#Materia Medica

[othmeralia]

I LOVE a well used and well annotated book! Any signs of actual, everyday usage is such a wonderful find in rare books.

This is found in our copy of Bouquet composé des plus belles fleurs chimiques (1629) by David de Planis Campy.

#materia medica #old books #rare books #used books #loved books #handwriting #marginalia #othmeralia

[banefolk]

Coloured engravings of the poisonous plants datura, henbane, and hemlock from American Medical Botany: Being a Collection of the Native Medicinal Plants of the United States by Jacob Bigelow, 1817.

Source: New York Public Library

#banefolk #bane folk #poisonous plants #poison path #baneful plants #baneful herbs #henbane #hyoscyamus niger #datura #datura stramonium #hemlock #poison hemlock #conium maculatum #antique books #antiquarian books #pharmacopoeia #materia medica #botany

[lionofchaeronea]

A mad dog bites a man. Miniature (gouache, ink, and gold on paper) from an Arabic translation of Dioscorides' Materia Medica, with calligraphy by Abdallah ibn al-Fadl; written in 1224. Now in the Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

#art #art history #illuminated manuscript #manuscript illumination #miniature #illustration #Dioscorides #Materia Medica #Middle Ages #medieval #medieval art #Arabic art #Islamic art #calligraphy #Abdallah ibn al-Fadl #gouache #ink and gold on paper #13th century art #Freer Gallery of Art

[eaux-fortes]

LINDISFARNE/MEDCAUT (HOLY ISLAND), MARCH 2024.

#personal #medcaut #lindisfarne #holy island #northumberland #materia medica #💧

[witchynyx]

Any other botanical illustration nerds here?

Botanical illustrations have become one of my special interests over the past couple of years (starting with finding illustrations for the edition of Culpeper's Herbal I'm working on), and I've spent hundreds of hours sourcing, collecting, and restoring some gorgeous antique botanical illustrations.

Well, I recently put together 100 of my favourites into a PDF with an antique paper texture, all labelled with their common and scientific/Latin names, and it's made me wonder... if it's worth my selling the (digital) copies of illustrations I've lovingly restored? 🤔

This is the collection of 100 antique botanical illustrations I've recently published on my website, but the illustrations are sourced from a whole list of publications full of absolutely stunning botanical artwork, and it's making me wonder if this is something other people would be interested in?

Aside from sourcing, collecting/collating, and restoring the images, I've also labelled each and every file with their current botanical name, making them easy to navigate for images for you grimoire, book of shadows, materia medica, or other plant-based journal 🥰

#witchynyx #witchcraft #green witch #botanical illustrations #botanical #botanical artwork #druidry #original content #herbalism #grimoire #materia medica

[sidewalkchemistry]

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana, Brassicaceae - Mustard Family)

an extended version of this materia media can be found on the Patreon - where I share some gastronomic/culinary commentaries on horseradish

"The root's potent smell can be attributed to allyl isothiocyanate, or Mustard oil, which is released when the plant's skin is broken or disturbed. Similar to other members of the Brassicaceae family, this constituent is also found in Brussels sprouts, Mustard, and Turnips."

"In Greek mythology, the Delphic Oracle told Apollo, 'The Radish is worth its weight in lead, the Beet its weight in silver, the Horseradish its weight in gold.'"

"To a worm in a horseradish, the world is a horseradish” - Yiddish Proverb

Gardening: full sun to part shade; well draining loose or sandy soil; regular water; room to spread and grow deep, often takes over more space than expected; thrives even when neglected; herbaceous perennial

Native Region: Russia & Eastern Ukraine

Season: autumn and winter (hardy to zone 5)

Affinity: sinuses, lungs, digestive system, circulation

Parts: roots and leaves

Medicinal: fire cider/oxymels, cold-water infusion, succus (fresh juice), cough syrup, poultice for sprains/injuries, tincture, culinary measures

"Grated horseradish mixed with honey [or vegan alternative]. After mixing, allow to stand to take off sharp taste. The [sweetener] is only used to make it more palatable. 2/3 horse-radish and 1/3 [sweetener], or to suit the taste. The ordinary radish, especially the black radish, may also be used the same way, or finely sliced and eaten alone as a salad. For consumptives who cough without spitting, give a spoonful every once in a while." - Special "Mucus-Eliminator" Recipe in Arnold Ehret's Mucusless Diet Healing System

^I like to add grated orange peel to help make it more manageable to taste^

Actions: diuretic, stimulant, expectorant, rubefacient, aphrodisiac, digestive, antiseptic (laxative), aperient, anthelmintic, emetic (in high doses)

‼when you cut into horseradish, its pungent smell can irritate the eyes and nasal passages, so it's better to do in a well-ventilated area or outside. It is more potent in its effect than onions. The taste is also very pungent, so you don't need much.

