Instructions: Click on the plant you wish to have more information for.
Black Elder Black Samson
Echinacea Echinacea
angustifolia
aka: Black Samson, Coneflower, Purple Coneflower
The flowers are a rich purple and the florets are seated round a high cone,
seeds are 4 sided.
Medicinal: Echinacea, also known as Purple Coneflower, is a natural antibiotic
and immune system stimulator, helping to build resistance to colds, flus, and
infections. It increases the production of white blood cells, and improves the
lymph glands. The tea from this herb should be used in all infections, and has
been used in treating skin cancers and other cancers. chinacea increases bodily
resistance to infection and is used for boils, erysipelas, septicaemia, cancer,
syphilis and other impurities of the blood, its action being antiseptic. It has
also useful properties as a strong alterative and aphrodisiac. As an injection,
the extract has been used for haemorrhoids and a tincture of the fresh root has
been found beneficial in diphtheria and putrid fevers.
Magical: Echinacea is used as an offering to the spirits or gods and goddesses
to strengthen a spell or ritual.
Growing: Echinacea likes the prairies and other open, dry places. It adapts to
most soils, in full sun, except wet ones. It grows over most of North America.
It is a perennial, and reaches to about 2 feet tall. The root is used ground,
and the leaves are used for teas.
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Elder Sambucus nigra
aka: Black Elder, Common Elder, Pipe Tree, Bore Tree
The bark, leaves, flowers, and berries are the parts used.
Elder has flat topped masses of creamy white sweet smelling blooms, followed by
berries that turn from green to purplish black juicy berries as they ripen.
Its uses are varied. The wood of old trees is white and of a fine, close grain,
easily cut, and polishes well, hence it was used for making skewers for
butchers, shoemakers' pegs, and various turned articles, such as tops for
angling rods and needles for weaving nets, also for making combs, mathematical
instruments and several different musical instruments, and the pith of the
younger stems, which is exceedingly light, is cut into balls and is used for
electrical experiments and for making small toys. It is also used for holding
small objects for sectioning for microscopical purposes.
The leaves have an unpleasant odour when bruised, which is supposed to be
offensive to most insects, and a decoction of the young leaves is sometimes
employed by gardeners to sprinkle over delicate plants and the buds of the
flowers to keep off the attacks of aphis and minute caterpillars.
The Inner Bark should be collected in autumn, from young trees. It is best dried
in a moderate sun-heat, being taken indoors at night. When ready for use, it is
a light grey, soft and corky externally, with broad fissures; white and smooth
on the inner surface. The taste of the bark is sweetish at first, then slightly
bitter and nauseous. It is without odour.
Medicinal: Elder flowers mixed with mint and yarrow blossoms are excellent
internal cleansers when fighting flu and colds. A tea of the elder flowers and
sassafras is a remedy for acne. Elder flower oil is a remedy for chapped skin.
The leaves can be used as an antiseptic poultice for external wounds, and as an
insect repellant. Should not be used internally by pregnant or lactating women.
The bark is a strong purgative which may be employed with advantage, an infusion
of 1 OZ. in a pint of water being taken in wineglassful doses; in large doses it
is an emetic.
The use of the root is now obsolete, but its juice was used from very ancient
times to promote both vomiting and purging
Elder leaves are used both fresh and dry. Collect the leaves in June and July.
Gather only in fine weather, in the morning, after the dew has been dried by the
sun. Strip the leaves off singly, rejecting any that are stained or
insect-eaten. Drying is then done in the usual manner.
Elder leaves are used in the preparation of an ointment, Unguentum Sambuci
Viride, Green Elder Ointment, which is a domestic remedy for bruises, sprains,
chilblains, for use as an emollient, and for applying to wounds. It can be
compounded as follows: Take 3 parts of fresh Elder leaves, 4 parts of lard and 2
of prepared suet, heat the Elder leaves with the melted lard and suet until the
colour is extracted, then strain through a linen cloth with pressure and allow
to cool.
