Welcome back to White Rose of Avalon my Darlings.   Today’s post is about all of the herbs I have been studying this year with my Herbalism class, Herbs of Avalon taught by Suzanne O’Gara!    I will discuss a little bit about each of the herbs to give a basic understanding.   Writing this also served as an excellent review for my final coming up next week!

STINGING NETTLE: Urtica diocia

~The first plant we studied in my class has become a favorite of mine, as nettles are excellent for allergies, as well as being overall nutritive and an ally in fertility!   Packed full of iron nettles are great for treating anemia.   There are also no contraindications, but make sure to wear gloves if handling the fresh plant, as they really do sting!

RED CLOVER: Trifolium pratense

~Another great ally for fertility, especially for women’s health is red clover.    This one helps to regulate the menstrual cycle and is an excellent addition to blends when one is looking to conceive, but is contraindicated during pregnancy.

SELF-HEAL: Prunella vulgaris

~Self-heal is one of those plants that have the Doctrine of Signatures quite profoundly.   This is a plant that is shaped like the esophagus and is indicated for throat ailments!

DANDELION: Taraxacum offincinale

~Dandelion is so much more than a simple weed.    This plant is great for psychic work, especially the root, while the aerial parts make a lovely wine!

MILKY OATS: Avena sativa

~Something as simple as oats can soothe the skin and also soothe the spirit.    A very calming and nurturing herb overall!

LEMON VERBENA: Aloysia cirtodora

~Also commonly called French Vervain or Blue Vervain, this is the more citrusy plant that can often be confused with Verbena officinalis!   It is also much milder than verbena officinalis.

CHAMOMILE: Matricaria recutia

~A plant that has long become a staple in the herb cabinets of many of those who suffer from insomnia.   This soothing plant is excellent for relaxing us and easing stress and strain!

ROSE: Rosa spp.

~Ah, one of my favorites from long before I began my class, rose is truly the Queen of all Flowers!    Soothing for the skin, the heart, and the blood, and an aid in fertility, this plant really can be added to many blends to enhance anything you may need!

LAVENDER: Lavendula augustifolia

~Another beloved herb long before I began class, lavender is one of the most soothing and aromatic plants you could ever wish to find!    Combine her with even the harshest of bitter herbs and she will make the medicine so much easier to take!

LEMON BALM: Melissa officinalis

~Oh, how I have come to utterly adore Melissa!   Although I had known of this herb long before I began my class, I overlooked her until I began working with her this year.   Now, she has come to be one of my all-time favorite plant spirit allies, a true Priestess Plant that is so nurturing to the whole body!

PARTRIDGE BERRY: Mitchella repens

~This berry which gets its common name from the birds who love to eat it is an excellent uterine tonic, but it must be remembered that it is very contraindicated during pregnancy!

LADY’S MANTLE: Alchemilla vulgaris

~Another herb that is very powerful in its ability as a uterine tonic, but is also contraindicated during pregnancy, due to how stimulating it is for the uterus.   A beautiful herb that is also very protective in nature!

RED RASPBERRY LEAF: Rubus ideaus 

~This is one of the best uterine tonics out there, and is an essential ingredient in many fertility brews!   She is the most gentle of the three uterine tonics grouped here, and she can be taken healthfully during the second two trimesters of pregnancy, and some herbalists will advise this herb can be safely taken the whole duration of pregnancy!

HAWTHORN: Crataegus monogyna; Crataegus laevigata

~Hawthorn is the beautiful Avalonian Faery Tree which has white blooms in the spring, with deep associations to fertility, and ripe red berries in the Autumn, showing her nature as a heart tonic!   Known as a boundary tree, this one is often associated with the Faery Folk due to its creation of Liminal Spaces, with singular hawthorn trees being said to be portals to Faery!

YARROW: Achillea millefolium

~This overall blood tonic is an expert at healing wounds, with yarrow salve working like magick to close up a cut!   I love that the plant gets its Latin name from the Greek hero Achilles!

