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Episode 140: Magical Properties of Plants pt. 6
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Welcome back, Witches! In this episode of our Magical Properties of Plants series, we’re diving into the calming and protective powers of chamomile and the warrior-like energy of yarrow. So get in, loser, and let’s brew up some plant magic!
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Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio- The Witch
References:
- Patti Wigington (2019). Chamomile. Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/chamomile-2562019
Meleesa Ferris. (2023). Chamomile Plant Magic. LAB.OTANICA. https://labotanicaplantmagic.com/blogs/blog/chamomile-plant-magic
Herbal Academy Text book: Intermediate Herbalism
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to Witchcraft Podcast
00:00:00
Speaker
Do you feel drawn to learn more about witchcraft and the occult, but feel lost somewhere to start? Then welcome to Get In Loser We're Doing Witchcraft, a podcast all about what it means to be a witch and where to get started on your journey. Join us as we navigate through various witchy topics and share what we've learned about the
Exploring Yarrow and Chamomile
00:00:15
Speaker
craft. So get in witches for part six of our magical properties of plant series, this time discussing yarrow and chamomile.
00:00:45
Speaker
There's like a little mat to get out. Ugh, I gnats. I hate them. I'm buying carnivorous plants. Yes, do it. We also bought, so Jane, she had this thing and I'm like, what the hell is that? Is that a nightlight? And she was like, no, it like they sell it at the BX. It's like a plugin and it looks artistic and cute and it's a little light and it attracts bugs. And then you just take the thing out and they also have battery operated ones. And I'm like, oh my God. And so I went and bought them. Do they work?
00:01:17
Speaker
Yeah, she said hers works really well. So I'm like, well, shit, okay. Mine's still in the box. I bought it. I
Innovative Bug Device and Gift Talk
00:01:24
Speaker
just haven't set it up. But hers, she said, works really good. So I'm like, well, shit, yeah. Because we have things called a drain flies here, and they have like these really pretty little wings, the tiny teeny, tiny body, and like these beautiful, I wouldn't call them beautiful, but cute little wings. Like how you would draw them. Yeah.
00:01:46
Speaker
but yeah and it's just like the fuck and they're so annoying but anyway um i feel like there was something else i was going to tell you and i don't remember who it was i got the a cutest little purse for christmas i've been wanting i mean i sent mike the exact link so you know obviously he had to get it oh but i've been wanting a long shomp bag like to use for work for travel and then because when you're not using it you fold it up and it's like this cute little Aww. You'll have to show it to me. Yeah. I also did a picture too. And he also got me scarfs to put on it. And so it's so cute and I love it. And I just, I like, I want to buy a purse organizer because you know, they're kind of big. I want to buy it inside the purse organizer thing and be that girl with my purse organizer and my, um,
00:02:41
Speaker
planner and my little lotions and all the things. So and you're so funny. We didn't do I say we didn't do presents. We did stockings this year. So if it fit in the stocking, it was fine. And Anthony always finds a way around this. Oh, I buy something expensive for my stocking instead of following the rules because we bought ourselves like a couple of months ago, we bought ourselves a whole new like espresso set up because we were just we just want like In the States, we had it and we missed being able to just like make a good latte. So we considered that our Christmas present because it's expensive to set up a little coffee station. So we were like, we're only doing stockings, just stockings. And of course, Anthony Michael went out and bought me a really beautiful bracelet.
00:03:34
Speaker
ah you It's so pretty. It is um kind of a tarnished black um chain and it has like a black rose that has rose gold woven into it. Oh, that sounds beautiful. And then it has a little crow charm because it tightens. So like the dangly part has a little crow on it.
00:03:54
Speaker
That's cute. You'll have to send me a picture as well. That's beautiful. that's most beautiful It's a crow and a, um, the other chart, I can't remember what those things are called, but they like spin thread. What do you mean? Like a spider? No, no, I don't know what those are called. Um, no, like it's like a wheel. Oh, like a spinning wheel. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. So it's not in a crow and it's really cute. that's key But of course,
00:04:24
Speaker
My stocking was more than presents, so right leave it to my husband. Yeah. Oh, well, we love we love a man who kind of bins the rules in all the right ways. So there you go. Every year. Every year. He'll be like, this year, this is our cap. And I'm like, and you're going to stick to it? Yes. And then he doesn't. Yeah. Anthony Michael. You know what? It's OK, Anthony Michael. We love it. We love it.