Like the bark, the leaves are also purgative, but more nauseous than the bark.
Their action is likewise expectorant, diuretic and diaphoretic.
The use of the leaves, bruised and in decoction to drive away flies and kill
aphides and other insect pests
Elder Flowers are chiefly used in pharmacy in the fresh state for the
distillation of Elder Flower Water, but as the flowering season only lasts for
about three weeks in June, the flowers are often salted, so as to be available
for distillation at a later season, 10 per cent of common salt being added, the
flowers being them termed 'pickled.' They are also dried, for making infusions.
The flowers are collected when just in full bloom and thrown into heaps, and
after a few hours, during which they become slightly heated the corollas become
loosened and can then be removed by sifting. The Elder 'flowers' of pharmacy
consist of the small white wheel-shaped, five-lobed, monopetalous corollas only,
in the short tube of which the five stamens with very short filaments and yellow
anthers are inserted. When fresh, the flowers have a slightly bitter taste and
an odor scarcely pleasant. The pickled flowers, however, gradually acquire an
agreeable fragrance and are therefore generally used for the preparation of
Elder Flower Water. A similar change also takes place in the water distilled
from the fresh flowers.
All the other parts of the Elder plant, except the wood and pith, are more
active than either the flowers or the fruit. Fresh Elder Berries are found to
contain sudorific properties similar to those of the flowers, but weaker.
For colic and diarrhea, a tea made of the dried berries is said to be a good
remedy.
Elderberry Wine has a curative power of established repute as a remedy, taken
hot, at night, for promoting perspiration in the early stages of severe catarrh,
accompanied by shivering, sore throat, etc. Like Elderflower Tea, it is one of
the best preventives known against the advance of influenza and the ill effects
of a chill
Elderflower Vinegar is made thus:
Take 2 lb. of dried flowers of Elder. If you use your own flowers, pluck
carefully their stalks from them and dry them carefully and thoroughly. This
done, place in a large vessel and pour over them 2 pints of good vinegar. Close
the vessel hermetically, keep it in a very warm place and shake them from time
to time. After 8 days, strain the vinegar through a paper filter. Keep in well-stoppered
bottles.
Magical: The branches of the sacred elder are used to make magickal wands for
ritual. Scattering the leaves in the four winds will bring protection.
Elderberry wine, made from the berries, is used in rituals. In Denmark, it is
believed to be unlucky to have furniture made of elder wood. Grown near your
home, elder will offer protection to the dwellers. It is used at weddings to
bring good luck to the newlyweds. Flutes made formt he branches are used to
bring forth spirits.
Growing: Elder is a tree or shrub, growing to 30 feet tall. It prefers moist
areas throughout North America. The leaves, bark, and roots of the American
varieties generally contain poisonous alkaloids and should not be used
internally.
Elecampane Inula Helenium
aka: Scabwort, Elf Dock, Wild Sunflower, Horseheal, Velvet Dock
The erect stem grows from 4 to 5 feet high, is very stout and deeply furrowed,
and near the top, branched. The whole plant is downy. Leaves are from 1 to 1 1/2
feet long and 4 inches broad in the middle velvety beneath, with toothed margins
an borne on long foot-stalks; in general appearance the leaves are similar to
Great Mullein. Those on the stem become shorter and broader The plant is in
bloom from June to August. The flowers are bright yellow, in large heads, 3 to 4
inches in diameter, on long stalks, resembling a double sunflower.
It grows well in moist, shady positions, in ordinary garden soil, though it
flourishes best in a good, loamy soil, the ground being damp, but fairly
well-drained.
Medicinal: Elecampane is used for intestinal worms, water retention, and to
lessen tooth decay and firm the gums. It gives relief to respiratory ailments.
