A Practical Guide To Herbology
A Practical Guide to Herbology
Lesson Three: Soothing Salves
Salves are a simple yet effective way of applying the medicinal qualities of herbs. They’re the consistency of a cream at room temperature and portable for on-the-go topical application. By combining various herbal-infused oils, an individual can address a variety of ailments, from arthritis to asthma. Each salve can be customized to the individual to treat a specific illness or can be general all-heal tool in your first aid kit.
Base Ingredients
Herbal-infused Oils
To craft a salve, you must start with herbal-infused oils as your primary base. For this, there are two components: your choice of herb(s) and your choice of carrier oil(s). Some commonly used carrier oils are olive, grapeseed, almond and safflower.
At the end of this post, there will be an overview of common herbs and carrier oils so that you can make an educated decision when crafting your herbal-infused oils.
Here are two basic methods of infusion:
Solar Method (Folk Method)
Take a sterilized jar and fill ⅓ to ½ of it with your choice of dried herbs.
Cover with your carrier oil. Add around 500 IUs of vitamin E oil for every 8 oz. of carrier oil to prolong shelf life.
Cap the jar tightly and place in a sunny space - either outdoors or indoors. Shake it daily.
Allow the mixture to infuse for 2 to 3 weeks, or until the oil takes on the colour or aroma of the herb within.
Once the oil is ready, strain using a cheesecloth and bottle into a tinted sterilized jar. Store in a cool, dark place.
Slow Cooker or Stove top (Fast Method)
Place your choice of dried herbs in your slow cooker or pot and cover with your carrier oil. Add around 500 IUs of vitamin E oil for every 8 oz. of carrier oil to prolong shelf life.
Gently heat the herbs on very low heat (100 - 140 degrees Fahrenheit) for 1 - 5 hours until the oil takes on the colour and scent of the herb. You can cook it for longer at 100 F if you would like.
Turn off heat and allow to cool. Once the oil is ready, strain using a cheesecloth and bottle into a tinted sterilized jar. Store in a cool, dark place.
Do not use fresh herbs when crafting herbal-infused oils. They contain moisture and promote the growth of mold, especially if infused via solar method.
Wax
Waxes are frequently used in making cosmetics, body care products and salves: they help to bind and emulsify ointments and lotions. They also function as a natural hydrating ingredient and alleviate itching for those with sensitive skin.
The most commonly-used wax for crafting salves is beeswax; however, vegans and those with allergies can utilize carnauba wax which is sourced from the leaves of a Brazilian palm tree.
Method
Once the herbal-infused oils are prepared, the process of making a salve only takes a few minutes. Here are the steps involved in the process:
On low to medium heat, warm the herbal-infused oil(s) in the top of a double boiler or in a small saucepan.
Add the wax. Once the wax has melted, remove from heat.
If any, stir in any additional ingredients of your choice, such as essential oils.
Pour into your designated container(s).
Recipes
Soothing lip salve
3 tbsp beeswax
3 tbsp aloe vera gel
2 tbsp oil of choice
8 drops essential oil of choice (optional)
Salve for minor scrapes, bites and burns
1 ½ cups comfrey-infused oil
1 ½ tbsp coconut oil
¼ cup (55g) beeswax
Healing salve
1 quart (1 litre) of oil infused with equal parts St. John’s wort, comfrey, peppermint and lavender
¼ cup (55g) beeswax
Salve for backaches
1 cup ginger- and peppermint-infused oil
2 tbsp (22g) beeswax
First aid salve
1 cup St. John’s wort-infused oil
2 tbsp (22g) beeswax
Salve for rheumatoid arthritis
1 cup ginger- and licorice root-infused oil
2 tbsp (22g) beeswax
Common Carrier Oils
Almond oil, sweet: A fantastic carrier oil that contains fatty acids and vitamins A and E. It’s an effective emollient for moisturizing both skin and hair and is easily absorbed by skin.
Argan oil: This is a staple in moisturizing skin and hair care products. Argan oil contains tocopherols, phenols, carotenes, squaline and fatty acids - it’s a truly luxurious oil.
Evening primrose oil: Prized for its health and cosmetic benefits.
Grapeseed oil: A common base for many creams and lotions - it’s the go-to carrier oil since it’s especially useful for skin types that do not absorb oils well and does not leave a greasy feeling.
Olive oil: The most commonly-used oil in cosmetics and hair care.
Safflower oil: A highly-moisturizing oil that soothes troubled skin.
Common Herbs for Health and Wellness
Aloe Vera: Excellent for treating burns, cuts and scrapes.