ST. JOHN’S WORT: Hypericum perforatum 

~The ultimate plant of the Summer Solstice, St. John’s Wort is an excellent mood elevator, which is why it is contraindicated for those that are on anti-depressants (this would be doubling up on the medication).   It is also highly contraindicated for those with bipolar disorder, as it could cause a manic episode!   However, the plant if tinctured in the Summer can provide solace to those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder come the Winter Solstice!   As a note for foraging this plant in the summer, you can tell for sure it is the correct plant by gently rubbing the flower petals, which should stain the fingers red, and when tinctured the resulting brew is bright red!

WORMWOOD: Artemisia absinthium (aka The Green Faery)

~Most people know this plant as the active ingredient of the alcohol Absinthe (hence the second part of the Latin name).   This Green Faery is often said to be a hallucinogenic herb, but much of those properties tend to be overstated.   In truth, any hallucinogenic properties are more due to the way this plant’s constituents react to a solution with alcohol.   It is a much safer herb to utilize within a tisane (or herbal tea) formulation, as it is also water-soluble (in a much safer way).   She is an excellent digestive bitter! 

QUEEN ANNE’S LACE: Daucus carota

~This herb is a very interesting one, which relates to women’s health in the ability of the seeds to be used as a natural contraceptive!    However, it is best to remember the three key ways to differentiate this one from the poisonous hemlock plant.    The stem is fuzzy, there is a small red dot on the petals of the white flowers, and when the plant is drying up the flowers and leaves turn into a basket shape!

BORAGE: Borago officinalis

~’Borage for courage’ is the common adage for this plant, which can be utilized to help give us bravery!   It is also a very adorable plant that is fuzzy, with the fuzziness possibly being a Doctrine of Signatures, as this is a favorite for bees.

COMFREY: Symphytum officinale

~Comfrey is an excellent topical herb, but should not be ingested.    It is often used in skincare products to help keep the skin nourished!

HOLY BASIL: Ocimum sanctum (aka Tulsi)

~A beautiful and soothing herb which is sacred to Lakshmi.    The herb is an interesting one, as it is contraindicated for both pregnancy and conception, but it is an excellent galactagogue, meaning that it helps nursing mothers with milk production!

ECHINACHEA: Echinachea purpurea

~An iconic herb that helps at the very onset of a cold or illness, to stop it in its tracks.    This is one of the most powerful herbal allies during the Winter months to keep us healthy!

ASTRALAGUS: Astralagus membranaceous

~This one is an excellent adaptogen herb that is very calming and soothing.    A cup of this peanut buttery-flavored herbal tea will calm the nerves like a magick potion!

REISHI MUSHROOM: Ganoderma lucidum

~This one is indicated for allergies, cancer, diabetes, fatigue, overwhelm, and so much more.   It is a great booster for the immune system!

ASHWAGANDHA: Withania somnifera

~Another great calming adaptogen, this one is a powerful herb to settle the nerves, bringing about a sense of serenity!

SHISANDRA BERRY: Shisandra chimesis

~Want a boost of vitamin C with your nourishing adaptogens?   Look no further than this citrusy berry!

SHATAVARI: Asparagus racemosus

~Another great fertility aid, this time in the form of another nourishing adaptogen!

ELEUTHERO ROOT: Eleutherouoccus senticosus

~This immune tonic is also an overall ‘Qi” strengthener!   A great way to boost your immunity and help prevent the common cold if taken regularly!

DEVIL’S CLAW: Happagophytum procumbus

~This one is great for arthritis, rheumatism, and general inflammation!   A great herb to have on hand to treat issues with the joints.

SOLOMON’S SEAL: Polygonatum multifiorla

~This one is great for arthritis, bronchitis, and gastritis.    It is also helpful to regulate the women’s reproductive system!

TUMERIC ROOT: Curcuma longa

~Tumeric is a famed herb for its use in Indian cuisine, as well as for its properties as a powerhouse of pain relief and anti-inflammatory abilities!

ELDER: Sambuca nigra

~Ah, another of my favorites!   This Faery-related berry is from another tree that both serves to protect from the Fae (those with ill will) and also to attract the Fae!   The berries are excellent for nourishing the body during a bought of illness, and protecting before the onset of a cold!   Elder is also referred to as the ‘Queen of All Herbs’ by some well-respected herbalists!