Energetic Uses (eg. flower essence, elemental rituals): FIRE ELEMENT - balance fiery nature, excite inner fire, move you beyond sense of being stuck/helpless, shine a light on blockages, release old patterns or thoughtforms

Indications: hoarse, persistent, dry cough; rheumatism; tuberculosis; kidney stones; parasite infections; cold; congestion

Analogs: wasabi, radish, mustard, brussels sprouts, moringa (Moringa oleifera)

Traditional Uses:

Ancient Greeks & Romans: rub for lower back pain or menstrual cramps, aphrodisiac

Middle Ages: asthma, arthritis, cancer, toothaches

Jewish: bitter herb for Passover seder

Native Americans: toothaches, menstrual cramps

British: accompaniment to beef and oysters, cordials

Scurvy preventative

Treatment for tuberculosis

Restoring color and freshness to skin (cosmetic usage)

Modern Ideas:

"The enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is a useful

tool for detecting antibodies in the molecular biology field."

"In 2008, researchers reported that they had developed a fire alarm for the deaf and hard of hearing by harnessing the strong smell of horseradish."

"Researchers from Pennsylvania State University announced in 1995 that according to their studies, using horseradish may help purify wastewater and tainted soils."

Sources: a b c d e

#txt #dream garden #herbarium #horseradish #Armoracia rusticana #food centric herbalism #herbalism #gardening #materia medica #sidewalkchemistry

[profetizamos]

Rose is cold, and this coldness contains moderation which is useful. In the morning, or at daybreak, pluck a rose petal and place it on your eyes. It draws out the humor and makes them clear. [...] One who is inclined to wrath should take rose and less sage and pulverize them. The sage lessens the wrath, and the rose makes him happy. Rose, and half as much sage, may be cooked with fresh, melted lard, in water, and an ointment made from this. The place where a person is troubled by a cramp or paralysis should be rubbed with it, and he will be better. Rose is also good to add to potions, unguents, and all medications. If even a little rose is added, they are so much better, because of the good virtues of the rose.

Von Bingen, Hildegard. Physica. Translated by Throop, Priscilla, 1998.

#hildegard von bingen #herbalism #materia medica #herblore #herbs #my post

[thebotanicalarcade]

n250_w1150 by Biodiversity Heritage Library Via Flickr: The flora homoeopathica :. London :Leath & Ross,1852-1853.. biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6026992

#Botany #Medical #Homeopathy #Materia medica and therapeutics #Materia medica #Vegetable #Pictorial works #Missouri Botanical Garden #Peter H. Raven Library #bhl:page=6026992 #dc:identifier=http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6026992 #flickr #verbascum thapsus #Great mullein #mullein #greater mullein #common mullein #botanical illustration #scientific illustration

[themadsorceressgrimoires]

UPDATED + A NEW LOOK TO THE BLOG! The Mad Sorceress Grimoires

A Virtual Grimoire Written from a Chronic-Illness and Trauma-informed Perspective. Restoration Magic for Creatives and Magicians.

Your Fairy of the Fountain on your unique Hero's Quest to Healing.

Hi, everyone! My name is Sam, and I have been diagnosed with Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome since 2014, and Adenomyosis since 2018. I enrolled in a natural medicine in school in 2022 where I began learning about herbal medicine, healing diets, and quantum botanicals. I am a writer + blogger, and on my website, I journal about reclaiming personal power and healing through the help of inner-alchemy, astrology, synergetic herbs, the occult, medical astrology, Astro-nutrition, archaic religions, and esotericism.

What is The Mad Sorceress Grimoires?

A Grimoire is a book with spells and incantations written in it. Grimoire comes from the Old French “grammaire”, which referred to all books that were written in Latin at the time. “Grammaire” comes from the Greek “grammatikos”.