Chamomile: Uses and History
00:04:53
Speaker
it But we're not talking about Christmas presents this episode. Because it's literally like the middle of January. What? Isn't that crazy? This is going to come out in the middle of January. Yeah, middle of January. That is insane. We're ahead. Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. What are we talking about today? Never. We are talking about Yarrow and Chamomile. Yes. Some plans. I love both of these. I use both of these frequently.
00:05:24
Speaker
they're both just amazing little plants. They are. um So I'm going to be talking about chamomile and I love chamomile. I drink chamomile every fucking night. So if you wanted to know a little something about me, that's the something. Me and everybody else. But here's, here's some background. Here's a little bit about chamomile. So Chamomile is also known as ground apple, scented mayweed, wig plant, manzanilla, and mayhem.
00:05:59
Speaker
and its flowers resemble little daisies and the plant gives off a sweet mild scent that is slightly herbal and earthy. And then I've also was reading, some people describe that scent as almost kind of like an apple scent, um but I don't really, I mean, I don't know, maybe I don't really pick that up whenever I smell it. It just Camomile smells distinctly like camomile to me, so maybe that's why. but I think it's the sweetness of it. like It has a light sweetness to it that I think a lot of people associate with apples. Yeah.
00:06:34
Speaker
oh my It's, I love it though, because I also love apples, so I'm not mad about it. It's a very popular herb used in not just a lot of magical workings, but also in a lot of mundane things as well. And there are two common types of chamomile used today, and they are the Roman chamomileum. I hope I said that right.
00:06:55
Speaker
and the German matricaria recutida. And they are from two different plant families, but they are used in the same capacity regardless of which variety that you have. The Roman chamomile is a low-growing perennial and the German chamomile is an annual variety that grows taller. And whenever I was doing the research on this, I realized the chamomile that I have in my house is the Roman variety.
00:07:21
Speaker
Different. Chamomile is a native to Eastern and Southern Europe like historically and in parts of Asia, but now it is seen worldwide. so Documented uses of chamomile have been seen dating back to the ancient Egyptians, and it was associated with the gods of the sun and used in treatment of certain diseases like malaria, and it was used during the mummification process in ancient Egypt. And in many other cultures like in ancient Rome, during the Viking era, and in the ancient Greeks, they all believed that chamomile was used similarly to treat diseases. And ancient Greeks and Romans used chamomile for treating red and dry skin. In Unani medicine in India, chamomile was used for everything to include hysteria.
00:08:10
Speaker
and all the way to like headaches. In Slovakia, people would bow to chamomile when it was found in the wild in reverence for its magical properties. I think it's beautiful. I love that. yeah And indigenous Americans used a form of chamomile called pineapple weed to help preserve meats and berries and to cure stomach ailments.
00:08:32
Speaker
And the healing properties of chamomile don't just apply to people either because planting chamomile next to a plant that is failing to thrive, the chamomile will improve the health of the plant that is like failing to thrive, which is really, really, really sweet. And I did not know that. Yeah. It's known as the plant's physician because you can plant it in your garden and it will keep everybody happy and healthy.
00:08:55
Speaker
Oh, my God. I love that. Oh, I just love chamomile. Oh, that is so sweet because it's such a cute little plant that it's just the fact that it's so like dainty too. I love it. It is. It's like a ah to me, like if I were to take because, you know, we can personify like anything to me, like the personification of chamomile is like a cute little English lady.
00:09:23
Speaker
during like Jane Austen time, you know what I mean? yeah um And speaking of, chamomile became incredibly popular in England and is a staple in pretty much every country garden in England.
00:09:36
Speaker
So as far as uses go, it is an all-purpose herb. Chamomile is considered a nirvine which is a type of herb that benefits the central nervous system which includes the brain and the spinal cord and it can help soothe nerves and relieve stress and anxiety and it can act as a very mild sedative and assist in deep sleep.
