Many Pagans – and others – use herbs as a tool in their magical arsenal. While not every herb is safe to ingest – and be sure to read about Dangerous Herbs before you get started – many of them are used in a magical or folkloric context to bring about healing. If you’re interested in healing magic, here are some of the most popular healing herbs to keep on hand, and how you can use them.

Please do keep in mind that if you’re going to use herbs internally – such as a tea or tincture – it’s always a good idea to check with your physician first. There are some medical conditions that contraindicate the use of various herbs, so do your homework before you begin.

Disclaimer: Before using any herb for medical purposes, please be sure to consult a healthcare professional.

Rosemary

For magical use, burn rosemary to rid a home of negative energy, or as an incense while you meditate. Hang bundles on your front door to keep harmful people, like burglars, from entering. Stuff a healing poppet with dried rosemary to take advantage of its medicinal properties, or mix with juniper berries and burn in a sickroom to promote healthy recovery. In spellwork, rosemary can be used as a substitute for other herbs such as frankincense.

When it comes to healing, rosemary can be used in a variety of ways.

• Make an astringent out of it and use it as a skin wash to clear up your complexion, or as a soother for eczema.
• Infuse it into an oil or poultice, and use it topically on achy joints and muscles, and even bruises.
• Crush fresh leaves in your hand and rub the oils over your skin before gardening – it is believed that this can help keep mosquitoes and gnats from biting you.
• Blend it into a light tea, and sip throughout the day to relieve an upset stomach. Note: Pregnant women should not ingest rosemary in large quantities, although using it in cooking is generally considered safe.

Lavender

Medicinally, lavender has many uses. Noted herbalist Nicolas Culpeper recommends “a decoction made with the flowers of Lavender, Horehound, Fennel and Asparagus root, and a little Cinnamon” to help with epilepsy and other disorders of the brain. Tincture of lavender has been officially recognized as a treatment in the British Pharmacopceia for two centuries. Judith Benn Hurley writes in The Good Herb that during the sixteenth century, English herbalists used lavender tucked into a

READ MORE HERE: https://www.learnreligions.com/healing-herbs-gallery-2562026