This blog is meant to be a collection of works. Here is the breakdown of the blog:

Chapter 01: Inner-Sorcery

In this chapter, I share my experience with healing, self-care, ritual, and art from the perspective of someone with chronic-pain, stress, and anxiety. If you want to know more, click on the link above to take you to the chapter.

Chapter 02: Womb/PCOS-Alchemy

This part of the blog is dedicated to leaning into a magical life from the perspective of someone who endures c-PTSD and chronic-illnesses. I will mention this a million times throughout this blog: I am not a licensed professional. I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2013, and Adenomyosis in 2017. I am culling from lived experiences, and sharing that on this blog. Do not take my advice over the advice of licensed professionals who work with you directly. If you want to know more, click on the link above to take you to the chapter.

Chapter 03: Celestial Lessons

This is where I write about how certain Astrological Archetypes have manifested for me in my real life. I enjoy exploring astrology, and I use it as a means to enhance my life by bringing my joy. Whether by natal or transit, I take a deep dive on the lessons that I’ve learned. Astrology is not meant to replace therapy from licensed professionals. If you want to know more, click on the link above to take you to the chapter.

Chapter 04: Bleak + Brooding Reveries

I have recently opened my poetry blog back up! I have been inspired by automatic writing my entire life. A lot of my words come from hypnagogic experiences, meditative states, or automatic writing sessions. If you want to know more, click on the link above to take you to the chapter.

Chapter 05: The Holographic Herbal

Coming soon! As of July 2022, I became a student of Quantum Botanicals and Natural Medicine. During these modules, I experiment with certain herbs. I write about my experience with them. I enjoy learning about their chemical constituents, folk lore, history, and - OF COURSE - I want to know what the occultists had to say about them. This chapter merges Medical Astrology, Astro-Nutrition, Astro-Herbalism, Color, archaic religions, and more. Stay tuned. If you want to know more, click on the link above to take you to the chapter.

Never diagnose yourself without speaking to a medical professional. I am not a certified Medical Astrologer. Regardless, astrology is not meant to take the place of Health Care from licensed professionals. Astrology is meant for entertainment purposes only. Please read my Terms & Conditions for more.

For an archive of podcasts + publications I've been featured in, please check out this link.

Subscribe to my blog's newsletter through this link.

Or if you have a substack, click here.

Or simply follow this blog.

#adenomyosis #PCOS #Grimoire #inner alchemy #PCOS alchemist #chronic illness #witchy #witchyvibes #occult #astrology #herbal #Materia Medica #healing herbs #herbal medicine #healingdiets #astronutrition #colorwheel #quantumbotanicals #healingmagic #healingfood #healingfoods #archaicreligion #innersorcery #tarot #archetypes #deities #wombhealing #bloggersgetsocial

[ravenrook]

Materia medica #1: Devil's Darning Needle

Scientific name: Clematis virginiana; Clematis terniflora

Family: Ranunculaceae

Common name: Devil's darning needle; Old Man's Beard; Virgin's Bower; Woodbine; Traveller's Joy

Description: A vigorous vine bearing flowers with four petals. After flowering in late summer or early fall, the fruit develops into a clump long fluffy strings. Several species can easily be confused, C. virginiana can be identified by having trifoliate leaves. Found near edges: fence rows, stream banks, hedges. When cultivated, may be trained onto trellises, but otherwise will overtake other plants.

Toxicity notes: Poisonous. Do not eat. Sap may cause blisters on skin.

Magical notes: No planetary associations, though one source connects it to Venus/Freyja. UPG: I would call this a saturnine plant due to its choking tendencies, poisonous qualities, and association with the "Old Man."

Folklore notes: A similar Clematis species found in Europe is said to have shaded the Virgin Mary while she traveled, and this lore may have been transferred to the North American species. Others associate it with witchcraft and the devil, though I can't find an explanation for this beyond its habit of smothering other plants. The downy fruit is said to look like a beard, perhaps inspiring the devil connection.

Craft uses: I haven't found anyone else's magical uses, so the following is all UPG. I see binding as the primary use for this plant, especially in baneful workings. For instance, a "stop gossip" spell may include the creation of a poppet that is tied up or the mouth sewn shut using the vine. It may be an asset in workings dealing with the more malevolent side of a love goddess, as it brings together the juxtaposed views of this plant.

