as Hybrid Perpetuals are the most suitable. The following are the species most commonly used medicinally. R. Californica - California rose - found wild in most places between Oregon and Baja California. West coast indians used it for a cold remedy. R. Centtifolia - Cabbage rose, - mostly used for rose water, though the infusion, powder and tincture are said to be good for hemorrhage and the infusion as a gentle laxative. Rose water make a good lotion for dry or chapped hands. R. Damascena - Damask rose - is used for attar of roses and as a rejuvenating agent, regulating the menstrual cycle and the scent for inducing sleep. R. Eglanteria - Eglantine, sweetbriar - used to relieve colic and diarrha

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Slide 15 : Homework Write an herbal report on an herb or spice you find in your kitchen that has not yet been covered in this class. Use the herb reports in  this lesson as a guide to help you know what sorts of things to find out about the herb. This is Due on Read the article at http://www.anniesremedy.com/folklore_divine.php Find a cooking recipe for mint

Slide 16 : Report Form - Herbal Magic Common Names/Science Name Warnings 3. Folklore – Stories – History of Use 4. Magical Uses with associtions (god/goddess) 5. Cooking uses (include recipes) 6. Medical uses/Scienific information 7. Craft uses Note: not all these apply to every Herb/flower

Slide 17 : HERBAL TERMS INFUSION - herbal tea made by steeping herbs for 5 to 10 minutes. take lukewarm or cool. DECOCTION - extracting the mineral salts and bitters from herbs. boil green plants parts for 2 to 4 minutes, roots and bark for 10 minutes. COLD EXTRACT - preserves the volatile ingredients. let stand for 8 to 12 hours. JUICE - good for water soluble ingredients ie. vitamin and minerals. put in blender or juicer with small amount of water. strain and drink right away. POWDER - grind herbs until you have a powder, put into gelatin capsules. #0 hold about 10 grains of powder #15 hold about 15 grains. good for yucky tasting herbs. SYRUP - good for getting children to take herbs. ie cough a nd colds. TINCTURE - extract made with a 50% alcohol solution. let stand for two weeks. will keep a very long time. use only a few drop at a time. very strong. ESSENCE - dissolve a herbs essential oil in alcohol. this is good for preserving a herbs volatile essential oil. ie aromatherapy. OINTMENT - mix one part remedy in powdered form to hot petroleum jelly, lard or beeswax. slowly melt until completely blended and extracted. POULTICE OR CATAPLASM - used to get a remedy to the skin with moist heat. good for bruises, rashes, etc.

Slide 18 : FOMENTATION - soak a cloth or towel in an infusion or decoction, wring out and apply as hot as possible to the affected area. good for sprains. COLD COMPRESS - soak cloth or towel in an infusion or decoction that has been cooled, wring out excess. repeat when cloth gets warm, about every 15 to 20 minutes. ABORTIFACIENT - agent to cause or induces miscarriages ACRID - hot biting taste, or causes heat and irritation when applied to the skin. ADJUVANT - an herb added to a mixture to aid the effected of the principal ingredient. ALTERATIVE - an agent which produces gradual beneficial change in the body without having any marked effect on its own. a helper herb to main ingredient. ANALGESIC - a herb that relieves or diminishes pain; an anodyne. ANAPHRODISIAC - an agent which reduces sexual desire or potency. ANODYNE - an agent that soothes or relieves pain. ANESTHETIC - an agent that deadens sensation ANTHELMINTIC - an agent that destroys or expels intestinal worms; vermicide, vermifuge. ANTIBIOTIC - an agent that destroys or arrests the growth of micro organisms ANTICOAGULANT - an agent that prevents clotting in a liquid, as in blood. ANTIHYDROTIC - an agent which reduces or suppresses perspiration ANTIEMETIC - an agent that helps nausea and vomiting. ANTILITHIC - an agent which reduces or suppresses urinary stones and helps to dissolve those already present.