00:09:58
Speaker
Medicinally, it can be used topically to treat toothaches and earaches. It can help with diarrhea, headache, nausea, heartburn, and digestion, and to help with colic and babies. And when I was typing this, whenever I was doing the research for this, I was like, oh, so basically everything Pepto-Bismol can do.
00:10:17
Speaker
long from like the early 2000s. It's like nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea. I guess I'm just like, wow, it's literally all the things. It can also help alleviate symptoms from a hangover as well. Putting that little piece of information in my back pocket for if I ever need that in the future. And it can also be used to treat a loss of appetite, irregular periods, bronchitis, and worms, which like you, but you know, I guess if you have them, you know, and in some countries, it is even mixed in a poultice to help prevent gangrene and open wounds. And then
00:10:56
Speaker
In skincare, chamomile is amazing when used topically for your skin. It can help fight infections on the skin and reduce acne breakouts. And it can help treat abrasions, inflammation, and eczema. um And it just helps... Oh, go ahead. Sorry.
00:11:12
Speaker
It's also fantastic if you end up with an eye infection or a pink eye. You can use chamomile like in a teabag in warm water and then pop it on your eye for 30 minutes and most of the times it'll clear it up like 50% faster.
00:11:27
Speaker
I love that. It really can be used for anything. like yeah The fact that it can help reduce like the inflammation and the irritation when it comes to a lot of issues that you would have medically, I just really, do we need medicine? No, we just need something.
Yarrow: Healing and Historical Significance
00:11:46
Speaker
And as far as magical uses, chamomile is associated with masculine energy. Although I did see a couple of sources that said that ancient civilizations associated with feminine energy and how I see it and personify it is very, I link it towards feminine energy. So yeah it's interesting that it is associated with masculine energy and it's associated with both the element of water as well as the element of the sun.
00:12:13
Speaker
It's the perfect herb to work with if you are doing spell work in the summertime or doing any solar workings. And it can also help to balance the chakras and especially the solar plexus and the and the throat chakras.
00:12:26
Speaker
And as far as deities, it is linked to Kernunos, Ra, Helios, and any other sun god in whatever pantheon you're working with. And in magic, chamomile is used as an herb of purification and protection. It can be used to aid in sleeping and in meditation. And it's said that if you plant chamomile or keep it around the entry to your home, it can help protect against psychic or magical attacks. And you can also steep chamomile flowers in hot water and then sprinkle the water around the perimeter of your home to act as a metaphysical barrier. You can wash with chamomile and it's said to keep negative energy away from your person. And you could also carry a pouch with chamomile on you as a way to help you say if you believe that you may encounter physical or a magical danger.
00:13:17
Speaker
And if you wash your hands with chamomile tea, it's said that it's supposed to give you good luck when it comes to gambling, specifically gambling, although maybe it's just lucky in general. And when anointing a candle, if you anoint a green candle with chamomile flowers, it's said to help you in your money magic workings. But if you anoint a black candle with chamomile, it is said to help in banishing workings.
00:13:43
Speaker
And lastly, in some Southern states, chamomile is known as a lucky flower and can be worn as a garland or used in a magical bath to attract love or carried for good fortune. Chamomile is a precious little plant. It is, it is precious. I love it. And I can't believe it took us four seasons to even talk about it. I mean, we briefly yeah talked about it in other episodes, but to like actually kind of just go into chamomile, I can't believe it took us this long.
00:14:12
Speaker
Same, like, and because I even went and looked at the list like a couple of times, even though it's an alphabetical order. And I'm just like, I just want to make sure because I swear to God we talked about this, but we hadn't. Yeah, we have talked about it just like briefly, but not done like an actual like deep dive. So All right, moving on to Yarrow. So Yarrow is known botanically as Achilles malifolium, and it's part of the Astra-ACA family. Its name comes from the Greek warrior Achilles, who was said to carry the herb into battle for spiritual protection and to help heal the wounds of his soldiers. Its botanical name like literally translates to Achilles thousand-leaved plant. which is thought to be named for its like feathery foliage. like The leaves look like little feathers. They've got a lot of little pieces. so It's an herbaceous perennial that is native to Europe and Asia, and it grows throughout temperate and boreal regions of the world in meadows and in pastures, as well as along the roadside. But for our wild foragers, please remember to avoid foraging next to roads where rainwater runoff from the road and like the asphalt can be absorbed into the plant.