[I hope you enjoyed my first materia medica entry. I'm hoping to show not just information on individual plants, but also how you can build your herbal knowledge. If you have any suggestions for what I should add to these entries, let me know!]

Sources

North Carolina Plant Toolbox

Wikipedia

Growsonyou

Virginia Wildflowers

Flowers and Flower Lore

#plantae #materia medica #green witch

[unfoldingrose]

Artemisia p. 1 :: Nervine

[Photo cred:: Native Here Nursery:: Artemisia Douglasiana]

KEY:

Underlined green text = links

Pink = anagrams [orthographically, phonetically or syntactically]

Bold = emphasis for discussion

Italic = credit

Note: Please read the links as well

Artemisia is a rhizomatous weed belonging to the Asteraceae family (Daisy family). While there are several species of Artemisia, the one I will be highlighting is Mugwort (Artemisia Vulgaris). Most of my experience is with the wild American species Artemisia Douglasiana and Artemisia Suksdorfii. Mugwort thrives in disturbed soils, and does its deepest work in disturbed bodies. Its aggressive rhizomes can overwhelm and kill roots of surrounding plants. I describe the leaves as flame shaped, with a silver back. Its volatile oil content is why Mugwort has a lengthy list of uses throughout the world.

First, I want to give some backstory on the name of Artemisia. Artemisia stems from Greek goddess Artemis. Delve into the article Becoming Classical Artemis: A Glimpse at the Evolution of the Goddess as Traced in Ancient Arcadia as means to gain more understanding about Mugwort’s functionality both physically, and spiritually- thru the characteristics of Goddess Artemis.

Goddess Artemis’s original prehistoric form was that of an animal-shape. She “appeared as a goddess of wild beasts, especially those who live in remote places in wooded mountains,” and also went by the alias ‘Kallisto.’

Below are some notes to further illustrate Artemis’s origins

Kallisto ~ bear-nymph::

teen girls considered ~little bears::

Artemis Orthia ~ bear figurine//Orthia, meaning straight, upright, in proper order [[anagram Orthia::THOR::ROTH::AORTA]]

Artemis @ Kyrena ~ sacred law of pregnant women to offer sacrifice to the Bear before giving BEARth [[birth]]

Protectress of little girls and maidens until the age of marriage; responsible for safe delivery of children

Now, I’m taking you deeper into the bold words from above. To start, it seems in the article that the primary animal goddess Artemis took form in was a bear. This is important because I learned from an #Oracle that the midbrain, our forward most portion of the brain stem, likens itself into the shape of a bear...funny how that works. I consider this key to grasp how and *where* Mugwort behaves when administered to a person. Succinctly, the midbrain has many functions, and is a continuation of the olfactory cortex responsible for memory [[dream]] processing and smell. The midbrain is considered “archipallium” in origin- which is to say phylogenetically the eldest region of the brain’s cerebral cortex. In the same way, Mugwort is called “the oldest of plants” in Charm of the Nine Worts. Mugwort’s classification as a nervine is due to easing anxiety, nervousness, and primal fears held in the midbrain. The source of this stress may exist due to trauma, karma, *generational or otherwise.

To take things further into the nervine properties of Mugwort, lets step into its signature silver-flame leaves. The Force of the metal Silver is alkhemically attributed to the Moon; on the periodic table Silver is #47. Native silver is mostly found in earth’s crust, and alloyed::allied with gold, argentite, and chlorargyrite. Silver is rarely found standalone- it is usually coupled with metals such as Copper (Venus), Gold (Sun), Lead (Saturn), and Zinc. Therefore, I surmise that Mugwort pairs well with other plants that are ruled by Venus (Copper), Sun (Gold), and Saturn (Lead). A Mugwort person may also need to increase the Zinc in their diets in tandem with the herb. I recommend oysters and fish for ZInc, but I will discuss that in another article.

 In alchemy, refined Oil of Silver “cleanses the receptor sites deep within the limbic system, lowers accumulated stress hormones long enough for the brain to generate new neural pathways that strengthen positive thinking” when ingested. Kymia Arts.