It is usually used in combination with other herbs. Externally it is used as a
wash for wounds and itching rashes. It is burned to repel insects. Elecampane is
the richest source of inulin. Diuretic, tonic, diaphoretic, expectorant,
alterative, antiseptic, astringent and gently stimulant. It was employed by the
ancients in certain diseases of women, also in phthisis, in dropsy and in skin
affections. Its name 'Scabwort' arose from the fact that a decoction of it is
said to cure sheep affected with the scab, and the name 'Horse-heal' was given
it from its reputed virtues in curing the cutaneous diseases of horses.
In herbal medicine it is chiefly used for coughs, consumption and other
pulmonary complaints, being a favourite domestic remedy for bronchitis. It has
been employed for many years with good results in chest affections, for which it
is a valuable medicine as it is in all chronic diseases of the lungs asthma and
bronchitis. It gives relief to the respiratory difficulties and assists
expectoration. Its principal employment as a separate remedy is in acute
catarrhal affections, and in dyspepsia attended with relaxation and debility,
given in small, warm and frequently repeated doses. It is, however, seldom given
alone, but most frequently preferred in combination with other medicines of a
similar nature. It is best given in the form of decoction, the dose being a
small teaspoonful, three times a day.
The root used not only to be candied and eaten as a sweetmeat, but lozenges were
made of it. It has been used for whooping-cough.
Magical: Add this herb to love charms and amulets of all kinds. Used with
mistletoe and vervain, it is especially powerful. Use when scrying for better
results.
Growing: Elecampane enjoys roadsides and damp fields and pastures. Plant it in
full sun in a damp, but not soggy, location. It is a perennial that grows 3 - 6
feet tall. The root is most commonly used. It grows well in moist, shady
positions, in ordinary garden soil, though it flourishes best in a good, loamy
soil, the ground being damp, but fairly well-drained.
It is easily cultivated. Seeds may be sown, either when ripe, in cold frames, or
in spring in the open. It is best propagated, however, by off-sets, taken in the
autumn from the old root, with a bud or eye to each. These will take root very
readily, and should be planted in rows about a foot asunder, and 9 or 10 inches
distant in the rows. In the following spring, the ground should be kept clean
from weeds, and if slightly dug in autumn, it will greatly promote the growth of
the roots, which will be fit for use after two years' growth.
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Eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus
aka: Blue Gum Tree
This is a native tree of Autralia and Tasmania. The leaves are arranged cup like
on the branch, leathery, and the whole plant is aromatic.
Medicinal: Eucalyptus oil is a powerful antiseptic, and is used to treat
pyorrhea (gum disease), and is used on burns to prevent infections. The oil
breathed in will help clear the sinuses, as will the steam from boiling the
leaves. When mixed with water or vegetable oils, it makes a good insect
repellant. A small drop on the tongue eases nausea. Stimulant, antiseptic,
aromatic.
The medicinal Eucalyptus Oil is probably the most powerful antiseptic of its
class, especially when it is old, as ozone is formed in it on exposure to the
air. It has decided disinfectant action, destroying the lower forms of life.
Internally, it has the typical actions of a volatile oil in a marked degree.
Eucalyptus Oil is used as a stimulant and antiseptic gargle. Locally applied, it
impairs sensibility. It increases cardiac action.
Its antiseptic properties confer some anti-malarial action, though it cannot
take the place of Cinchona.
An emulsion made by shaking up equal parts of the oil and powdered gum-arabic
with water has been used as a urethral injection, and has also been given
internally in drachm doses in pulmonary tuberculosis and other microbic diseases
of the lungs and bronchitis. In croup and spasmodic throat troubles, the oil may
be freely applied externally.
In veterinary practice, Eucalyptus Oil is administered to horses in influenza,
to dogs in distemper, to all animals in septicaemia. It is also used for
parasitic skin affections.
Magical: Healing energies come from the leaves. A branch or wreath over the bed
of a sick person will help spread the healing energies. The oil is added to
healing baths, and for purifications.