00:15:23
Speaker
and obviously for safety reasons too, like don't get hit by a car just because you see a yarrow plant. Historically, yarrow was commonly used by soldiers in combat from the time of the ancient Greeks through like as far as the early 20th century, and it has been known as the soldier's woundwort, staunch weed, nosebleed, just woundwort, and carpenter's weed.
00:15:47
Speaker
And this is more just of an interesting piece that I'm going to warn against using, especially if you haven't studied herbalism and the body. And I'm not going to dive too deep into this, but there's this old practice known as the doctrine of signatures.
00:16:02
Speaker
where an herb's uses were identified based on how it related to something. So for example, if a plant's leaves were shaped like your lungs, chances were it would be good to like aid the respiratory system. If a plant had red sap, it was thought to have an affinity for blood, etc. And this obviously is not foolproof.
00:16:22
Speaker
And as we've studied more about plants and their uses, we've moved away from the doctrine of signatures. But in some ways, this practice did hold true. And in terms of yarrow, its leaves look like serrated, almost kind of like a serrated knife. And that would show in the doctrine of signatures.
00:16:40
Speaker
that it would be appropriate for injuries and a cut, making it a wound healing herb. I love the doctrine of signatures. I wish it was more accurate, but obviously there's also poisonous plants that look like things. right But I love when it like does line up. It's just the herbalist in me. I could talk about it all day. And then just a fun piece of historical information that I found on Yarrow. Apparently there's a grave in Iraq that dates back to 60,000 years ago.
00:17:09
Speaker
And the person buried there was laid to rest by his people on a bed of medicinal flowers, one of which was said to be yarrow, and they were able to identify it because of the pollen found in the grave. There wasn't like, they don't know like specifically why, but it was found in there, which I think was really cool.
00:17:26
Speaker
And this is a great beginner herb for those wanting to grow a home garden. Yarrow grows prolifically and it's pretty easy to maintain too. Medicinally, Yarrow's actions are that it's anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-spasmodic, astringent, it's a choleratic, a diaphoretic, a diuretic.
00:17:48
Speaker
and a minigog, a styptic, and a vulnare. These actions are attributed primarily to its volatile oils, which are responsible for its strong aroma as well. These oils give yarrow a characteristic medicinal smell and taste, so you'll often see it paired with more like pleasant tasting herbs when it's made in things like a tea or something that you're ingesting.
00:18:09
Speaker
Its energetics are drying and cooling. Medicinal uses include a wide variety, and it's considered an essential herb in an herbal apothecary. It's ideal for warding off infection, for stopping blood flow, reducing swelling and pain in wounds, meaning that every first aid kit in home apothecary should keep yarrow on hand. Additional uses noted are for clearing bruises, old and new.
00:18:32
Speaker
reducing swelling from poisonous bites and stings and fresh wounds. When using yarrow topically, you can apply a poultice of fresh yarrow leaves, a pinch of dried yarrow leaf powder, some yarrow extract in the wound after cleansing. It can also be prepared as a wash, a compress, infused oil, a salve, or a cream. I use it in teas and salves mostly, but it like this herb has such a wide use. So it's commonly referred to as a wound herb, a fever breaker, an aromatic bitter, a blood mover.
00:19:06
Speaker
It's known to be useful in lower urinary tract infections. Externally, it can help protect against bacteria, blood loss, and inflammation, while also promoting the growth of new healthy tissue. And something that I absolutely love about Yaro is how it can be used in opposite ways, which I find just absolutely fascinating. And what I mean by this is it can be used as an aminagogue to help stimulate menstruation, but it can also be used as an astringent to slow blood loss.
00:19:36
Speaker
It can be used as a uterine antispasmodic, and it can be used to stimulate contractions and start menses. But it can also be used to relax the uterus, to ease painful cramping, to prevent excessive bleeding, all like literally at the same time, which is just wild to me. In terms of safety, Yarrow is contraindicated during pregnancy due to its high volatile oil content. It may also cause hypersensitivity in those that have an allergy to the Astraaceae, which is the daisy family. And fusion should include 6 to 12 grams of dried aerial parts per day divided into one to three doses. Tinctures should be taken in two to five milliliters of a one to five tincture up to three times a day. And it's also often included in salves for wound care that can be applied liberally.
