Speedy Spellcasting: Prosperity Herbs

As a kitchen witch and gardening enthusiast, I am always seeking to learn more about the power of herbs, plants, roots, and flowers that can be used in the craft. Grow your wealth, literally, with these handy money-attraction herbs.

Allspice berries bring good luck; gather seven berries and place them in a small pouch to carry in your pocket or purse for a week. On the seventh day, burn them with cinnamon incense while making your wish for whatever you want.

Basil is a major herb of abundance as well as love. Drop a few fresh basil leaves on the floor of your kitchen and sweep them out of your home with your magical broom while speaking this charm: “Scarcity is out the door; no longer will I be poor. Health and wealth, be here now. Harm to none, so mote it be.”

Cinnamon has come to be called the “Sweet Money Spice” as this delightfully scented herb brings luck and will make a business more prosperous. Sprinkle a dash of powdered cinnamon on the threshold of your front door, store, or business, and watch the wealth walk in!

Cloves are herbs of good fortune and even help in gambling. They also bring people together and bind them. If you need to turn your luck around, use cloves in spell work as an herbal element or in incense or potpourri to foment abundant energy. 

Ginger root can speed up any magic. You can grind up the dried ginger root into powder and add to your money attraction spells, bringing the funds much sooner. Ginger tea brings money your way, briskly!

Nutmeg is another spice beloved by gamesmen and gamblers. Carry a whole nutmeg in your pocket and your luck will improve the same day.

Thyme is a common herb that will attract money to your home. Every time you cook with it you draw abundance and wealth toward you. Drink thyme tea for a quick fortune turnaround and fast money magic with this spell: “It is time for money to come my way; good luck is mine. Money thyme is mine with blessings for all.”

Kitchen Witchery Cures: Remedy Recipes

Many remedies can be made from what you have in the kitchen, from spices as well as herbs and plants. Here are a few simple tried-and-tested recipes handed down through generations of wise women:

    * Nutmeg Milk: Grated nutmeg soothes heartburn, nausea, and upset tummies. Use a grater to grate a         small amount (about 1⁄8 teaspoon) to 1 mug of warmed milk (cow, soy, rice, or oat milk). It is                     comforting and curing.

    * Cayenne Infusion: Use this pepper as a remedy for colds, coughs, sore throats, heartburn,                         hemorrhoids, and varicose veins, or as a digestive stimulant and to improve circulation. Make an                 infusion by adding 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne powder to 1 cup (240ml) boiled water. Add 2 cups (480ml) of      hot water to make a more pleasant and palatable infusion. Add lemon and honey to taste.

    * Catnip by the Cup: This herb is not just for kitties! We humans can also benefit from it as a remedy         for upset tummies as well as a way to diminish worry, anxiety, and nervous tension. Take a palmful of         dried catnip leaves and steep in a cup (240ml) of boiling water for 5 minutes. Strain as you would any     loose tea. Honey helps even more and a cup or two of catnip tea per day will have you in fine fettle,             relaxed and ready.

    * Cranberry Cure: How many times did your mom tell you to drink your cranberry juice? Turns out she     was right to insist. Unsweetened cranberry juice is very good for bladder health and also benefits men         as it’s great for prostate health, too. Two half cups (two lots of 120ml) a day, mom’s orders!

    

    * Echinacea Root: Every herb store or organic grocer will have dried echinacea root for fighting colds         and negating respiratory infections. It is an amazing immune booster! Just mince a teaspoonful and             steep in a cup (240ml) of boiling water. Sweeten to taste and drink at least a couple of cups a day.

Healing Secrets of the Ancients

Oxymel is a very old-fashioned tonic that dates back to ancient times but has fallen out of fashion. It remains a favorite used by herbal healers and it is made of two seemingly opposing ingredients—honey and vinegar. Herbs can be added to great effect, and when you see honey menthol cough drops on the pharmacy shelf, note their origin in traditions that began over two thousand years ago. Oxymels are supremely effective for respiratory issues. The recipe is simplicity itself: equal parts honey and vinegar poured over herbs in a canning jar. Store in a dark cupboard and give the sealed jar a good shake every day. After two weeks, strain out the herbs with cheesecloth and store your oxymel in the fridge.

