Witch Challenge - Powerful Plants
As far as she was concerned, coffee was a warm, delicious alternative to hating everyone forever. ~ Alex Fox
Coffee is a powerful plant. But that isn’t what this is about… wait… maybe it should be.
I am not an herbalist, green witch or kitchen witch. However, I can follow a recipe as long as I don’t have to cook much. I decided to do a summary of the most used medicinal herbs. I figured many would also be used in spell jars and oil based infusions to help with health spells, protection spells, anxiety reduction, etc. I often use them for health spells – such as the lighthouse spell here.
When I compiled the draft of this, I was surprised that I didn’t have a long list. Other than the things we probably all have in our cupboards, like salt (wait… not herby but is often used in oil infusions and protection spells and it also acts as a great preservative of the oil mixture), pepper, cinnamon, basil, ginger, and garlic. There are some very common herbs that can be acquired in local markets. I’m talking dried herbs – although some can be purchased fresh during parts of the year – dried is best for me because of the much longer shelf life.
I got the list by asking an AI to compile the most frequently used medicinal herbs. There are more for us witchy types, of course, but if we add in the ones in our kitchen cabinets, then we can get close to having a good multi-purpose stash. Of course, you could also grow your own if you are gifted that way. I’m not, sooooo … here is a list. If you can’t find them at a local shop. Amazon has most of them.
• Chamomile (tea bags) – has apigenin which relaxes and promotes sleep
• Turmeric – anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects
• Echinacea – immune system boost, fight colds
• Garlic (also in your cupboard?) – boost immune system, antiviral and antibacterial
• Ginger (cupboard?) – digestive and cardiovascular relief
• Ginkgo – memory, poor circulation, antioxidant
• Ginseng – immune system, energy, blood sugar regulation, cardiovascular relief
• Lavender – headaches, anxiety, wound healing
• St. John’s wort – depression, anxiety, ADHD, menstrual cramps, OCD
What happens if you have a recipe that calls for something you don’t have? Take a look on Spells8 here for substitutes. There is a lot of additional information on common herbs at that link! For instance, Mugwort can be used instead of Calendula flowers. Calendula comes up in spell bottle recipes occasionally. Mugwort is available as a tea so take a tea bag and mix up your potion. Mugwort tea also intensifies dreams and is available on Amazon.
Of course, buying all the above in the quantities sold normally means you would end up with a lot of stuff and probably considerable waste. I generally buy stuff sensibly (unlike my Tarot deck buying) – meaning only when I need it. Even with that, I have more than half the stuff above in my larder.
My SO just said she was going to get lavender so… some will likely go missing… the lavender fairies are notorious this time of year.