00:20:23
Speaker
This is where I got a little sad. So most websites or like the sources that I found on Yarrow's uses in witchcraft all said the same thing and there wasn't a whole lot. So here's what I did find.
00:20:38
Speaker
Yarrow has been used historically in witchcraft as far back as we've worked with herbs, and historical Europe referred to it as the witch's herb. But on the negative side of this though, because we know like how quote unquote witches were treated historically, Yarrow carried names like the devil's nettle, the devil's plaything, and the bad man's plaything, because those accused of witchcraft were accused of associating with the devil, and their tools were not seen as like a good quote unquote Christian tool.
00:21:07
Speaker
and that was herbs included. There was also something, and I couldn't find a ton of information on this, but there was an accused witch that was tried in the 17th century for her use of yarrow specifically, which is crazy because it is like an herb of healing. Yeah, that's wild. Right. Again, it's one of those like, thanks for the healing, but also you're a witch.
Yarrow's Magical Applications
00:21:28
Speaker
Magically, yarrow has been used in workings of love, protection, courage, dispelling negativity, and divination. It can be used to protect your energy, defend against psychic attacks and hexes, and foster happiness and strength in friendships. It's thought to be perfect in creating protective boundaries during spellwork or rituals. It's considered an herb to avert evil spells and spirits, but on the flip side of this, people also used to use yarrow to prevent a witch from entering their house by laying it across their doorstep. In Ireland, Yarrow was used to hang up on St. John's Eve to turn illness away and disperse spirits. Yarrow is also held in very high esteem in Ireland and they believe that it should be gathered with a proper ceremony
00:22:15
Speaker
It should not be harvested without reciting a formula at the same time. And those were basically just like a poem or a verse that accounted for how the arrow would be harvested and used. I read like several of them and they were like just really funny. It would just be like, I'm picking this yarrow and tomorrow I'm gonna do this. and Like it was just a verse on it. It was hilarious. Hanging yarrow in the home is said to bring protection. If going on a trip, it's believed that you should pull 10 stocks of yarrow Keep nine and throw the tenth away as a tithing to the spirits. The nine should be put under the right heel in your shoe, making it so that evil spirits would have no power over you. In terms of divination spells and practices, many superstitions and incantations that involve yarrow are focused on finding one's partner.
00:23:05
Speaker
so especially through dream divination. On the British Isles it's believed that the Seekers should sew an ounce of yarrow in flannel and place it under their pillow before going to sleep while repeating the following to gain a vision of their future spouse. Though pretty herb a Venus tree, thy true name is Yarrow, now who my bosom friend must be, pray tell me tomorrow. And there was like other versions of this but this one was like commonly found on a bunch of the historical sites for this, which I thought was kind of cute. And then lastly,
00:23:37
Speaker
Magically, yarrow is very just versatile, just like it is like medicinally, and it would be a great addition to any which is apothecary. I love that. and And you know, a medicinal apothecary too. Yeah. Yarrow is one of my faves. I'm gonna have to order some yarrow and keep it in our first aid kit because for sure.
00:24:01
Speaker
kids be getting hurt so good yeah well it's even good like if you have a bruise if you use a yarrow salve on it it helps clear it out faster because it's a you know a bruise is basically just like blood under the skin and it move it's a blood mover so it clears bruises faster it's great for wound treatment scrapes scratches stings i love that for like urinary tract health i'm assuming like that's probably like you need to drink a tea yeah Yeah, or a tincture or a glycerite. But yeah, Euro's perfect. Everyone should have some Euro. Yeah, I want some Euro right now.
Conclusion and Future Content
00:24:48
Speaker
That's it for this episode of Get In Loser, We're Doing Witchcraft. You can find our source material for this episode linked in the show notes. If you love this episode, we would be forever thankful if you leave us a five-star review on wherever you listen to your podcasts. If you really love the show and want more Get In Loser content, check out our Supercast link for finding the show notes or search the Supercast website for getting episodes early. Shoutouts on the show.
00:25:31
Speaker
as we talk about energy manipulation. Until then, bless and be with you.