Beginner herbs

[WillowMoon86]

I am totally new to Paganism, so I have no clue about the usage of herbs.
What are some good herbs? Or herbs that every Pagan should have on hand?
I am interested in using them for mainly medicinal purposes.
Well actually... I'd be willing to use them for anything, but like I said I am
brand new to this, so I really have no idea what all herbs can be used for. :whatgives

[Sollie]

There's lots of info about herbs on the stickies, especially in this forum or (maybe?) the MW Kitchen. Also, some of the other posts below yours. I'm still trying to figure out herbs myself, so I can't give you much information.

If you wanting them for mainly health reasons, just make sure you know how to prepare them right! lol

[omar]

I get my herb knolage from The Herbalist by J E Meyer first printed 1918 last printing 1976. Published by Meyerbooks, P O Box427, 235 W, Main St, Glenwood, Illinois, 60425

[Juniper138]

The best herbs for begininers are the culinary herbs, food herbs. As you can taste them, eat them, make tea, rub them on your skin etc without poisoning yourself (unless you have allergies of course) and many of them are also great for incense and oils and magickal purposes as well.

My 3 favs are rosemary, basil and oregano.

Many of the typical "witchy" herbs can be rather dangerious of not treated with respect or not researched properly. People read magickal herbalism books and then spread valerian on the floor during ritual, the dog eats some and then they have a sick dog *rolls eyes*

[Jesyka_Silverwolf]

I personally like to have Lavendar, Sage, and Rosemary on hand. And Cedar when i can get it.

Lavender is very soothing and makes a wonderful relaxing tea.
Sage and Cedar i use for Cleansing the house.

Rosemary has a variety of uses, one of the most common being a culinary ingredient.

All four herbs have protective properties (which is the main reason i keep them on hand).

[Convallaria]

Unfortunately I can't offer you a herbology class, but I can recommend some good books!

Richard Alan Miller's "Magical Ritual Herbs"

Susan Gregg's "The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Magical Plants"

And any book on paganism that offers recipes for tinctures, foods, oils, rubs, compresses and teas will give you a good idea of how to use them in magic. Might I suggest "The way of the Green Witch" by Arin Murphy Hiscock?

[Juniper138]

Arin Murphy Hiscock is awesome. She is a friend of my man's and I was able to meet her around Yule. She really knows her stuff.
Though I do think she went a little "light" on her Hedgewitch book and skirted the shamanic side of things a bit.

[LadyDryad]

The best herbs for begininers are the culinary herbs, food herbs. As you can taste them, eat them, make tea, rub them on your skin etc without poisoning yourself (unless you have allergies of course) and many of them are also great for incense and oils and magickal purposes as well.

My 3 favs are rosemary, basil and oregano.

Many of the typical "witchy" herbs can be rather dangerious of not treated with respect or not researched properly. People read magickal herbalism books and then spread valerian on the floor during ritual, the dog eats some and then they have a sick dog *rolls eyes*


Exactly. If you're not sure what you're doing yet, culinary herbs are the way to go.

If you're using them for medicinal purposes, my favourites are chamomile, the mints, rosemary, and lavender.

There are lots of different varieties of each type of herb, so regardless of what you have it's probably a good idea to check into it just to make sure it's safe to be ingested and won't irritate your skin.

[Morganite9Violet]

rosemary lavender sage melissa mint & the herbs books by Lesley Bremness:)

rosemary is useful for many things so that one is a must have

[Sekhmet Soul30]

I'm starting to use herbs in my ritual work. I'm just starting with herbs that I know would harm me and sticking with them until I gain more experience.

[LadyDryad]

I'm starting to use herbs in my ritual work. I'm just starting with herbs that I know would harm me and sticking with them until I gain more experience.

I hope you mean you're using ones that wouldn't harm you.

[Sekhmet Soul30]

Sorry, wouldn't harm me. Stupid fingers.

[Setkheni-itw]

I agree with what's been said about culinary herbs, especially whatever you already have.

For me, this included black pepper, cinnamon, rosemary, cayenne, sage, garlic, and ginger. Now I have a lot more, but when I started, that was about it. You may have more, you may have less.

Generally I used black pepper, garlic, and cayenne in protection workings, ginger for love, sage for purity, garlic and black pepper for healing, and rosemary for everything (I'd read somewhere that rosemary could be substituted for anything magickally. I don't necessarily think that's true, but at the time it worked.)

Lots of outdoor plants, too, depending on where you live. I have a yard so I can harvest spruce, dandelion, broadleaf plantain, cinquefoil, mullein, apple, and pine for regular use.

[Sekhmet Soul30]

Thanks for joining this thread. Herbs is something that you really have to know a thing or two about. That's one reason that I like books on herbs. However there are people out there that like gothic herbs and plants. Don't ask my why but I think that if they don't know what they do they shouldn't have them. Your just asking for trouble.

My favorite herbs are sage and chamomile. Non processed chamomile is great for toothaches and sage cleanses a space.

[LadyDryad]

This book (http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1844765466/ref=oss_product) has really great information about all sorts of herbs, safe, and not-so-safe. It also has great pictures of everything if you're having trouble identifying things.

[Sekhmet Soul30]

I had that book, lost it when I went to Salem. I'm going to buy it again.

[Lilac Moon]

You have had some great suggestions.. here is a list of herbs that I have recommended for beginners.. (keep in mind, these are local herbs and can be wildcrafted .. so they may not be readily available in your area. )

Local Herbs for Crafting: Rosemary, Sage, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Bee Balm, Yellow Root or Golden Seal, Slippery Elm, Mullein, Plantain, Ginseng, Sassafras, Wild cherry bark, Black walnut, Dogwood bark, Birch, Beech, Black Cohosh, Nettle, Witch Hazel, Wormwood

Berries: Raspberries, Blackberries, Dewberries,
Don’t forget the wild leeks, cabbage and garlic..
And of course, salts…

I would also recommend that you find a thorough but easy source for instruction on the making and storage of:
Herbal Teas
Infusions
Cold Extract
Decoction
Juice
Syrup
Powder
Ointment
Essence
Poultice
Herb Bath


Just my 2 cents
Blessings

[Sekhmet Soul30]

Hay, we all love your 2 cents :mmm:.

[~Runa~]

You also mention insense and oils. Are you interested in making them or do you wish to study them? This site: http://www.squidoo.com/anointingoils gives you some brief information about aromatherapy.