Recommended oxymel herbs: oregano, elder flower, sage, balm, mint, lemon peel, thyme, lavender, rose petals, hyssop, and fennel.

DIY Detoxing

Herbal Decoctions

To make a tea from the root, bark, or stems of plants, you will need to make a decoction; add approximately two tablespoons of the herb to one cup of water and gently simmer covered on a very low flame for half an hour.

Dandy Sassafras Ginger Detox

When I was little and living on the family farm, I accompanied my dad to the woods looking for sassafras roots to make tea. I loved the taste; it was delightful and gave me more energy. After apprenticing with my part-Cherokee dad for a few years, he allowed me to go out alone to gather the source of my dearly beloved beverage. Years later, I discovered sassafras was highly prized by Native Americans who used it for medicine and were extremely knowledgeable about combining herbs to amplify their power.

“This morning medicinal is inspired by a shamanic Native healing recipe using sassafras, dandelion root, and wild ginger root. For a wonderfully medicinal decoction, take a half cup of each and boil them in spring water. After simmering for twelve minutes, stir in honey and enjoy. It is pleasantly surprising how good the detox tastes and even more amazing how the herbs combine to eliminate toxins from the body, chiefly the kidney and liver. During the holidays or at pagan feast times, we all may tend to imbibe and enjoy rich foods, good wine, and sugary desserts. This purifying herbal blend will cleanse the organs that cleanse your body, thus aiding wellness. This detox should be used seasonally and is not intended for daily use due to its great power.

Decoctions 101

Infusion as a method doesn’t work well with roots, barks, and herbs with tough stems and seeds. Decocting is bringing the pot nearly to a boil and then reducing by simmering slowly to produce the most concentrated liquid, which is excellent in medicines. Use a well-cleaned coffee grinder for roots and small pieces of bark and stems to make quick work of these. I recommend the decoction method for the roots of willow, sarsaparilla, wild cherry, yohimbe, yucca, licorice, parsley, dandelion, angelica, and cohosh.

Longevity Elixir: Homemade Pear Potion

Pears have long been prized in Asia as a lucky fruit that also nourishes a long and prosperous life. The great magical teacher Scott Cunningham advocated for their use in love spells. This pear liqueur is a special brew indeed. You will need this to make it:

• 3 large ripe pears
• 2 pods of cardamom
• Lemon peel of half a lemon
• Vodka, 1 quart
• 1 clean and sterilized 1-quart Mason jar with lid (preferably dark-colored glass)

Start by crushing the cardamom pods, then set aside. Peel the pears and cut into thin slices. Gently place the pear slices into the jar. Put the crushed cardamom and lemon peel on top of the pears. Cover all with the vodka. Close the jar and tighten the lid, then gently shake twice. Store the jar full of pears in a dark, cool cupboard for ten days. After the ten days, remove the jar from the cupboard. Pour the contents of the jar into a mixing bowl and mash thoroughly using the back of a fork. Strain the mixture into another bowl, using a colander that has been lined with a coffee filter or cheesecloth. Repeat this process twice, then pour the pear liqueur into the Mason jar. (The strained-out pear slices can be consumed or used in cookery, but remember that they may be quite potent!) If you are feeling fancy, you can store your pear liqueur in a pretty bottle. Live long and prosper!

Fruitful Magic

While we often think of herbs and flowers as having special properties, it is much less commonly known that fruits also contain much magic you must try for yourself:

Apple

This beloved “one a day” fruit is associated with the goddess Pomona and contains the powers of healing, love and abundance. Samhain, the highest holiday of the Wheel of the Year, is also called the “Feast of Apples,” and they are used on the Halloween altar during this festival. Cutting an apple in half and sharing the other half with your beloved is a traditional way to make a wish that the two of you will stay happy together for as long as apple trees grow.