Growing: Eucalyptus reigns among the tallest trees in the world, capable of
reaching heights of over 250 feet tall. It thrives only in areas where the
average temperature remains above 60 degrees, and is adaptable to several soil
conditions.
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Evening Primrose Cenothera biennis
aka: Tree Primrose
Bark and Leaves are the parts used medicinally. Evening Primrose is native to
North America. The root is yellow on the outside and white inside. The hairy
stems arise and grow to a height of 3 or 4 feet. The later leaves are 3 to 5
inches long, 1 inch or more wide, pointed, with short hairs. he flowers are of a
fine, yellow colour, large and delicately fragrant, and usually open between six
and seven o'clock in the evening, hence the name of Evening Primrose.
Medicinal: Evening Primrose oil stimulates to help with liver and spleen
conditions. In Europe, it has been used to treat Multiple Sclerosis. It lowers
blood pressure, and eases the pain of angina by opening up the blood vessels. It
has been found to help slow the production of cholesterol, and has been found to
lower cholesterol levels. Used with Dong Quai and Vitex, it is a valuable part
of an herbal remedy for treating the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)
and menstrual cramping. Astringent and sedative. The drug extracted from this
plant, though not in very general use, has been tested in various directions,
and has been employed with success in the treatment of gastro-intestinal
disorders of a functional origin, asthma and whooping cough.
It has proved of service in dyspepsia, torpor of the liver, and in certain
female complaints, such as pelvic fullness.
Growing: The American variety is found throughout North America. It enjoys dry
soils and full sun. It is a biennial, and grows 3 - 6 feet tall. The seed oil is
the most commonly used portion of the plant. Some nurseries sell evening
primrose, but they are actually a small, showy hybrid of the perennial Missouri
Primrose, and does not have the same medicinal uses, so be sure you are buying
the plant you really want.
he Evening Primrose will thrive in almost any soil or situation, being perfectly
hardy. It flourishes best in fairly good sandy soil and in a warm sunny
position.
Sow the seeds an inch deep in a shady position out-doors in April, transplanting
the seedlings when 1 inch high, 3 inches apart each way in sunny borders. Keep
them free from weeds, and in September or the following March, transplant them
again into the flowering positions. As the roots strike deep into the ground,
care should be taken not to break them in removing.
Seeds may also be sown in cold frames in autumn for blooming the following year.
If the plants are once introduced and the seeds permitted to scatter, there will
be a supply of plants without any special care.
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Eyebright Euphrasia officinalis
aka: Euphrasia
The plant grows 2 to 8 inches high, is an annual, and is common in dry pastures.
It flowers from July to September, and has many small white or purplish flowers,
with some yellow. The stem is erect and wiry. Leaves are 1/6 to 1/2 inch long
and about 1/4 inch wide. The whole plant is used medicinally.
Medicinal: Eyebright stimulates the liver to remove toxins from the body. It has
been used internally and externally to treat eye infections and afflictions,
such as pink-eye. The herb strengthens the eye, and helps to repair damage. It
is slightly tonic and astringent. It is used in diseases of the sight, weakness
of the eyes, ophthalmia, etc., combining it often with Golden Seal in a lotion
stated to be excellent for general disorders of the eyes. The juice obtained by
expression from the plant in the fresh state is sometimes employed, or an
infusion in milk, but the simple infusion in water is the more usual form in
which it is applied. An infusion of 1 OZ. of the herb to a pint of boiling water
should be used and the eyes bathed three or four times a day.
The dried herb is an ingredient in British Herbal Tobacco, which is smoked most
usefully for chronic bronchial colds.
Magical: Eyebright is used to make a simple tea to rub on the eyelids to induce
and enhance clairvoyant visions.
Growing: Eyebright is adaptable to many soil types in full sun. It is a small
annual, growing 2 - 8 inches high. It attaches itself by underground suckers to
the roots of neighboring grass plants and takes its nutrients from them. To be
cultivated, it must be given nurse plants on whose roots it can feed.