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Bachelor's Buttons
 Boswellia Thurifera
Bird's Foot
Branched Solomon's Seal
Carpenter's Square
Chamaelirium luteum
 Chrysanthemum Parthenium
Epilobium angustifolium
False Solomon's Seal
False Unicorn
Featherfew
Featherfoil
Fennel
Fenkle
Fenugreek
Feverfew
Figwort
Fireweed
Flirtwort
 Foeniculum vulgare
 Foenum-graecum
Frankincense
Great Willow
Helonias
Pyrethrum
Rose Bay
 Scrophularia californica
 Smilacina racemosa
Starwort
Sweet Fennel
Throatwort
Wild Fennel

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False Unicorn Chamaelirium luteum
aka: Starwort, Helonias

False Unicorn is a perennial found growing in moist areas east of the Mississippi. It flowers in May and June. The stem is 1-3 feet high, simple, and the leaves are alternate, 8 inches long and a half hinch wide, formed into a whorl. Flowers are numerous and are small greenish white. The root, the part used medicinally, is a bulbous rhizome, about an inch long, with a faint odor and a bitter taste.

Medicinal: False Unicorn is very soothing for a delicate stomach. It also stimulates the reproductive organs in women and men. This herb is very important for use during menopause, due to its positive effects on uterine disorders, headaches, and depression. metic, tonic, diuretic, vermifuge. In large doses a cardiac poison. Of the greatest value in female disorders of the reproductive organs. It is a good tonic for liver problems, and is useful in impotence.

Growing: False Unicorn grows primarily in very moist areas, in partially shady areas, throughout North America.
 

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Fennel Foeniculum vulgare
aka: Fenkel, Sweet Fennel, Wild Fennel

Fennel is a hardy perennial, with yellow flowers and feathery leaves. It is native around the Mediterranean, and has been naturalized elsewhere. The medicinal parts are the roots, leaves, and seeds.

Fennel has a thick root and strong stems. The plant reaches 5 feet, is bright green. The flowers are produced in flat umbels, and bloom in July to August.

The odor of Fennel seed is fragrant, its taste, warm, sweet and agreeably aromatic.

Commercial Fennel isn't nearly as good as fresh fennel for medicinal purposes. Fennel is used also in salads, sweet sauces, soups, and as a garnish.

Medicinal: Fennel helps to take away the appetite. It is often used as a sedative for small children. Itimproves digestion, and is very helpful with coughs. It is also used for cancer patients after radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Enriches and increases the flow of milk for lactating women. On account of its aromatic and carminative properties, Fennel fruit is chiefly used medicinally with purgatives to allay their tendency to griping and for this purpose forms one of the ingredients of the well-known compound Liquorice Powder. Fennel water has properties similar to those of anise and dill water: mixed with sodium bicarbonate and syrup, these waters constitute the domestic 'Gripe Water,' used to correct the flatulence of infants. Volatile oil of Fennel has these properties in concentration.

Fennel tea, formerly also employed as a carminative, is made by pouring half a pint of boiling water on a teaspoonful of bruised Fennel seeds.

Syrup prepared from Fennel juice was formerly given for chronic coughs.

Fennel is a flea repellant and powdered fennel has been used to keep fleas away from kennels and other livestock areas.

Magical: Use for scenting soaps and perfumes to ward off negativity and evil. Grow near the home for the same purpose.

Growing: Fennel prefers dry, sunny areas, but will grow almost anywhere. It is a perennial that can reach 4 - 6 feet high, and grows in most average to poor soils. It is easily propagated by seeds, sown early in April in ordinary soil. Unless seed is needed for household or sowing purposes, the flower stems should be cut as soon as they appear.
 

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Fenugreek Foenum-graecum
aka: Bird's Foot

Originally from the Mediterranean area, this is an erect annual herb growing to about 2 feet. The seeds are brownish and about an eight inch long and oblong in shape. The seeds are the part that are used medicinally. They have a bitter taste.

Medical: Fenugreek is used to soften and expel mucous. It has antiseptic properties and will kill infections in the lungs. Used with lemon and honey, it will help reduce a fever and will soothe and nourish the body during illness. It has been used to relax the uterus, and for this reason should not be taken by pregnant women. It is soaked in water until they are swollen into a paste, and have been used to prevent fever, to ease upset stomach, and for diabetes. If the seeds are allowed to sprout, they can be eaten. decoction of 1 OZ. seeds to 1 pint water is used internally in inflamed conditions of the stomach and intestines. Externally it is used as a poultice for abscesses, boils, carbuncles, etc. They can be used instead of cod liver oil. The powder is also employed as a spice in curry.

Magical: Adding a few fenugreek seeds to the mop water used to clean your household floors will bring money into the household.

Growing: Fenugreek likes dry, moderately fertile soil in a sunny location. It is an annual, and grows to 1 - 3 feet tall.
 

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Feverfew Chrysanthemum Parthenium
aka: Pyrethrum, Featherfew, Featherfoil, Flirtwort, Bachelor's Buttons

Feverfew has small daisy like flowers, the centers of which are yellow. The leaves are alternate with short hairs. The plant smells strongly bitter.