Apricot

This juicy treasure is associated with Venus and the power of love, and it is believed that drinking the nectar will make you more appealing romantically. The juice of the apricot is used in rituals and love potions. Truly a food of the goddess!

Avocado

The lusciousness of the avocado fruit is not just delicious, it also brings forth beauty and lustfulness.

Banana

A bunch of bananas packs a magical punch with powers of abundance and fertility for both men and women. Anyone who gets married beneath a banana tree bower will have a lucky marriage. One caveat: never cut a banana open, only break it apart. Otherwise, you’ll bring bad luck to your household.

Blackberry

Blackberries are the medicine that pops up anywhere, offering a delightful snack and serious healing, love, and abundance. Both the vine and the berries can be used for money-bringing spells. Thorny blackberry vines are wonderful as protective wreaths for your home, and the plant’s vine and berry can be used for prosperity and money spells. 

Blueberry

These berries are almost like an evil eye charm made of fruit, since they offer great protection. You can tuck a few of them under the mat at the threshold of your front door to ward off bad energy and evil if you feel someone is attempting to do you harm with hexes or sending bad energy your way,

Cherry

Beloved for their bright red color and taste, cherries are associated with romance as well as powers of divination. Useful in love spells, the Japanese believe tying a strand of hair from your head onto the blossom of a cherry tree will bring a lover to you.

Figs

Figs hold a place in our culture from the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Unsurprisingly, they are associated with sexuality and fecundity. If eaten ripe off the tree, this fruit will aid in conception and helps men with issues of impotence. A fig tree, if grown outside the bedroom, will bring deeply restful sleep and prophetic dreams. Outside your kitchen, a fig tree will ensure there will always be plenty of food for your family. Anywhere a fig tree grows it will bring luck and safety. A folk charm claims that gifting someone a fig grown by your own hand binds them to you. Wield your figs wisely.

Grapes

Planting grapevines grants abilities for money magic as well as with gardening and farming: the ancient Romans painted pictures of grapes on the garden walls to ensure good harvest and fertility for women. For mental focus, eat some grapes; magical spell workings for money are abetted greatly by placing a bowl of grapes on the altar.

Lemon

This beloved member of the citrus family confers the rare power of longevity as well as those of faithful friendship, purification, love, and luck. The juice from a lemon mixed with water can be used to consecrate magical tools and items during the full moon. Dried lemon flowers and peel can also be used in love potions and sachets. Bake a lemon pie for the object of your desire, and he or she will remain faithful to you for all time. Imbibing lemon leaf tea stirs lust.

Orange

In keeping with the joyful color of this fruit, oranges are a fruit of happiness in love and marriage. Dried blossoms added to a hot bath make you more beautiful. A spritz of orange juice will add to the potency of any love potion, especially if freshly squeezed. Orange sachets, pomanders, and other gifts with this fruit offer the recipient utter felicity; thus, it is an ideal gift for newlyweds.

Peach

It might seem obvious, but eating peaches encourages love. They also enhance wisdom. An amulet made with the pit can ward off evil. A fallen branch from a peach tree can make an excellent magic wand, while a piece of the tree’s wood carried in your pocket is an excellent talisman for a long life.

Pear

It is believed this uniquely shaped fruit brings prosperity and a long life. Somewhat similarly to peaches, the pear correlates with powers of lust and love. By sharing them with a partner, pears can be used to induce sexual arousal; pears cooked in wine or with a little rum or brandy make for an irresistible dessert with a little whipped cream. Pear wood is also very good for magical wands.

Pineapple

While renowned as the symbol of hospitality, pineapple represents neighborliness, abundance, and chastity. Dried pineapple in a sachet added to bath water will bring great luck. The juice hinders lust when drunken, and its dried peel is great in money spells and mixtures.