Arnica Montana: These flowers offer strong anti-inflammatory properties. (Do not use in open or bleeding wounds. Long-term use can cause skin irritation.)
Black Cohosh: Offers anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving benefits. (Do not use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Can cause gastric discomfort in some individuals.)
Blue Vervain: Relaxes the nervous system and offers reliable pain relief for rheumatism, joint pain and neuralgia. (Do not use during pregnancy.)
Chamomile: Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic. (Do not use if on blood thinners or if allergic to ragweed.)
Chickweed: Wonderful for making soothing poultices to treat rashes, skin irritations, minor burns and itching.
Comfrey: Alleviates pain and inflammation; works well on cuts, scrapes, insect bites, burns and rashes. (Do not use on children.)
Echinacea: Antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral. (Do not use if you have tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, autoimmune diseases, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or if you are allergic to ragweed.)
Ginkgo Biloba: Natural antihistamine, anti-inflammatory and great for treating allergies and asthma. (Do not use if you take monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), or blood thinners.)
Goldenseal: Antiviral, antibacterial and excellent for dealing with minor cuts and wounds, sinus infections, respiratory congestion, sore throats and more! (Do not use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or if you have high blood pressure.)
Mullein: Great for first-aid treatment of minor wounds, burns and insect bites.
Plantain: Antimicrobial, antihistamine and anti-inflammatory; great for treating wounds, insect bites and minor aches and pains.
Sage: An excellent remedy for colds and fevers, hot flashes, painful or heavy periods, rashes and sore throats.
St. John’s wort: A strong antiviral; treats arthritis, fibromyalgia, muscle aches and sciatica. (Do not use if you take monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI).)
Witch Hazel: An effective remedy for acne, cuts and scrapes, insect bites, minor burns and sunburns.
–
Images are under the Creative Commons License.
Information published is from my personal grimoire and has been accumulated over the years through a variety of books and resources while residing in Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Cuba and Canada.
For more information regarding salves and recipes, feel free to visit Hello Glow, Wellness Mama, The Herbal Academy and Monterey Bay Spice Company.
More Posts from Witchshkt and Others
Lunar Phases 🌜🌛
New moon:
new beginnings
new endeavors
new relationships
positive changes
hope and faith
planting seeds
optimism
Waxing moon:
growth
learning
accomplishments
creativity
healing
positive transformation
Full moon:
wish fulfillment
spell casting
harvest
protection
achievement
perfect ideas
Waning moon:
letting go
cleansing
breaking habits
release
opening up
making space
Gentle Witchcraft
Just a collection of witchy things that give off a gentle, loving energy without being focused on self love or romantic love specifically <3
It’s the little things:
Gentle little witch things to do
Witchy blessings
I AM… spells
Witch’s morning routine
Glamours:
Glow like the moon
Shine like the sun
To radiate a loving aura
Spells:
To attract kindness
Soft shores bath spell
Quartz wellness bath
Here comes the sun
My love soothes you pet spell
Dandelion wish spell
Restful sleep and sweet dreams
Rose water spells
Room healing spell
Ease the pain
Tarot spreads:
Good morning!
Reduce anxiety
The new you
Let go and grow
Sigils:
Shimmer and shine
Radical softness
To promote peaceful feelings
Inner peace
I will make it through this
I am comfortable in my own skin
🌱 • Herb Magick 101 • 🌱
Herb Magick is one of the oldest types of magick on Earth. It can be traced back to the early history of almost every ancient culture, and much evidence exists suggesting that herbal magick even existed in prehistory.
Put simply, herbal magick is the practice of utilizing the spiritual energy of non-living plant matter. It should not be confused with plant magick - which is utilizing the energy of living plants - or with herbalism - which is utilizing herbs for medicinal healing.
Every species of plant contains a unique type of energy, and using specific herbs (on their own or in combination) allows you to add specific energy to your spells.
In modern witchcraft, herbs can often be thought of as “ingredients” or “flavorings” to a spell. They’re not needed, but they add spice (buh dum tchhh 🥁).
Herbs are amazing because they’re so versatile. The most common ways of using herbs are in tinctures/potions (boiling herbs in water like a tea), in oils (extracting the essential oils from herbs by soaking them in base oils like almond oil or olive oil), in incense (burning the herbs on a candle or on charcoal), in candles (dressing candles with herbs to charge them), and in sachets (carrying the herb with you in a small bag). There are so many more techniques than these, too, and it’s up to you to decide how you like to work with herbs. Their uses are endless, though, and their energy will go wherever you place the herb, so sprinkle with caution!
