Cally The Hedge Witch

Materia Medica – “…is a Latin term…for the body of collected knowledge about the therapeutic properties of any substance used for healing.” (Wikipedia). In this post I will go over what exactly that means, why (and how!) you should start your own materica medica. If you are just starting your journey into herbalism, or have dabbled for awhile, you may be struggling with a way to gather all the information available out there, remembering what herb to use for what ailment, or understanding new ways to look at herbal medicine. For example, perhaps you’ve been learning about European herbalism but are excited about incorporating ayruveda. But where do you start? And how can you connect the two? What is a Materia Medica? That’s where your materia medica steps in. It’s YOUR customized spell book. Your recipe book for all things herbal medicine. A materia medica is comprised of individual monographs. A monograph is an in-depth study into one plant. Often ma...

The earliest doctors were herbalists who used their extensive knowledge of plants to heal aches and ills in their communities. In ancient times, this practice was more superstition and guess-work than it was science. Herbal medicine is becoming popular as people try to turn their backs on artificial medicines and corrupt pharmacies but what do you need to know about herbal medicine? But there are some things you really need to know: Some Herbal remedies can react with prescription medication. So, it is never advisable to take herbal remedies unless you know if wil not interefere with the prescribed drug. There will be a post available for some of the herbs you may need to avoid. But saying that, more folk die from prescription medicines and suffer terrible side effects too. Let’s face it, Herbal medicine was all we had, yet we survived viruses and plagues and some other terrible diseases. We had the Wise women and the Apothecaries, who over thousands of years learnt their craft. ...

Carrier Oils and their Qualities When you choose a carrier oil make sure that it is 100% pure, cold pressed and unrefined. A rule of thumb to Dilutions: 1% dilution: 1 tsp carrier oil with 1 drop essential oil(E.O) 5% dilution: 5 tsp carrier oil with 5 drops essential oil(E.O) Apricot Kernel Oil : Is from the kernel of the apricot. It is light yellow in color, is a light oil and absorbs well. Rich in vitamins A, B and E which are great for skin rejuvenation. This oil is great for sensitive skin types, great for the face, leaves the skin feeling silky smooth and is a great moisturizer. Avocado Oil: This oil is rich in vitamins A, D and E and is packed with essential fatty acids. It absorbs well and help cell regeneration so is very good for mature skin. Grape Seed oil: Is an astringent so is good for toning and tightening the skin. Wheat germ oil: This oil is super rich in vitamin E which makes it great for your skin to regenerate it and give it a healthy glow. Coconut oil : a perfect ...

Safety Please remember that essential oils are very powerful so please treat them as such. Essential Oils on the Skin In most cases, essential oils should not be used undiluted on the skin. As a general rule, essential oils should be diluted in a carrier oil like coconut oil or almond oil in a 1-5% solution.(1-5 drops of essential oilsper teaspoon of carrier oil) Less for children. Undiluted use on the skin can cause irritation or an allergic reaction Use on Babies and Children Essential oils should never be given internally to children or used undiluted on the skin. They should be diluted more than they are for adult application andcare should be taken with any essential oils considered “hot” as they may cause damage to the skin. In general, oils like lavender, chamomile, orange, lemon and frankincense are considered safe for diluted use on children, but do a skin test and check with a doctor first. Some oils have caused seizures in children and extreme caution should be used .(Albeit...

Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia Lavandula angustifolia, common lavender, belongs to Family Lamiaceae and genus Lavandula. It is also known as garden lavender, common lavender, narrow-leaved lavender, true lavender or English lavender. Edible Use Several parts of lavender are edible including the leaves, flowering tips, and petals. They can be used as a condiment in salads, soups, and stews. They have an aromatic flavor that comes through nicely in tea made from fresh or dried leaves. The fresh flowers are added to ice-creams, jams, and vinegars as a flavoring. Oil from the flowers is also used as a food flavouring. Medicinal Use: Medicinal properties of this plant include Anti-anxiety, Anti-halitosis, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Appetizer, Aromatherapy, Aromatic, and Carminative, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Nervine; Sedative, Stimulant, Stomachic, Tonic. Aromatherapy Lavender is an important relaxing herb, having a soothing and relaxing effect upon the nervous system. In most cases, all that...

Pot Marigold, Calendula officinalis Pot marigold is a short-lived, perennial herbaceous plants in the daisy family and is often grown as an annual. They are commonly used as ornamentals and sometimes for medicinal preparations. The flowers are yellow or orange with a 2- to 3-inch flowerhead, tworows of hairy bracts and a single or double ring of ray florets aroundthe central disc florets. Flowers appear year-round when the weatheris suitable. The fruit is a thorny archene. Edible Use Pot marigold flowers are edible. They are used in salads and as a garnish in some dishes. The leaves are also edible, but bitter and unpalatable. Medicinal Use S kin Diseases, Cuts, and Irritations Pot marigold leaves and flowers are soothing to the skin, and I use them to treat all kinds of skin problems from acne to sunburn and rashes. The leaves make a healing poultice for minor cuts,scratches, and skin irritations. Place the bruised leaves directly on the skin. The leaves soothe inflamed skin and help ...

Chamomile, Matricaria Chamomilla Chamomile is an ancient remedy still in use today. Its longevity testifies to its usefulness and effectiveness. I think of it as a calming plant, and it doeshave sedative properties. Plant Identification The plant has daisy-like flowers with a hollow, cone-shaped receptacle, and tiny yellow disk flowers covering the cone. The cone is surrounded by more than ten (probably 10 to 20) white, down-curving ray flowers, giving it the ultimate appearance of a miniature daisy. You can distinguish the plant from similar flowers by the pattern in which the flowers grow, each flower on an independent00stem. The most common way of identifying the Chamomile is by plucking a small amount of the blossom and crushing it in between your fingers. Chamomile has a faintly fruity scent. It thrives in open, sunny locations like roadsides, pastures, cornfields, and in well-drained soil. It will not tolerate excessive heat or dry conditions. Matricaria chamomilla is German cham...