Raspberry

This sweet berry has tremendous powers for true love and safety in your home. Hang the vines at all of a house’s doors when a person in the house has died so that the spirit won’t enter the home again. The leaves are carried by pregnant woman to help with the pains of childbirth and pregnancy itself. Raspberries often served to induce love. Strawberry leaves also help with childbirth and the leaves are also carried for luck.

Tomato

Reminder that like the “alligator pear” or avocado, the tomato is a fruit! An easy money spell is to place a fresh-off-the-vine tomato on the mantle every few days to bring prosperity. Eating tomatoes “inspires love. They are excellent to plant in your garden as an aid to ward off pests of all kinds!

Blackberry Malt Vinegar Syrup

Blackberries are one of life’s sweetest gifts, growing abundantly in the bramble along the rambling path. An extremely effective medicinal tonic can be made by soaking a quart of berries in a quart of malt vinegar for three days. Drain and strain the liquid into a pan. Simmer and stir in sugar, one pound to every two cups of tonic. Boil gently for five minutes and skim off any foam. Cool and pour into a sealable jar. This potion is so powerful, you can add a teaspoon into a cup of water and cure tummy aches, cramps, fevers, coughs, and colds. Best of all, blackberry vinegar is both a medicine and a highly prized dessert topping in the UK. Pour some over your apple pie and cream, and you will soon scurry off to pick blackberries all summer.

Auntie’s Apple Brandy Spirits

Here is a delightfully easy recipe that will produce a flavorful homemade liqueur that smells as good as it tastes. If you are interested in making a hassle-free bottle of spirits, apples are a wonderful way to start. Start with these ingredients:

• 4 apples (sweet ones, not sour)
• 2 cups brandy
• 2 cups vodka
• 1 quart clean and sterilized Mason jar

First, clean, core, and slice your apples. Place the slices in a Mason canning jar. Pour in the alcohol to cover, using equal parts brandy and vodka. Put the jar in a cool dark place in your pantry. Allow the infusion process to alchemize for a month or until it is to your taste. The combination of sweet apples and brandy gives a luscious fruit-forward flavor, with no need for sugar. After infusing, strain the apple slices out using a strainer to filter the liqueur. Pour the spirits into a pretty and sealable bottle and enjoy at your next pagan party.

Bonus tip: apples can really be used with any spirit so let your imagination run wild!

Summer Sweet Blackberry Jam

Below is a tried-and-true recipe for a simple berry jam. Our family favorite is blackberries as the color of the jam is nearly as delicious as its taste when spread on warm toast. You’ll need the following:

• 2 cups blackberries (or try raspberries or strawberries)
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 slice of lemon rind
• Apple slice
• Canning jars and tongs

Crush the berries with a potato masher, softly, not too hard. Place all the ingredients in a stockpot and boil over high heat for five minutes, stirring the mixture to prevent it from sticking or burning. Reduce the heat to medium-high and continue to boil and stir. Remove any foam with a large spoon. After a half hour, the jam will begin to thicken up. If your jam is setting slowly, you can add more lemon juice or a slice of apple. Pectin, which is regularly used thicken jams and jellies, is made from apples. Thus, a slice of apple will serve the same purpose.

When the jam is ready, pour it into sterilized jars. The jars should be warm when the jam is added, so keep the sterilized articles in the oven, dishwasher, or canning water bath until you need them; ditto the lids and rings. Make sure to leave a generous half-inch gap between the jam and the top of the jar—this is known as headspace in the world of jam. Place the lids on the jars and screw them on firmly.

Place the sealed jars into the water bath and cover with at least an inch of water. Boil for ten minutes. Using jar tongs, carefully lift the jars out of the water bath and let them cool at room temperature. You will hear the lids seal when they make a popping noise as the domed lid is sucked down. Processed jam will last at east a year and makes a lovely gift. For small batches, you can make your jam and store it in the fridge as soon as it has cooled off. Berries contain protection magic as well as that of abundance. Folklore says vampires are afraid of blackberry vines.

