A Blessing for Cupboards and Doors

I forgot to add this one with the other kitchen blessings a few blog posts ago. So I thought I would share this one with you today.

Behind you are hidden the tools of my craft

From garden and forest and even from Kraft

Blessings in boxes and jars on your shelves

Things to bring healing and health to ourselves

So blessings upon you my cupboards and drawers

And thanks for protecting what’s hid by your doors.

Lavender (Herb Study)

Lavender

Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia, L. Spica, L. officinalis, L. dentate, l. stoechas, L. Viridis,

Family: Lamiacea (formerly Labiatae)

Lavender is an attractive and aromatic plant. It is a popular plant in many herb gardens and is known for its fragrance more so than for its culinary uses. Lavender has numerous different varieties. The English lavender tends to be a small bushy shrub that grows to about 3 feet high. It has silvery gray-green leaves and slender stalks that have clusters of purple, lavender, or mauve flowers. It is the variety most often used for culinary uses. The French lavender has much less aroma than the English lavender and a thicker leaves. Though the flowers of the French lavender have less scent, the leaves have more fragrance and this makes it a very good variety for decorative use.

Origins and Folklore

Lavenders are native to the Mediterranean. There are some varieties that were known to the ancient Romans and Greeks. It was frequently used in bathwater and thus it is safe to say that the origin of the name comes from the Latin “lavare” which means to wash. Not surprising then that it is still a popular scent for bath and beauty products today. The lavender from England was said to be the best in the world until the late 20^th century when Tasmania became the primary producer of lavender essential oils.  

It is said that lavender was worn by prostitutes to advertise their profession and attract men.

Culinary Uses

Lavender is not a commonly used herb for culinary use. It should be used sparingly or it can become very overpowering and add bitterness to your food. It was used more commonly in the 17^th century as a culinary herb along with some other flowers to make a conserve that was mixed with sugar and used kind of like an icing for cookies and cakes.

The Moroccans used lavender along with rose petals, orris root powder, saffron, numerous spices and some “mind altering substances” and is added to the exotic blend called “ras el hanout.” It is also found in some of the savour herb blends called hebrs de Provence.

Lavender goes well with sweet dishes that contain cream. It is also used to add colour and flavour to shortbread.

Magickal Uses and Information

Gender: Masculine

Element: Air

Planet: Mercury

Deities: Venus, Aphrodite

The most common uses for lavender include: love, protection, sleep, chastity, longevity, purification, happiness, and peace. Some further uses include:

• Added to love spells and also mixed in food to strengthen love
• Used in love sachets and in drawers to attract love
• Write love letters on paper that you have rubbed lavender
• Used in sleep spells
• Protects against abusive treatment by a spouse if worn
• Scattered around your home it will bring about a peaceful, harmonious atmosphere.
• Smell often to bring about long life
• Used in healing mixtures
• Used to see ghosts
• Offers protection from the evil eye
• Used in purification baths
• Used in wish divination

Medicinal, Homeopathic and Aromatherapy Uses

Some of the uses for lavender include:

• Made as a tea, then cooled, used for a hair rinse to reduce dandruff
• Lavender has antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsive, and anti-depressant qualities
• Treats the following conditions:

Stress	Anxiety	Exhaustion
Irritability	Headaches/migraines	Insomnia
Depression	Colds	Digestion/flatulence etc.
Liver and gallbladder problems	Loss of appetite	Breath freshener/mouthwash
Relaxation/sleep aid	Healing cuts, scrapes, wounds	Soothing bee stings and insect bites
Muscle aches	Rheumatism/arthritis	Cold sores & cankers
Blusters	Bruises	Athletes food
Rashes

References

http://www.gardensablaze.com/HerbLavenderMed.htm

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/lavender-000260.htm

http://healthmad.com/alternative/10-uses-for-lavender/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavender

http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-lavender.htm

http://herbgardens.about.com/od/medicinalherbs/a/Lavender.htm

Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham

Your Backyard Herb Garden: A Gardener's Guide to Growing Over 50 Herbs Plus How to Use Them in Cooking, by Miranda Smith

The Spice and Herb Bible by Ian Hemphill and Kate Hemphill

The Book of Herbal Wisdom: Using Plants as Medicines by Matthew Wood

The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants by Matthew Wood

The Healing Power of Herbs: The Enlightened Person's Guide to the Wonders of Medicinal Plants by Michael T. Murray N.D.

Wise Woman Herbal Healing Wise by Susun S. Weed and Durga Bernhard

Mastering Herbalism by Paul Huson

Cullpepper’s Colour Herbal edited by David Potterton

Nerve and Muscle Pain Bath

I needed a bath too sooth some sore muscles tonight. This is a bath recipe that I made up a few years ago and use fairly regularly. I find it helpful and thought that I would share it with you all. 

Ingredients

1 parts Eucalyptus – aids in relaxing and healing muscle pain

1 parts Rosemary - aids in easing muscle pain

2 parts skullcap – aids in treating muscle spasms

2 parts Chamomile – aids in relaxing muscles and easing nerve pain

1 part cramp bark - eases muscle and nerve pain and spasms

1 cup Epsom salts

1cup baking soda

Blue food colouring – healing colour

Method
If you are using dried herbs combine the ingredients and place them in a cheese cloth bag or nylon stocking and use as a bath tea bag. Take the Epsom slats and add 2 or 3 drops of the food colouring and mix well. (You can exclude the baking soda if you are using this method.) Then run the water and add them. Place the “bath tea bag” in the water and swish it around gently or place it under the running water to release the healing properties of the herbs.


If you are using oils, add them one at a time to the baking soda and Epson salts and mix thoroughly, breaking up any clumps. When mixed add a couple of drops of food colouring to add to the healing power of the bath salts. Run your water and add the salts to the water, swishing to release the colour, scent and healing properties.
Get into the tub and lean back – relax and envision the pain seeping out of you into the water. When you are finished let the water drain away and see your pain going with it.

If you wish to add a stone/crystal to this bath Chrysocolla would be a good suggestion. This stone is known to draw out the heat of inflammation and to draw out pain. It is an excellent stone to use in combination with these herbs to reduce sore muscles and speed healing.