Before attempting herbal remedies, please remember that herbs may have various effects on people and some herbs may cause certain adverse reactions when combined with medications. Always remember to contact your health care practitioner, your physician, or your allergist if you are experiencing any illness or discomfort and advise them which herbs you are using. It's also a good idea to discuss with them which herbs you may be planning on using.

Burns, Scalds, Sunburn: Break off an Aloe Vera leaf and generously apply the gel directly to the burn.

Bruises: Apply Arnica cream or oil (only if the skin is unbroken).

Coughs: Inhalant of Eucalyptus oil.

Herbal Baths: Mix the following into your bath water: 2 drops Thyme oil, 2 drops Tea Tree oil, 4 drops Lemon oil, 1 drop Eucalyptus oil.

Headaches: Equal parts of Lavender and Marjoram oils, used in an oil diffuser or gently rubbed into the temples.

Insect Bites: Apply a dab of Lavender oil or Tea Tree oil directly to the bite.

Motion Sickness: Chew crystallized Ginger.

Nosebleeds: Apply Witch Hazel extract directly to the nasal passages.

Rashes & Skin Irritations: Apply Tea Tree oil directly to all skin problems such as burns, scrapes, sunburn, acne, athletes foot, etc....

Sprains: Apply Witch Hazel, Comfrey, or Arnica to a piece of gauze or cheesecloth to make a compress.

Stomach Ailments: Nausea: Use 1 tablespoon freshly grated Ginger root per 1 cup water. Simmer, covered for 20 minutes.

Toothache: Apply Clove oil directly to the tooth.

Ginkgo Biloba: Ginkgo Biloba has been shown to be helpful in people with early Alzheimer's disease. If your forgetfulness is not age-related, it won't help. In other words, taking Ginkgo Biloba will not help you pass an exam. It will only be effective if your memory loss is due to blood flow. Side effects: Taking Ginkgo can thin blood, leading to stroke, internal bleeding, or excessive bleeding during surgery. Avoid Ginkgo Biloba if you are taking:Warfarin, Coumadin, aspirin or other blood thinners.

St. John's Wort: St. John's Wort can be helpful as a treatment for mild and moderate depression and common nerve pain. Avoid St. John's Wort if you are taking: Anti-depressants, Cyclosporine (organ transplants), Digoxin (heart conditions), Warfarin or Coumadin (blood thinner), Protease inhibitors or oral contraceptives.

Garlic: Garlic is great for lowering cholesterol and may decrease cancer risk. A lot of people use it in their food. However, it is a blood thinner, so if you're taking any anti-coagulants, such as Coumadin, you should avoid large quantities of garlic. Avoid garlic if you are taking: Warfarin, Coumadin, aspirin or blood thinners. [A note about garlic: When mentioning aspirin, we are talking about people who take aspirin daily to thin their blood, or to prevent heart attack. Those individuals should consult with their doctor's about the amount of garlic they consume to ensure they don't thin their blood to a dangerous level.]

Ginsing: Ginsing is a tonic herb used to increase energy. Side effects: If taken with cold tablets or caffeine and diet pills, Ginsing can cause hypertension and severe jitters. Avoid Ginsing if taking: Warfarin, Coumadin, or Phenelzine (Nardil).

It's important to remember that there may be other drugs, less commonly prescribed, that may adversely interact with herbs, so keep these guidelines in mind when you are considering herbal products.

How to make an Herbal Pillow: Use a rectangular piece of linen, sizing it so that an eye pillow will be about 5" x 7" and the dream pillow will be about 8" x 10". (You can cover the linen eye pillows with soothing fabrics) Sew up the 3 sides of your cloth, leaving 1 side open for stuffing. Fill with the herbs of your choice (add cotton for softness, and flaxseed for weight if you wish) and sew up the remaining side to close. You can also add decorations to your pillows, such as lace, ribbons, etc. The Dream Pillow can be placed under or into your regular sleep pillow. These pillows make wonderful gifts, just make sure the recipient does not have any plant or herb allergies.