Medicinal: Feverfew is used to treat colds, fevers, flu, and digestive problems. It is often used to end migraines and other headaches. Aperient, carminative, bitter. As a stimulant it is usefulas an emmenagogue. Is also employed in hysterical complaints, nervousness and lowness of spirits, and is a general tonic. The cold infusion is made from 1 OZ. of the herb to a pint of boiling water, allowed to cool, and taken frequently in doses of half a teacupful.

A decoction with sugar or honey is said to be good for coughs, wheezing and difficult breathing. The herb, bruised and heated, or fried with a little wine and oil, has been employed as a warm external application for wind and colic.

A tincture made from Feverfew and applied locally immediately relieves the pain and swelling caused by bites of insects and vermin. It is said that if two teaspoonfuls of tincture are mixed with 1/2 pint of cold water, and all parts of the body likely to be exposed to the bites of insects are freely sponged with it, they insects will be repelled.

Magical: Feverfew is carried for protection against illnesses involving fever, as well as for preventing accidents.

Growing: Feverfew bears a resemblance to chamomile. It prefers dry places, will tolerate poor soil, and is a hardy biennial or perennial, growing to 2 1/2 feet. It prefers full sun. There are three methods of propagation: by seed, by division of roots and by cuttings. If grown by seed, it should be sown in February or March, thinned out to 2 to 3 inches between the plants, and planted out early in June to permanent quarters, allowing a foot or more between the plants and 2 feet between the rows, selecting, if possible, a showery day for the operation. They will establish themselves quickly. To propagate by division, lift the plants in March, or whenever the roots are in an active condition, and with a sharp spade, divide them into three or five fairly large pieces. Cuttings should be made from the young shoots that start from the base of the plant, and should be taken with a heel of the old plant attached, which will greatly assist their rooting. They may be inserted at any time from October to May. The foliage must be shortened to about 3 inches, when the cuttings will be ready for insertion in a bed of light, sandy soil, in the open. Plant very firmly, surface the bed with sand, and water in well. Shade is necessary while the cuttings are rooting.

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Frankincense Boswellia Thurifera

The part used is the resin of a tree that grows in area such as Somalia and Southern Arabia.

Medicinal: Frankincense relieves menstrual pains, and treats rheumatic aches and pains. Externally it is used for liniments and for its antiseptic properties. It is stimulant, but seldom used now internally, though formerly was in great repute. It is used to treat leprosy in China. Breathing in a steam containing Frankincense is used to relieve bronchitis. It was used extensively in incense.

Magical: Frankincense is burned to raise vibrations, purify, and exorcise. It will aid meditations and visions. The essential oil is used to anoint magickal tools, altars, etc.

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False solomon's seal grows from rhizomes that grow just below the surface of the ground.  the stems are arched and do not branch, with alternate, long slender leaves, usually 3-6 inches long, with parallel veins.  The leaves are a pleasant green color.  Several stems can arise from a root, and the plant can make colonies.  The flowers are off white and are in clusters, branching, appearing in April to June.  The berries are juicy, yellow, turning to green, then red and green.  These are avidly eaten by forest animals and birds.  These are edible to humans, but are bitter.

False solomon's seal grows in moist shady places, usually with rich soil, and I've found them growing at above 5,000 ft elevation.

For drying purposes, the roots are collected in the fall.  For fresh tinctures and preparations, they can be collected anytime they can be dug.

Medicinal:  For a superior cough syrup, put 1 cup of roots in 4 cups of honey.  Bring this to a slow simmer and cook for 2-3 hours, then remove from the heat and allowing the mixture to stand for 12 hours.  Heat until liquid, then strain and store in jars.  Other plants can also be added to the syrup, if you wish.  Use a small amount as needed.  A tea made from the root, as well as the syrup or chewing fresh root is good for a sore throat and chest colds.  The root is anti-inflammatory, and chewing the root can soothe the gums.  The tea can also soothe and relax the lungs and soothe the stomach.  Externally, the tea can be used for swellings, stings, or rashes.

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This is a large perennial plant, from 3-6 feet tall.  The leaves are opposite, and notched much like catnip or mint leaves.  The flowers appear in the axils, and are from purple to reddish brown, small and tubular.  The roots are slender rhizomes, which can link several plants together.  The leaves, when bruised, have an unpleasant smell.  Figwort likes shady moist places, and can be found in coastal regions in the Pacific Northwest.  Similar species are found in eastern states.

The flowering herb should be gathered in late July and August, bundled and hung to dry out of sun shine.

Medicinal:  A standard infusion or tea is used.  Figwort is an anti-inflammatory, and has been used on cold sores effectively.  It is a useful treatment for arthritis. To make a salve, mix the powdered herb, or fresh leaves and roots that have been crushed, and add to a neutral base like lard.  The salve is good for bruises, stings, and joint injuries. The salve can help with pain of the nipples that is sometimes present during PMS.

The tea has diuretic and anodyne properties. . It may be used for eczema, psoriasis and any skin condition where there is itching and irritation. It is also a mild laxative.  For skin problems, Figwort can be combined with Yellow Dock and Burdock

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