Liquid Love: Spicy Cinnamon Liqueur

This popular beverage gives peppy energy and can also be a love potion. These few ingredients can lead to a lifetime of love and devotion:

1 cup vodka

2 whole cloves

1 teaspoon ground coriander seed

1 cinnamon stick

1 cup simple sugar syrup

Pour the vodka into a bowl and add in the herbs; cover and place in a cupboard for two weeks. Strain and filter until the result is clear liquid. Clean the canning jar and dry it thoroughly, then put the clear liquid back in. Add the simple syrup and place back on the shelf for a week. Store this in a dark-colored bottle that seals; you now have liquid love! You can drink it “neat” on its own or add this to hot chocolate, water, tea, or milk for a delightful drink to share with your loved one.

Lavandula Tranquility Tincture

This cure-all should be kept on hand at all times for soothing the skin, the stomach, and anything in need of comfort. I have even seen it used to stanch bleeding in small cuts. You need:

• dried lavender
• dried calendula
• clear quart jar with lid
• cheesecloth
• dark glass jar for storage
• 2 cups distilled water
• 1 cup clear alcohol such as vodka or Everclear

Fill your clear quart jar to the halfway point with the dried lavender and calendula. Pour in the alcohol, also to the halfway point. Add in the two cups of water, seal the lid securely, and shake for a few minutes until it seems well mixed. Store in a dark cupboard for one month, shaking once a day. After thirty days, strain through cheesecloth into the dark glass storage jar and screw the lid on tightly. The lavender leavings will make lovely compost, and the liquid tincture will soon prove itself indispensable in your household.

Luxuriating in Lavender

Lavender is hard not to grow; once your seedlings and young plants have been established, they will bush out and produce loads of scented stalks, flowers, and seeds. This bounty will become your source for teas, tinctures, bath salts, and infusions. For tea, the rule of thumb is one teaspoon dried lavender flowers to one cup boiling water to aid tummy trouble, headache, aches, and insomnia and even help calm the mind. You can easily amp up the therapeutic power of your brew by adding any of these excellent herbs: dried yarrow, St. John’s Wort, or chamomile.

Here is a simple and streamlined way to infuse lavender:

Pour a heaping tablespoon of lavender blossoms into a bowl of hot water, then drape a towel over your head and breathe in the aromatic fumes to deal with respiratory issues, coughs, colds, headaches, stuffy sinuses, and nervous tension. You will come away feeling renewed, and your kitchen will smell like the heavens above. Afterwards, you can use the water in your morning bath, to wash your face or hands, or to freshen your sink garbage disposal; grinding up the flowers refreshes that hardworking kitchen appliance.

Bee Healthy with Miracle Salve

Thyme in the garden attracts bees, and honey made by these “thymely bees” is highly sought after. If you can come by this rarity, get as much as you can as it is redolent with Mother Nature’s love and enchantment. The ancient Greeks prized thyme honey very highly not only as a delicacy at the table but as a miracle salve to heal everything: the stomach, aches and pains, and even wounds. Hippocrates swore by it!

Old Thyme Tincture: Medicinal Herbal Vinegar

Every kitchen garden should be strewn with thyme plantings, fragrantly growing amongst the flagstones in the path as well as in the rows of herbs, filling the air with their magnificent scent and elegant beauty. You will need to keep a plentitude growing and several bunches drying in a dark corner of your panty at all times, as this plant makes a mighty fine tincture with many medicinal uses. I also suggest you start gathering together some supplies: clean muslin or cheesecloth, several colored glass bottles, and an assortment of canning jars with lids for storing your handiwork. For this tincture, take one of the larger jars and the following ingredients:

• 1¼ cup dried thyme leaves
• 2 cups apple cider vinegar

Put the dried thyme in the jar and carefully pour the vinegar inside. Stir well and seal. Place on a dark shelf and make sure to shake it every day. At the end of the one month, strain through muslin. Compost the thyme residue in your garden and store the tincture in a pretty glass jar.