Dream Pillow: Any combination of Poppies, Lavender, Rosemary, Apple, Pine, Mugwort, Cinnamon, Marigold flowers, Rose petals, Mint. (I've found that Mugwort will cause very interesting dreams).
Love Pillow: Any combination of Rose, Acacia, Carnation, Lilac, Myrtle, Patchouli, Periwinkle.
Good Luck Pillow: Cedar, Sage, Violet, Mint.
Friendship Pillow: Any combination of Ivy, Myrtle, Pansy, Zinnia, Iris, Cloves.
Relaxation Pillow: Any combination of Chamomile, Elder flowers, Peppermint, Lavender, Jasmine, Rose petals, Rosemary.
Sleep Pillow: If you have trouble sleeping, fill a small pillow with dried Hops, Lavender, and Lemon Balm. The aroma will lull you to sleep.

Colors: Be sure and consider color if you are making pillows for Magickal intent.
Oils: If you really feel the need to add essential oil.....use sparingly! The oils will cause staining and might overpower the herbs.

By Carly Wall, CA.. Reprinted w/permission: Llewellyn's 1999 Magical Almanac

Capsules: The most convenient way to use your herbal preparations.
Decoction: Simmering herbs for 20 mins. until 1/3 of the water has evaporated. Used to extract essences from barks and roots.
Extracts: Highly concentrated alcohol base in liquid form, derived from pure herbs.
Formentation: External application of herbs. A cloth is soaked in the warm tea-applied directly to the affected area.
Infusion: A teaspoon of herb is placed in a cup and 1 cup of hot water is added. It is then steeped 5 minutes, strained, then drunk.
Plaster: Wrap chopped or boiled herbs, or a paste made from them, in cheesecloth or muslin before applying to the affected area. This is good for herbs that might irritate the skin, such as mustard.
Poultice: A warm mass of powdered herb applied to the skin, then covered with a hot, moist towel until cool.
Salve: 3 oz. herb, 7 oz. vegetable shortening, and 1 oz. beeswax heated in a glass pot on low heat for 90 minutes. When cooled it will be firm & ready to use.
Steam Inhalants: Place a few tablespoons of dried herb in a bowl and pour boiling water over them. Drape a towel over your head and breathe in the steam. Caution: people with asthma or other breathing problems should not use this remedy.
Tisane: Put dry or fresh herbs in a jug. If you use fresh herbs double the amount, but the dry herbs will work best. Pour 1 cup boiling water over herbs into jug and let it sit for 15 - 20 minutes, occasionally stirring. Strain liquid into your cup and add honey to taste. This tea will keep in the refrigerator for 3 days.

A pot of basil herb grown in your kitchen keeps the area safe from negative spirits.
The best time to plant a herb garden is when the moon is in Cancer, Scorpio, Libra, or Pisces.
Rub a little Chamomile or St.John's Wort (in liquid form) on a baby's gums to ease the pain of teething.
Try this delicious recipe for combating diarrhea: Peel four apples and add the peels to one cup of water. Simmer the peels with 1 teaspoon of honey for 20 minutes or until sauce forms. Sprinkle with Cinnamon and serve. The natural pectin in the apples firms up the bowels.
To help with nasal congestion, add a few drops of the essential oil of Eucalyptus to a vaporizer and let it fill the room while you sleep.
Try calmative herbs, such as Valerian root, Kava root, and Passion Flower herb, for both immediate and extended help in calming frazzled nerves through stressful times.
Keep an Aloe Vera plant in the kitchen for minor burns.
Make your own antibacterial deodorizing spray: Add 1 ounce of Thyme tincture to 2 ounces of water and shake well. Then add 30 drops of essential oils (Rosemary, Lemon, Lavender or a blend) and shake again. Pour the mixture in a small spray bottle (makes 3 oz.).
Never boil herbal preparations in aluminum pots.

