Herbs in Food, Medicine, Myth, Magic & Lore

Acacia is a small spiny, tree or shrub that grows in the sandy soil of many hot arid climates throughout the world. Sweet smelling bright yellow flowers are surrounded with soft green colored  leaves. Sharp thorns grow from its angular, spreading branches. The bark is gnarly, black, and rough-textured. At the end of the rainy season, the gum that exudes from the stem is harvested and usually dissolved in water to make a mucilage.

Medicinal uses include treating inflammation. It provides a protective and soothing coating to sooth inflammation of the upper respiratory tract and urinary tract. A cough syrup can be made from 1 part mucilage and 3 parts syrup and given in a 1-4 teaspoon doses. Other medicinal uses include, diarrhea, dysentery and typhoid fever. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is said to be helpful for treating premature ejaculation.

Valued hardwood: In the Book of Exodus it was commanded that the ark, which contained the Torah (Word of God), be constructed of shittim (acacia) wood.  Shittum,  is the Hebrew plural of acacia. one of the thorny trees found in the Holy Land. The Acacia Koa wood found in Hawaii is used to make stunning deeply grained red-toned sculptures. Its trunk was used by the ancient Hawaiians for wood carving, musical instruments, and furniture. Beautifully carved bowls are often given as gifts, along with lei's at significant events such as graduations.

Myth Magic & Lore: The wood of the acacia tree is used for protection, and to stimulate psychic powers. It is placed on sacred fires and used to build sacred temples in India. To ward off evil, place a sprig of acacia above your bed. Burn some acacia and sandalwood to stimulate your psychic powers. Acacia wood is also used in money and love spells. Acacia is masculine in nature, governed by the sun and air, and associated with the deities Osiris, Astarte, Ishtar, Diana and Ra.

Adder's tongue is a common name for several plants:  Ophioglossum, a genus in the order Ophioglossales. The name Ophioglossum comes form the Greek, and means "snake-tongue". (photo on the right). Remarkably, Ophioglossum has the highest chromosome count of any living organism.

 

Erythronium (also known as Fawn Lily, Trout Lily, or Dog's-tooth Violet), a genus of lilies. (photo on the left). The erythronium americanum is the herb most often referred to by herbalists as fawn lily or fawn lily, trout lily, dog's-tooth violet and adder's-tongue.

Cooking: The bulb is edible as a root vegetable, cooked or dried, and can be ground into flour. The leaves can also be cooked as a leaf vegetable and the green seed pods have the flavor of string beans and are tasty raw or cooked. In Japan, Erythronium japonicum is called katakuri, and the bulb is processed to produce starch, which is used in the preparation of tempura, mochi (see recipe) and other dishes. True katakuriko is now quite costly and is rarely available in stores.

Medicinal Uses: Adder's tongue was a popular treatment of scrofula, a form of tuberculosis that affects the lymph nodes in the neck, and is still used for skin ailments. Use one teaspoon of  fresh leaves or two teaspoons of root to one cup of boiling water.  A poultice can be made using crushed leaves, or pieces of root simmered in milk until it reaches the desired consistency.

Myth, Magic & Lore: This is a feminine plant governed by the moon and the element of water. It has healing powers and is used to treat wounds and bruising. Soak some adder's tongue in cold water, wrap it in a cloth, and apply it to the wound or bruise it until the herb grows warm. Bury the wet herb in a muddy place. The wound will be cured.

Agave is a perennial succulent plant of a large botanical genus of the same name, belonging to the family Agavaceaem which grows in arid and semiarid regions. The name comes from the Greek word meaning "noble" which refers to the tall stalks that grow from the base of the agave plant,and does not yield flowers until it is ten years old.

Practical Uses:  The parts of the agave that are edible include the flowers, the leaves, the stalks or basal rosettes, and the sap.

• Flowers can be eaten raw, added to salad, or eaten with a sour cream dip.


• Leaves can be roasted and are often served with molasses and use to cook meat. 


• The sap from the stalk of the flower is used by the Mexicans to make their national beverage, pulque and also used as an ingredient to make tequila.


• Agave syrup can be used as a sugar substitute.


• Dried stalks can be used to make a didgeridoo.


• The leaves can be used to make sisal hemp.


• In Mexico, parts of the plant are used for razor stops, pens, nails and needles, as well as string to sew and make weavings. 




Medicinal : Agave is an antiseptic, diuretic, laxative, and has disinfectant properties. The sap can be ingested to Stop the growth of bacterial putrefaction in the intestines. It has been used in the treatment of syphilis, pulmonary tuberculosis, liver disease and jaundice. You can even use an agave tonic to treat hair loss.

Alfalfa, one of nature's oldest legumes, has been cultivated for over 2000 years, and prized as forage, with the highest nutritional value of all hay crops. Native to Iran, ancient Arabs fed it to their prized horses to make them swift and strong. The use of alfalfa as forage spread from Central Asia, to Greece, to Chile and then to the US in the mid-1800's.

Food: Alfalfa and is rich in vitamins and minerals, and the entire plant is edible. There are many great ways to serve their nutritious, sprouts. Germinate your own sprouts, or make some nutritious alfalfa tea.

WARNING: Alfalfa seeds, when ingested in quantities, can cause Pancytopenia and  NEJM reports seeds induced lupus in monkeys.

Medicine: Alfalfa is used to treat arthritis, boils, cancer, scurvy, and urinary ailments. Studies have shown it reduces cholesterol and is an effective anti fungal treatment. The JNCI published an article stating alfalfa binds carcinogens in the bowels and speeds up their elimination. High in chlorophyll, it is a natural breath freshener.

Magic: Alfalfa is a feminine herb ruled by the planet Venus and the element earth, and is used to promote prosperity. Place some alfalfa in a small jar in the pantry and burn some and scatter the ashes around the property. It is also used in money spells.

Allspice comes from the dried, unripened fruit of the Pimenta dioica plant, which was named allspice by the English, because of it's complex aroma. This aromatic spice tastes similar to cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.

FOOD: The use of allspice in cooking is worldwide. The following is a list of recipe links and countries.

• Jamaica, Jerk Sauce Seasoning, Jamaican Beef Patties, Carribean Shrimp


• Mexico, mole sauces


• Czechoslovakia, Czech poppy seed cakes


• Jordan/Palestine, Upside-Down Company Platter, Musakkhan


• Great Britain, Pice ar y Maen (Welsh Cakes)


• Germany, Maultaschen (German Ravioli, Swabian Pockets)


• Allspice is used in large amounts by commercial sausage makers


• Allspice is also a main flavor used in barbeque sauces.

MEDICINE: Allspice oil is used for toothaches which contains eugenol, a weak antimicrobial agent. Allspice also provides relief for digestive problems.

MYTH & MAGIC: Allspice is a masculine plant that is ruled by Mars and the element of fire. Allspice is burned as an incense to attract money and luck. Allspice is also used to promote healing.

Aloe is part of the Liliaceae family along with lilies, tulips and garlic, and there are over 500 species of Aloe. Aloe has been used for healing as early as 1500 B.C. for skin problems, and as a laxative.

Aloe's plump leaves are fill with a jelly like gel that is soothes minor burns,
scalds, cuts, and insect stings and dry itchy skin. The gel dries into a natural bandage
that helps heal and prevents infection. Aloe is added to all sorts of
consumer products that are intended to soothe.No kitchen should be without a potted of Aloe plant nearby for those little accidental wounds.

In addition to it's soothing properties, there is a latex on the inner leaf skin that is a potent laxative and should be used with caution.