Having this herbal helper around will come in handy for mouthwashes, hair rinses, and ritual baths, and you can even rub it on achy joints and sore muscles. For a cup of thyme tea, add one teaspoon of the tincture to a cup of hot water, then add a teaspoon of honey, stir, and enjoy.

Make Your Own Herbal Vinegar

If you love everything about lavender, you may well want to create your own lavender vinegar. Many herbs make excellent vinegars, so pay attention to which ones especially appeal to you as you go about your gardening. The more herbs you pack into the jar, the higher the mineral content in your vinegar, which makes it more flavorful and healthful. Once you have your own apple cider vinegar or a premade organic variety you and your family love, pick an herb you know works for you and pack a quart canning jar as full of that herb as you can. Pour room temperature apple cider vinegar to cover, then cover it with paper and rubber bands and pop on a dark corner shelf for six weeks, giving the jar a shake once a week. At the end of the infusion period, strain out any remaining compostable twigs or stems. Store your herb vinegar in a colored bottle and add a pretty label. These make wonderful gifts, so I recommend you either create or acquire a set of labels for all your herbal brews.

Your Apple a Day: Simple Apple Cider Vinegar

This easy-peasy recipe will result in one of the most useful items in your pantry, one which can be used not only in your cookery and as a daily health drink, but as a household cleanser, skin and facial toner, hair rinse, and dozens of other excellent uses. Hippocrates, the founding father of medicine in ancient Greece, taught that he depended on two medicinal tonics, honey and vinegar. Apple cider vinegar lowers cholesterol and blood pressure and helps strengthen bones. Best of all, this preparation costs mere pennies to make as you are using only the cores and peels from the apples. Bake a couple of pies while you brew up a tonic to boost health. When you add herbs to vinegar, you are enhancing their healing power synergistically for the best of both worlds. All you need is:

• cores and peels of 8 organic apples
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1 quart of water

Cut up the apple cores and peels into smaller pieces and spoon them into a wide-mouthed canning jar. Pour in enough water to cover the fruit, then spoon in the honey and stir well. Cover the jar with either a clean paper towel or waxed paper and place a rubber band tightly around the neck of the jar. Place on a dark shelf in your cupboard or work area and leave it for two weeks. After a fortnight, strain the liquid and remove and discard the compostable solids that remain. then return the liquid to the jar and secure the cover with the rubber band again. Put it back on the shelf. making sure to stir it daily. After one month, taste a spoonful; if the acidity and flavor is to your taste, transfer it to a dark bottle with a sealable top. Vinegar from the fermented apples will corrode metal lids, so a pretty bottle with a cork is the best option.

Grapefruit Seed Extract

Grapefruit seed extract is a powerful substance. It is a powerful general immune tonic that can help a wide spectrum of conditions ranging from healing cuts to respiratory viral illnesses. It is very strong and should never be taken undiluted nor used neat in a topical application. I use it when afflicted with a stomach bug with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. Take five to ten drops in eight ounces of juice or tea, which will help disguise its strong bitter taste; grapefruit or other citrus juices disguise its bitterness particularly effectively. For a child, give three to five drops in five ounces of juice or tea. These doses should be taken morning and evening and will clear up a stomach bug pretty quickly. After taking grapefruit seed extract, also take some acidophilus, either in natural yogurt or in the form of a tablet. This will restore your “friendly” intestinal flora to a healthy, balanced state. Grapefruit seed extract is also recommended as a gingivitis treatment: add three drops to five ounces of water and use as a mouthwash—rinse and spit, but try not to swallow!