Mugwort’s “flame” shaped leaves makes known the ‘temperature’ and tastes of Mugwort. Warming, pungent, and bitter. This warmth, according to Sajah Popham, is a rare quality in a nervine plant, as most of them are cooling. In this way, Mugwort is not only associated with the Moon, but also fiery sister Venus. With the heat of Venus, it is no coincidence that Mugwort responds well when burned and smoked. It has been recorded several times as a smokeable herb, and even a Kanabyss replacement. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, practitioners use Mugwort in Moxibustion. The special preparation of a flammable Moxa releases fragrant, medicinal oils. According to TCM, this heat warms up various channels in the body and dispels cold, promotes blood circulation, strenghtens Qi, and more. I also say experiment with taking dried or fresh Mugwort in steam rooms and sauna.

Below is the mental/psychological picture of one who benefits from Mugwort.

Excerpt from Sajah Popham’s Mugwort Materia Medica:

- Dyslexic, difficulty recognizing words but has complex thoughts - Disorders of sleep and imagination - Body seems to be asleep, but mind is awake - When they sleep deep they have vivid dreams

.... - Lies awake in bed for long periods of time, thinking, imagining - Epileptic seizures, sensitivity to light, sleep disorders - Irritation of the nervous system

…

“… Dorothy Hall profiles the Mugwort person as being “highly intelligent with complex thoughts that are difficult to describe, speech disorders and dyslexia, highly elevated senses, sensitivity to light and sound, with great difficulty getting deep sleep. It is suited to people in whom the intuitive, psychic, psychological, creative, and artistic side of the mind is highly developed, but who have trouble with expression, or with the world around them.” These are all qualities that we would associate with an excess of vata, or wind/ tension, to connect this description to our energetic qualities above.

In addition to the higher mental qualities of Mugwort, I consider Her to be a Dream Modulator. She has the ability to lessen or increase frequency of dreams. As a dreamer myself, I noticed deeper sleep and reduced dreaming while taking mugwort. However, the dreams I *did* have- the messages provided me with clarity. In an individual who dreams infrequently, or desires to dream more, Mugwort opens them up to the dream world, and increases their dream intensity.

Dream Modulation Notes:

- Soothes the hyperactive & nightmarish dreamer trapped in the astral; allows them to get real rest

- Increases dream activation in those disconnected from the dream realm - Opens one to wisdom when dreaming - Allows for messages to really get the thru the mesencephalon (aka Midbrain) and heal

#Artemisia #Materia Medica #Ma'ateria Meda #Mugwort #PCOS #Nervine #Alkhemy #SIlver #Bear #Venus #Moon #my words #herbalism

[othmeralia]

Title page Tuesday!

This elaborate engraved title page is found in our copy of Bouquet composé des plus belles fleurs chimiques (1629) by David de Planis Campy

#title page #title page tuesday #rare books #old books #engraved title page #bibliography #materia medica #botany #othmeralia

[suicideandcheese]

Ecstatica Esoterica

There are specifics, overnights, altogethers I do not entangle With. Highs beyond worth, their lows eminent beyond years. Let them mingle, but I'll have a sad pint or ten, let it tinkle. Gross are the drugs, and how I've let them engross me. Beautiful are the greens and the greys, the naturals. Menacing are the whites and ethers, the diminishing. To each, you have your art, and to death, you art your soul. There is no judgment, but a poison, its difference in dosage To bespell. Of hells to withhold and heavens to engage, Shitcraft being far from herbcraft, our ancestries. Hopes to dispute, dares to encourage, midnight intoxications To lull us into ephemeral but lasting intuitions of maybe, so. I dare you, I fucking dare you, I do not. There is no Eleusis But the depths to which we cannot profound in linguistics. You poet, you're language-less and alien, you're perfect. But you're nothing to do with it other than feels as if to feels.

#poetry #poem #writing #free verse #materia medica #poets on tumblr #writers #heavens urge #devils verge #creative writing #spilled ink #words

[eaux-fortes]

LINDISFARNE/MEDCAUT (HOLY ISLAND), MARCH 2024.

#personal #medcaut #lindinsfarne #holy island #northumberland #materia medica #💧

[araknahs]

materia medica

#materia medica

[quejamasdespierte]

#Andrés Laguna #Materia medica #Dioscórides