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    Seneca GreyWolf

    Ye Olde Herbal Names

    Tuesday, November 20, 2007, 07:52 AM [General]

    The following info I got from another group and I thank Lunardragontat for posting it in the first place...

    One Eye of Newt, A dash of Sleepwort, pass the Bloody Fingers? I must finish this brew! Ever hear anything like this, and wonder just where and what people were talking about? Well would you be surprised to know that the things stirred into witches brews of old are still used to this very day?

    The "code" words for many herbs were used for different reasons. As we all well know Witches were hunted not so very long ago. Unfortunately because of this hysteria many innocent people were hung or burned as witches, JUST for what they had growing in their own gardens. For example growing or using Foxglove could get you branded a witch, so many people because of this, began calling the herbs what they most resembled to the naked eye.

    Below you will find a few Old Herbal names, Craft name comes first, followed by the common name for that herb/flower/root. Feel free to add as you wish...

    Blood - Sap of Elder Tree
    Bloody Fingers- Foxglove
    Candlemas Maiden - Snowdrop
    Candlewick Plant - Mullein
    Crown for a King - Wormwood
    Dew of the Sea - Rosemary
    Dragonwort - Bistort
    Earth Smoke - Fumitory
    Elfwort - Eclampane
    Enchanter's Plant - Vervain
    Eye of the Star - Horehound
    Eyes - Aster Daisy
    Five Finger Grass - Cinquefoil
    Joy of the Mountain - Marjoram
    Lad's Love - Southernwood
    Little Dragon - Tarragon
    Love in Idleness - Pansy
    Love Parsley - Lovage
    Loveroot - Orris
    Maiden's Ruin - Southernwood
    Master of the Woods - Woodruff
    Masterwort - Angelica
    May Lily - Lily of the valley
    Mistress of the Night - Tuberose
    Password - Primrose
    Queen of Meadow - Meadowsweet
    Ram's Head - American Valerian
    Seven Year's Love - Yarrow
    Sleepwort - Lettuce
    Sorcerer's Violet - Periwinkle
    Starflower - Borage
    Star of the Earth - Avens
    Starweed - Chickweed
    Starwort - Aster
    Thousand Seal - Yarrow
    Thunder Plant - Houseleek
    Unicorn Horn - True Unicorn Root
    Witch Herb - Mugwort
    Witches Asprin - White Willow Bark
    Witches Bells - Foxglove
    Witches Briar - Briar Hip
    Witchgrass - Dog Grass
    Witchwood - Rowan

    Something wicked this way grows...

    "Flowers bloom as black as night
    Removing color from your sight
    Nightmarish vines block your way
    Thorns reach out to catch their prey
    And by the pricking of your thumbs
    Realize that their poison numbs
    From frightful blooms, rank odors seep
    Bats and beasties fly and creep
    'Cross this evil land, ill winds blow
    Despite the darkness, mushrooms glow
    All will rot and decompose
    For something wicked this way grows..."
    MockBeth (the Scottish Gardening Manual)

    0 (0 Ratings)

    This is fantastic!!!
    It's a definite a keeper for me :)
    Thank you & Blessings...

    Heather
    November 20, 2007
    07:57 AM CST

    My daughter is studying "Wicca Herbs" in school and I am loving the subject more than her! This is a wonderful collection of herb names to add to our knowledge. I never knew the explanation either. Thank you so very much!

    Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

    Moonwaters
    November 20, 2007
    09:45 AM CST

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