LINDEN: Tillia spp.

~The nourishing and supportive Linden tree is a lovely way to calm the senses.   Being held by Mother Linden is such a great way to unwind after a long day!

WHITE WILLOW: Salix alba

~Have a headache?   Want a natural solution?   Chew on some white willow bark, which is where we get the plant basis for aspirin! 

BLUE LOTUS: Nymphaea caerulea

~Blue lotus has been a plant that I have adored since long before I took this class!   Her Latin name of Nymphaea gives insight into her intoxicating and aphrodisiac properties.   She is an excellent ally for those seeking to heighten their psychic abilities!

VERVAIN: Verbena officinalis

~Vervain is another protective and psychic herb.   But unlike its famous usage in The Vampire Diaries, it is not safe to ingest this one in a tea daily, in fact, ingestion should be limited to one small cup of tea a day for no longer than a week.   Overusing this herb can cause stomach ailments!

MUGWORT: Artemisia vulgaris

~Mugwort is an iconic witchy herb and Priestess herb of protection and psychic ability, much like vervain.    A great ally in smoke cleansing to protect your sacred spaces, as well as an ingredient in psychic tea blends.   The herb is highly contraindicated during pregnancy, being not just an emmenagogue but also an abortifacient herb! 

ROSEMARY: Rosamarinus officinalis

~This aromatic staple of the kitchen is one of the great Priestess herbs.   She is known as an herb of remembrance, which can also help us with ancestor work!    She is a great ingredient in psychic tea blends to balance out the bitterness of many psychic herbs!

DAMIANA: Tunera diffusa; Tunera aphrodisicca 

~This is a sexy one!   Damiana is an aphrodisiac herb that is also great for working through your shadows and trauma.    She is both a sexual herb and a psychic aid in dream recall!    A great ally for artists, she will inspire creative endeavors.

MOTHERWORT: Leonorous cardiaca

~Her Latin name literally means “lion-hearted”.    The old adage is that ‘Motherwort mothers the mother’.   She is an excellent ally for those going through any time of great stress!   

SKULLCAP: Scutullaria laterfoilia

~This one is great for nervous tics, palsies, mild Tourettes, and those who feel edgy.   The herb is excellent for balancing out the nervous system to calm overall!

HOPS: Humulus lupulus 

~This one is great for relaxing the nerves and has a bit of a euphoric reaction!   It is excellent for use at night to aid in sleep!   

~Herbs I Studied in Addition to Class~

APPLES: Malus domestica

~Apples are the fruit of sexuality, knowledge, wisdom, and immortality!   There is no more Avalonian tree, and she has been my most sacred herbal ally since I was a little girl!   Although we talked about her in class, she was not an official plant we studied, which is why I listed her here.

BLUE CORNFLOWER: Centaurea cyanus

~A greatly calming herb, which is an excellent addition to herbal baths and other beauty products.   She helps soothe the skin and promotes overall skin health.

BLACKBERRY: Rubus fruticosus L.

~Blackberry is a very nutritious herb that has many of the same benefits as the other herbal berries I have discussed before.   She is very potent during the late summer and early fall when she is at her most ripe!

CENTUARY: Centaurium erythraea

~My greatest new herbal ally is an herb of Priestess power.    This one has been used as an aide to witches since time immemorial!    An excellent digestive bitter, but even more commonly used as an herb of protection and psychic insights.    She is also very associated with the ridding of snakes and insects, which can tip us off to her ability to protect and cleanse magickally!

~I hope that you have enjoyed reading through this Herbology odyssey that I have compiled whilst studying for my final exam.   Are you interested in working with any of these herbs?   Do you currently have a relationship with any of them?   Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Tarot Note: I have a page offering tarot and oracle readings for those interested in these services!    I am very happy to be offering these readings to my treasured readers at White Rose of Avalon!  Link to page: https://whiteroseofavalon.life/tarot-and-oracle-readings/