Slide 19 : ANTIPERIODIC - an agent which counteracts periodic or intermittent diseases. ie malaria ANTIPHLOGISTIC - an agent which reduces inflammation ANTIPYRETIC - an agent which prevents or reduces fever ANTISCORBUTIC - a source of vitamin c for curing or preventing scurvy ANTISCROFULOUS - counteracting scrofula ANTISEPTIC - an agent for destroying or stopping bacteria ANTISPAMODIC - an agent that helps relieves cramps or spasms ANTITUSSIVE - an agent that relieves coughing APERIENT - a mild stimulant for the bowels, a gentle purgative. APHRODISIAC - an agent for arousing or increasing sexual desire APPETIZER - an agent that excites the appetite AROMATIC - a substance having an agreeable odor. ASTRINGENT - an agent that dries the skin, ie witchhazel BALSAM - a soothing or healing agent or resinous substance that comes plants and is used in herbal preparations. BITTER - a bitter acts on the mucous membranes of the mouth and stomach to increase appetite and promote digestion. ie increases saliva output CALMATIVE - an agent that has a mild sedative effect CARDIAC - an agent that stimulates or otherwise affects the heart. CARMINATIVE - an agent to help expel gas CATHARTIC - a laxative CAUSTIC - a corrosive substance able to cause burning or eating away tissues. CHOLAGOGUE - an agent for increasing the flow of bile to the intestines COAGULANT - an agent that induces clotting in blood COUNTERIRRITANT - an agent for producing irritation in one part of the body to counteract irritation in another part. DEMULCENT - a substance that sooths irritated tissue, particularly mucous membrane. DEODORANT - an herb that mask or removes odors ie body odor DEPRESSANT - an agent which lessens nervous activity. opposite of stimulant. DEPURATIVE - an agent that cleanses and purifies the system, particularly the blood.

Slide 20 : DETERGENT - an agent that cleanses wounds and sores of diseased or dead matter. DIAPHORETIC - an agent that promotes perspiration DIGESTIVE - an agent that promotes or aids digestion DISINFECTANT - an agent that cleanses infection by destorying micro organisms. DIURETIC - an agent that increases the secretion and expulsion of urine. EMETIC - an agent that causes vomiting EMMENAGOGUE - an agent that promotes menstrual flow EMOLLIENT - an agent used extrernally to soften and soothe. ERRHINE - an agent that promotes sneezing and nasal discharges EUPHORIANT / EUPHORIGEN - an agent that induces an abnormal sense of vigor and buoyancy EXANTHEMATOUS - relating to skin diseases or eruptions EXPECTORANT - an agent that promotes the discharge of mucus from the lungs FEBRIFUGE - an agent that reduces or eliminates fever ie asprin GALACTAGOGUE - an agent that encourages or increases the secretion of milk HALLUCINOGEN - an agent that induces hallucinations HEMOSTATIC - an agent that stops bleeding HEPATIC - a drug that acts on the liver HYDRAGOGUE - a purgative that produces abundant watery discharge HYPNOTIC - an agent that promotes or produces sleep IRRITANT - an agent that irritants soft tissue LAXATIVE - a mild purgative MUCILAGINOUS - characterized by a gummy or gelatinous consistency

Slide 21 : NARCOTIC - a agent that relieves pain and induces sleep in smaller doses, convulsion, coma or death in larger doses. an addictive substance. NAUSEANT - an agent that produces a want to throw up. NERVINE - an agent that has a calming effect on the nerves OXYTOCIC - an agent thats timulates contraction of the uterine muscle. helps childbirth PECTORAL - an remedy for pulomanary or other chest diseases. PURGATIVE - an agent that produces a vigorous emptying of the bowels REFRIGERANT - an agent that lower abnormal body temp RESTORATIVE - an agent that restores concsousness or normal body activity RUBFACIENT - a gentle local irritant that produces reddening of the skin SEDATIVE - a soothing agent that reduces nervousness, distress or irritation SIALAGOGUE - an agent that stimulates the secretion of saliva SPECIFIC - an agent which cures or alleviates a particular condition or disease STIMULANT - an agent that excites or quickens the activity of the body STOMACHIC - an agent that strengthens, stimulates or tones the stomach STYPTIC - an agent that contracts tissues, helps stop bleeding SUDORIFIC - an agent that promotes or increases persiration TAENIACIDE - A SUBSTANCE THAT KILLS TAPEWORM TONIC - an agent that strengthens the body VASCOCONSTRICTOR - an agent that narrows the blood vessel, thus raising blood pressure VASODILATOR - an agent that widens the blood vessels thur lowering blood pressure VERMICIDE - an agent that cause the expulsion of interstinal worms VESICANT - an agent that produces blisters VUPNERARY- a healing application for wounds

Slide 22 : Web links http://www.wicca.com/celtic/herbal/herbindex.htm