Some Commonly Used Herbs:
• Sage - for cleansing
• Rosemary - for beauty, femininity, and empowerment
• Chamomile - for sleep, calm, and dreams
• Wormwood - for communicating with the dead and strengthening psychic powers
• Lavender - for calming and releasing
• Vervain - for binding, blessing, and tapping into the energy of the Goddess
• Dandelion - for luck and wishing
• Rose - for love and beauty
• Cinnamon - for good vibes and enticing spirits
• Apple - for abundance
• Cannabis - for detaching the Ego and elevating vibration
Some Herbs to be Cautious of:
• Belladona/Nightshade - poisonous - used for death, dreams, psychic powers, mind control, transformation, and certain types of astral projection
• Henbane/Wolfsbane/Aconite - poisonous - used for uncrossing and reversing
• Arnica - irritant - used for protection and regeneration
• Pokeroot - poisonous - used for aggressive purification
• Vervain - moderately poisonous
• Apple Seeds - poisonous in large amounts - used for tapping into nature energy
• Wormwood - mildly poisonous/hallucinogenic
• Many others so do your research!!!!!
Never ingest anything unless you absolutely know what you’re doing. I repeat, do extensive research!!
There are literally hundreds of types of herbs; study up, and practice!
Happy witching! 🕉
PS: I’ll be creating an herb master post soon, and I’ll update this post with the link when it’s ready.
Stoner Witch Tips:
✨Sharpie pen sigils on your lighter.
✨Blow smoke into a jar to use in spell work.
✨Little nugs as offerings to nature or your deities.
✨Keep your ashes in a tightly closed container for spell work. (Do not breathe the ashy dust this creates*)
✨Make sure you drink enough water, especially if you smoke heavily.
✨Write sigils with your resin.
✨After cleaning your pipe/ rig set it out in the moonlight.
✨Make knot magic with hemp string.
✨Say a chant or incantation as you blow the smoke out of your lungs and release it to the universe.
Historical Witchcraft 101: The Compilation
My historical witchcraft series is (for now) finally over! Thanks everyone to all the support I got, I’m really glad you seemed to enjoy those posts as much as I enjoyed making them. Feel free to message me about things you’d like to see from me in the future!
For ease of reference, I thought I’d compile all the posts here:
Witch Bottles
Witch Ladders
The Toad Bone
Poppets
Hag Riding
Familiar Spirits
The Witches’ Sabbat
Flying Ointment
Shapeshifting
Past Life Tarot Spread
Just in case you have a few hours free, here's a spread that will take all of them up. Have fun with your afternoon.
1: Birth
2: Parents
3: Life
4: Childhood
5: Passion
6: Friends
7: Responsibility
8: Partner
9: Work
10: Success
11: Shortcoming/Failure
12: Death
13: Children
14: Legacy
15: What I Brought To This Life
Tarot Cards and Their Meanings
Wands:
Ace: Beginnings, birth, energy, self-image, new opportunities
2: Potential, planning, choices, contemplation
3: Long-term, foresight, putting things into motion
4: Rewards, celebrate good times (come on!), teamwork, home
5:Competition, conflict, brainstorming
6: Praise, self-confidence, recognition, role model
7: Defense, threat, perseverance
8: Progress, energy, swiftness
9: Perseverance, wounded, guarded
10: Responsibility, burden, stress or success
Page: Adventures, inspiration, ideas, journey, desires
Knight: Risk-taking, experiments, travel, fun, passion
Queen: Creativity, independence, friendly, optimistic, beauty
King: Leader, pride, energy, charisma, passion
Cups:
Ace: New feelings, awakening, imagination
2: Equality, respect, harmony, sharing
3: Friendship, celebration, fun
4:Withdrawal, indifference, boredom
5: Sadness, mourning, disappointment, regret, suffering
6: Kindness, caring, memories, childhood
7: Fantasy, illusion, creative brainstorming
8: Travel, retreat, spirit quest
9: Contentment, host, wish fulfillment
10:Happy home, shared love, peace, family
Page: Sensitive, gentle, Imaginative, kind
Knight:Romantic, flirt, artist, emotional intensity
Queen: Empathetic, sensitive, emotional, psychic, mother
King: Wise, calm, emotionally mature, father
Swords:
Ace:Truth, intellect, communication, clarity
2: Standstill, mediator, indecision
3: Loss, sorrow, betrayal
4: Rest, mental restoration, reflection
5: Defeat and self-defeat, irritability, arguments