Bath for colds: 2 drops Thyme oil, 2 drops Tea-Tree oil, 4 drops Lemon Oil, 1 drop Eucalyptus oil. Swish round in the bath water before getting in. Don't use if you're nauseous or running a high fever.
Herbal Bath to Soothe Insect Bites: some or all of Rosemary, Orange peel, Chamomile, Alfalfa, Comfrey, Eucalyptus, Mint, Lemon Balm, Parsley.
Herbal Bath for Aching Joints: Use a large handful each of Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Sage and Comfrey Root. Simmer for 15 minutes in a liter of water, strain and add the liquid to a warm bath. Soak yourself for half an hour.
Bath Bags:
1 5 x 5 inch square of cheesecloth, 1 rubber band or string, 1 ribbon long enough to hang the bag from the tap.
Place the herbs in the center of the square of cheesecloth. Gather up the corners and secure the pouch with the rubber band or string. Tie the ribbon around the top, creating a loop. Hang by the loop from the tap, allowing the water to run through the pouch. When the tub is full, lengthen the loop and immerse the pouch in the bath water. Reuse the pouch by drying after use, and replacing the herbs as they lose their aroma.

Or...Place herbs in a 10 x 10 doubled cheesecloth and secure with string. Boil for 15 minutes, then pour the water along with the bag into the bath.

Relaxing Baths:

1 tablespoon dried Chamomile
1 tablespoon Lavender leaves
1 tablespoon Rosemary
1 tablespoon Mint, Thyme, Sage, or Basil.

1/2 cup Chamomile
1/2 cup Rosemary
1 cup Lavender Flowers
1/3 cup Lemon Balm

1/2 cup Chamomile
1 cup Rose Petals
1 1/2 cup Verbena

Aloe Vera Gel - Keep this burn-reliever on hand in either plant form or in a bottle of the pure gel, which is available in natural food stores. If you use the bottled gel, replace after one year.

Arnica - rubbing a topical treatment of arnica on bruises and sprains will promote faster healing and reduce pain; Also stock up on the tiny arnica pellets used in homeopathy for the same purpose.

Calendula - This anti-inflammatory and immune activating herb treats scrapes, scratches, and minor cuts and burns. Look for it in a spray or salve formula that adds the soothing qualities of olive oil, aloe or Vitamin E.

Charcoal Powder - In cases of diarrhea, you'll use this to carry toxins out of the digestive system and relieve gas and bloating.

Echinacea - Take a few drops of this infection preventive in tincture form at the fist sign of cold, sore throat or flu. Avoid it, however, if you have sunflower allergies.

Garlic Capsules - Used as vaginal suppositories, garlic capsules can help fight off yeast infections. The juice of this natural antibiotic helps treat minor skin irritations.

Ginger - Use ginger teas or capsules to prevent nausea or motion sickness.

Lavender - The essential oil of this aromatic plant promotes burn healing. When massaged into the affected area, it reduces the flow of nerve impulses, which helps soothe the area and lessen the pain.

Nettles - Use capsules of freeze-dried extract of stinging nettle instead of antihistamines to alleviate minor hay fever symptoms.

Peppermint - A natural stimulant, peppermint tea quells indigestion and relieves menstrual cramps. Used in capsule form, it can also help combat irritable bowel syndrome.

Rescue Remedy - Reach for this Bach Flower Remedy in cases of shock, panic or stress.

Tea Tree Oil - This disinfectant for cuts and scratches can also be used as a mosquito repellent. It comes in handy in cases of athlete's foot and other fungal infections, too.

Witch Hazel - this liquid comes from steeping branches of the witch hazel tree in water, then mixing the results with alcohol. Use it as an astringent for cuts and bruises, or to relieve sore muscles.

Skye's Realm 1999-2007

Updated 10/7/2002