Herbs for the cooking pot, herbs for the cauldron!
If you’ve visited our store recently you’ll probably have noticed the loose herbs, flowers, woods and resins we now have in stock – and if you haven’t, look how lovely they are!
No packaging, all natural
Because we store our herbs in jars and only measure out the amount that you need, we can avoid unnecessary packaging that’s bad for the environment. You can even bring your own jars from home to take your herbs away in.
How do you use yours?
Our ingredients are perfect for all sorts of uses, from incense making (check out our incense blending class coming up on 19th April 2023 here!) spell ingredients, potpourri and even cooking or teas. Please note – whilst all of our edible herbs are food grade and safe for use in cooking and teas, please exercise caution and moderation when using them and if you’re not sure whether something is edible, then don’t ingest it!
Here’s a little breakdown of what we stock, and some suggestions for how to use them.
Acacia gum
Otherwise known as Gum Arabic, Acacia gum can be added to incense blends or burned alone to purify a space of negativity or evil.
Benzoin almonds
The sweet, vanilla scent of benzoin almonds makes it particularly suitable for incense use. Use it in spells to dispel depression, or for aphrodisiac effects. It’s also used in perfume and products for healing cracked skin.
Cardamom pods
Cardamom is widely used in cooking. It’s a flavouring, a digestive aid, a breath freshener, and antioxidant and is good for detoxing. It can also lower blood pressure. It is said to be an aphrodisiac and so is also a great ingredient for spells to spice up your love life – add it to warmed wine! You can also carry the seeds to attract love, and use it in incense to protect and bring love to your home.
Cedar
Cedar is not a native British tree, however has been grown in Britain for centuries now. It is evergreen and symbolises longevity, purification and protection. It’s planted around cemeteries to contain spirits. The burning leaves eliminate negative energies and attract good spirits and are therefore ideal for smudging.
Dandelion leaves
Dandelions symbolise sunlight and new beginnings, so they are a wonderful ingredient to spells for positivity, courage, confidence and inspiration. They defeat darkness and bring light. You can also brew dandelion tea to drink for clarity when divining.
Elderflowers
Elder is a magical tree, associated with youthfulness and inner strength. The flowers give an immune system boost – elderflower tea helps with colds and reduces fever and is a natural antihistamine which can help with seasonal allergies. You can make an elderflower infusion as eye wash to ease itching, conjunctivitis or allergies. It’s also used in cooking to flavour various sweet recipes, add to gin, vodka or wine, or make elderflower cordial.
Frankincense
This fragrant resin is wonderful in potpourri and incense. Its scent is uplifting and can help lift your mood. It’s often burnt to purify a space, in spirit summoning, protection and exorcism and is great to burn during meditation.
Lavender
Lavender is a very versatile ingredient. It can be used in potpourri, incense, or to make lavender bags. Lavender bags are great to scent drawers and wardrobes, make great gifts and deter moths. It’s also a lovely sleep aid – keep a lavender bag by your pillow to promote sleep and relaxation and help with dream-work. You can also use lavender in baths for relaxation or as part of spell work, or you can even use it to flavour biscuits or ice cream!
Juniper
Juniper symbolises strength, protection and perseverance. The leaves can be burned as incense – which is believed to help with colds - and can also be used for smudging, or turned into tea, which has a cleansing and diuretic effect.
Juniper berries
Juniper berries are what gives gin its distinctive flavour, and they can be used as flavouring in many dishes, or made into a relaxing tea (caution – whilst ours is OK, not all types of juniper are edible.) You can steep juniper berries in a carrier oil to make a relaxing muscle rub that can also promote better sleep. You can use them as an ingredient in spells to attract love or improve relationships. These berries can also be used to create dye or beads, or simply string them onto thread to make protection amulets that can be worn or hung up in your home.
Meadowsweet
Sacred to the Druids and associated with the Goddess, Meadowsweet can be used in spells for love, peace, happiness, confidence and reducing tension.
Mugwort
Use mugwort in an oil infusion to help with muscle aches. Mugwort tea is a great digestif and helps ease bloating and eases the symptoms of menstruation. The dried leaves can help repel moths. A pouch placed under your pillow can promote lucid dreaming, as can drinking mugwort tea before bedtime. Mugwort can also be used as incense for smudging.
Warning – pregnant women should not ingest this plant. If you suffer from hayfever you may also be allergic to mugwort, so be careful when assessing if you can use it safely if you want to ingest or have direct skin contact with it.
Myrrh
Myrrh can be used for toothache, sore gums and chapped lips. It is also used in incense to purify a space – it works wonderfully combined with Frankincense. It can also be burned in spells for banishing, curse-breaking and protection.
Don’t ingest myrrh if you’re pregnant, as it can stimulate menstrual flow.
Peppermint
Peppermint can be used as potpourri to freshen air and deter flies. It has use in a variety of spells due to its protective, purifying and healing nature. It can be used in cooking to flavour dishes – such as with mint sauce – and can be made into a refreshing tea that is great for settling the stomach. Peppermint can also be used directly to soothe burns and toothache, and it’s great for colds. Be careful though, as some people have a sensitivity to menthol (the active ingredient in mint).
Pine needles
Pine is cleansing, protective and healing, and in spell work associated with attracting money, as well as with fertility and longevity due to its evergreen nature. It’s great to use in potpourri and drawer-scenting bags to keep clothes smelling fresh. It makes an excellent steam-bath for relieving congestion, or a relaxing foot-soak. You can even brew tea with it!
Rose petals
Rose petals have a multitude of uses. You can brew tea with them, add them to ritual baths, use them in spells (particularly for attracting love or honouring a Goddess), use them as confetti, add them to potpourri, incense or potpourri bags to keep wardrobes smelling sweer, or put a bag under your pillow to encourage pleasant dreams.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood is used in perfume, aromatherapy and incense, for protection, to bring positive energy and banish negative energy. It can be burnt as incense and used for smudging. The smoke wafted around boundaries will keep out negative energy. It can be used in spells to call spirits or angels, or you can write an intention upon a sandalwood chip and burn it to release and manifest the intention. Its scent when used as incense is calming and meditative.
Thyme
Thyme is a very versatile herb that can be used as a delicious ingredient in cooking. Thyme tea is good for alleviating coughs. It’s a great potpourri ingredient to lift your mood. Use thyme in a ritual bath to promote courage. Thyme is also used in spells for letting go or getting through grief. You can smudge with thyme to clear negative energy from your spaces. It can also be used in spells to attract money or find lost items.
Vervain
Vervain is sacred to the Druids, can protect against negative spells and energies, and is used to purify sacred places such as altars. It is also used to reduce the effects of depression.
Yarrow
You can chew on yarrow if you have a toothache. Steeped in boiling water to make tea and then cooled it can be used as a wash for minor wounds and bruises to relieve pain. It can also be applied to the skin as a mosquito repellent. Yarrow can be made into an aromatic tea to drink, to alleviate colds and minor stomach issues.
Yarrow has long been associated with witchcraft. It can be used in spells for protection and placed on boundaries to prevent evil from entering. It can also be used in divination and dreaming spells, especially in order to see a future partner.
Don't forget!
Don’t forget – no matter which herb you are using, you may have a sensitivity to it or it may cause unwanted side effects if ingested, especially in doses that are too high. Exercise caution, and enjoy working with your herbs!
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