6: Support, moving, retreat, mental healing
7: Gathering information,mental tests, strategy
8: Helpless thoughts, limiting beliefs, excuses
9: Worry, anxiety, insomnia, repressed thoughts
10: Finished, closure, give up
Page: Curious, student, intellect, thoughtfulness
Knight: Debate, explorer, rushing, revolutionary
Queen: Truthful, self-aware, teacher, intellect
King: Objective, intelligent, assertive, fair, logical
Pentacles:
Ace: Healthy beginnings, investing, grounded, opportunity
2: Play, changes, multitasking, adapting
3: Planning, employment, teamwork, assistance
4: Stable, saving, cautious, boundaries
5: Unstable, illness, supportive friends, lack of security
6: Charity, generosity, giving back, assistance
7: Assessment, trial and error, editing, feedback
8: Repetition, precision, commitment, meaningful work
9: Luxury, discipline, earned rewards, fruits of labor
10: Wisdom, home, wealth, legacy, home
Page: New project/job, Student, new studies, cautious
Knight: Loyal, dependable, hard working, practical
Queen: Mother, Fertile, down to earth, nurturing, protective
King:Wealthy, successful, loving father, stubborn, practical
Major Arcana:
The Fool: Trust, Beginning, open minded, innocence
The Magician: Will, personal power, intention, resourcefulness
The High Priestess: Inner Wisdom, Meditation, spirituality
The Empress: Mother, creativity, nurturing, sensuality
The Emperor: Power, structure, stability, father
The Hierophant: Responsibility, knowledge, teacher, belief system
The Lovers: Sexuality, union, love, cooperation
The Chariot: Determination, Control, momentum, competence
Strength: Courage, Strength/ inner strength, survival
The Hermit: Guidance, wisdom, perspective, solitude
Wheel of Fortune: Luck, expansion, destiny, change, movement
Justice: Ethics, law, balance, fairness, accountability
The Hanged Man: Release, waiting, surrender, sacrifice
Death: Regeneration, ending, closure, transformation
Temperance: Experimenting, creating, combining, compromise
The Devil: Limitations, attachments, commitment
The Tower: Sudden shock, chaos, destruction, questioning beliefs
The Star: Renewal, peace, optimism, boundlessness
The Moon: The shadow self, dreams, confusion, intuition
The Sun: Playfulness, acceptance, personal growth, enthusiasm
Judgement: Transition, maturing, reviewing
The World: Integration, connection, wholeness, completion, options
Hey guys! It’s been a long time but I’m working on some posts for later. I’m probably am going to work on a reversed version of the cards for next time. Thanks for reading!- Samantha
One of my machined dice boxes. I’m going to be giving this one away in a set of items that can be shipped to any part of the world, since I had so many requests from UK followers. :)
Magics for Wishing
Updated: July 31, 2017
Wishing
[Animist Wishing Well Shrine]
[A Basic Wishing Spell (Green Witch Edition)]
[Bay Leaf Wish Spell]
[Birthday Spell] (tw: music autoplay on blog)
[Birthday Spell]
[Birthday Wish Spell]
[To Bring Your Wish Into Reality]
[Dandelion Blossom Oil]
[Firefly Wish Spell]
[Full Moon Wish Spell]
[Full Moon Wish Spell]
[Full Moon Wish Spell]
[Full Moon Wishing Spell]
[Flying Wish Paper]
[Genie in a Bottle]
[To Have Your Wishes Answered]
[How to Make a Wish Spell Jar]
[Jar & Candle Wish Spell]
[Jar of Wishes]
[Jirachi Wish Tag Spell]
[Karou’s Necklace of Wishes]
[Lemon Juice, Red Ink Spell]
[To Make a Wish Come True]
[To Make a Wish Come True (2)]
[Mermaid’s Tears]
[Rosey Wishes Spell]
[Shooting Star Wish Spell]
[Simple Full Moon Ritual]
[Simple Text Message Wish Spell]
[Simple Wish Spell]
[Simple Wish Spell]
[Sweet as Snow Spell]
[A Two-for-One Moon Wish Jar]
[Winds Wishing Spell]
[Winter Wishes]
[Wish Board Conjuration]
[Wish Ornament]
[Wishing Powder Mix]
[Wishing Spell]
[“Wishing Well” Spell Jar]
[Yule Wish Bottle]
Manifestation
[Elemental Manifestation]
[Manifestation Bowl]
[Manifestation Box] (cw: sigil)
[Manifestation Spell]
[Manifestation Spell]
[Manifestation Spell]
[Manifestation Triangle]
[1-2-3-4 Multi-Purpose Spell]
[Planetary Decagram]
[The Polar Spell]
[Simple Candle Magic]
[Simple Origami Crane Spell]
[Simple Way to Cast a Spell]
[Spell of Manifestation]
[Spell: Find What You Need]
[Want Spell]
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