For an effective dandruff cure, add five drops of grapefruit seed extract to your usual dollop of hair shampoo and massage it into the scalp.

For a wart or cyst, apply a drop of grapefruit seed extract daily directly to the affected spot and cover with a bandage.

Garlic Is Good for Everything

Garlic is well-known for its ability to protect against infection and should be used regularly (to taste!) in your cooking. It is also known to reduce cholesterol levels and can be helpful in lowering blood pressure. Rich in vitamins A, B, and C, garlic is an excellent source of minerals: selenium, iodine, potassium, iron, calcium, zinc, and magnesium. The active component in garlic is allicin, a sulfur compound produced when garlic is chopped, chewed, or bruised. It is powerful as an antibiotic and helps the body inhibit the ability of germs to grow and reproduce. When preparing garlic, cut or crush the cloves, then let the garlic rest for ten minutes before cooking or eating to allow the allicin to develop. Garlic is cited as therapeutic for the treatment of many health conditions, such as both high and low blood pressure, heart problems, and asthma, as well as being acknowledged as an anti-cancer agent and a preventative for colds and other infections.

Although garlic pills are available, raw garlic is just as effective and considerably cheaper. For a simple garlic tonic to guard against colds or just to boost your general health, crush a couple of cloves and add a tablespoon of olive oil. Taking a spoonful of garlic in olive oil works well if you don’t like the taste or are fearful of unappealingly garlicky breath.

At the onset of an earache, take a peeled clove, wrap it in a little fabric such as cheesecloth, and stick it in your sore ear, taking care not to insert it too deeply. Leave it there overnight, and you will feel some relief by the morning.

Tea-lepathy

The humble dandelion, abhorred by lawn keepers everywhere, hides its might very well. Dandelion root tea can call upon the spirit of anyone whose advice you might need. Simply place a freshly brewed simple using this herbal root on your bedroom altar or nightstand. Before you sleep, say the name of your spirit helper aloud seven times. In a dream or vision, the spirit will visit you and answer all your questions. During medieval times, this spell was used to find hidden treasure. Chaucer, who was well-versed in astrology and other metaphysics, advised this tried-and-true tea.

Two Simples Every Woman Should Know

Red raspberry leaf and chasteberry are each simples that are invaluable for women’s health and healing. Raspberry leaf taken as an infusion can prevent menstrual cramps for most women. Take a teaspoon to a small handful (depending on severity of cramps experienced) and steep covered in freshly boiled water for ten minutes. Head those cramps off at the pass by drinking one cup per day for a week before you expect your cycle to begin. (For severe cramps, take this herb every day of the month!) This herb actually has a pleasant flavor and can be used to make caffeine-free ice tea or sweet tea (but if you are having cramps on the day you plan to drink it, its healing effect will work better if you drink it warm). Raspberry leaf combines well both in taste and effect with many other common simples, such as chamomile or mint, so you can experiment with flavor combinations…or even invent your own custom moon time tea!

Why does raspberry leaf have this wonderful effect? An aromatherapist of my acquaintance tells me that in pharmacological research, this plant has been shown to improve the tone and condition of the uterus! Which is why it is also the number one simple an expectant mother ought to include in her regimen. At least one strong cup daily is recommended to support your body in the process of creation during every month of pregnancy.

Chasteberry (also known as “Vitex” from its scientific name, Vitex agnus castus), is the number one simple for the power surges known as hot flashes frequently experienced by ladies in their middle years. The part used is the berries; simmer a couple of teaspoons low in a cup or two of water after bringing the water to a boil, making sure to cover the pot so as not to lose the medicinal volatile essence. This herb tastes medicinal but not terrible and can be combined with any mild herbal tea for flavor. If you prefer convenience, either chasteberry or raspberry leaf can be purchased in capsules, though it is a bit more costly to take them that way.

Always choose organic medicinal herbs when you can find (and afford) them, not only to be kind to Mother Earth but because their healing effects are stronger.