Throughout the history of mankind, we have told fairy tales and myths and legends featuring fantastic creatures, gnarled witches, spooky forests and epic quests. Many of them have featured herbs, in one way or another, such as the sprig of mistletoe that killed the Norse God Baldur, and the Nightshade that seasoned the apple that sent Snow White into an enchanted sleep. Many of these herbs are still used today, including a lot of the herbs previously grown in the traditional and terrifying witch's garden – Hellebore, Henbane, Thornapple, Opium Poppy, Bittersweet, Deadly Nightshade, Wolfsbane, Foxglove and Mandrake. Names to conjure with! These are the herbs traditionally associated with Hecate, Goddess of Night and Death, Crone of wisdom and change. Think about them for a moment. These plants, with their dark leaves, and often purple or white flowers, conjure up clear images of wizened old women, evil curses, magic performed in the dark and never spoken about. They are the plants that grow outside the gingerbread cottage, that are often ruled by Saturn and Mercury – chancy planets, which rule plants that can have unpredictable effects. These are the herbs that must be used cautiously, with crone wisdom and clear sight, for small doses can bring about huge amounts of change, and larger doses can kill. Lets take a closer look at some of these mysterious and often deadly plants.
Deadly Nightshade - Atropa belladonna
Many of us will recall the popular fairy tale of Snow White, which was converted into one of the first Disney movies. Who could forget the tale of the young girl, with hair black as night, skin white as snow and lips red as blood, who so infuriated her father's new wife that she attempted to have the girl killed in a number of unpleasant ways, the last and most successful of which concerned giving the girl an apple liberally seasoned with Deadly Nightshade – known commonly these days as Atropa belladonna, or Belladonna. The Latin name of 'Belladonna' comes from the Roman practice used by fashionable women of the era, of putting drops of Belladonna in their eyes to make the pupils widen and therefore enhance their beauty. Belladonna – 'beautiful woman'. Perhaps not the most intelligent idea as it caused glaucoma in the long run!
The first half of the plant's Latin name refers to the eldest of the three Fates, Atropos, she who cuts the thread of life. The herb is also associated with the enchantress Circe, a chancy, tricksy character according to legend, as well as with the Underworld. Already we begin to see the dangerous connections that this herb has! Belladonna has quite the reputation, including an association with the devil, and as a component of the infamous witches' flying ointment. Some legends say that Belladonna is so beloved of the devil that he refuses to leave the plant, leaving it unattended only on May Eve, when he was attending the witches sabbat. The war Goddess Bellona drank an infusion of belladonna before invoking the Goddess
Belladonna has a decidedly sinister appearance, with mid green, large, oval leaves, and flowers that are a dusky purplish red in colour. The berries are about the same size as cherries and are highly poisonous. The plant is quite rare in the UK these days which is probably a good thing, as the whole plant is extremely narcotic to the touch and is only used medicinally in minute doses. Overdose causes hallucination, confusion, irritability and drunkenness, followed by coma leading to death – the whole plant is a central nervous system depressant. It is still used medicinally by qualified herbalists, in extremely small doses, to treat nervous complaints such as Parkinsons disease and epilepsy, as well as in mixtures to treat moderate to severe pain.
Henbane - Hyoscyamus niger
Like Belladonna, Henbane has a long standing reputation as a poison and all round dangerous herb. Some of its more colourful nicknames include Devil's Eye, Black Nightshade and Poison tobacco, indicating its dangerous nature. The plant is associated with crone aspects of the Triple Goddess, unsurprisingly as it certainly takes crone wisdom to know how to use this plant without killing anyone!
Folklore surrounding this herb mentions that the plant was used in wreaths to crown the souls of the dead when they descended to Hades. The Celts used it as a poisonous coating for their arrows, and it later became associated with witches and witchcraft during the medieval era. Apparently witches used the herb to cause convulsions in their victims, as well as in their flying mixtures. It was also combined with the welcome cup at witches sabbats – one can assume at this point that the witches in question were evil witches, because no sensible witch would drink Henbane willingly! The herb was used by poisoners if they couldn't get hold of aconite. A traditional spell involving the use of Henbane dictates that the practitioner should go to a dark, enchanted forest and burn an incense of Henbane, Fennel root, Frankincense, Coriander and Cassia in a censer on a stump surrounded by black candles – the candles will go out once the spirits have arrived .
I'll dare to have an opinion contrary to that held by most reviews of this herb, and state that I think this plant is actually quite attractive in an unusual, unobtrusive way, covered in fine hairs, with large, lobed leaves that are a dull mid green in colour. The flowers are fascinating, pale creamy coloured with dark veins and a darker throat, and are usually 6 petalled, appearing on tall flower stems above the main plant. The plant grows to approximately 30 inches tall and is biennial, and easily cultivated from seed. Apparently the plant does not smell at all pleasant, although I can't say for sure as I haven't grown it myself. I do, however, agree with the general assessment that this plant has a decidedly sinister appearance, much like many of the plants associated with witchcraft.
In both old and modern medicine, Henbane has been used to treat pain, as in small doses it is a very effective painkiller. It is also narcotic and hallucinogenic, and gives visions and deep sleep in suitable sized doses. The plant is sometimes used to treat the tremor caused by Parkinson's disease in modern medicine. In larger doses it can kill very easily so its best not to use it, and to leave it up to a qualified herbalist to prescribe this plant.
Thornapple / Jimsonweed - Datura stramonium
Thornapple, an American plant, has a whole host of nick names, including, but not limited to, Devil's apple, Devil's trumpet, Mad apple, Sorcerer's Herb, Witches Thimble and Yerba del Diablo (Herb of the Devil). Unsurprisingly, this is another plant with a long history has a hallucinogenic and narcotic, and was reputed to be a witches and sorcerer's herb. This is another of the strange and ominous plants that can grant hallucinations and out of body experiences when ingested or if the body is annointed with a paste of the herb. German witches used to carry the herb to Brocken Peak on Walpurgis Night, for their (probably infernal) celebrations. Typically enough, this is another of the herbs that has a double edged reputation – in this case, it can both deter demons and summon them. The plant has a history of usage in ceremonial drugs, as well as to doctor someone's pint to make it considerably easier to rob them, as the small dosage of the herb causes similar effects to those caused by severe intoxication. The plant has also been used by priests to allow prophecy and divination, as well as as an aphrodisiac. Legend has it that the plant was originally introduced to Britain by Gypsies, who smoked it as a hallucinogenic – whether there is any truth in this remains to be seen.
Shamanically, the herb has been used to facilitate communication with the spirit world, possibly because it causes a certain amount of lucid dreaming and hallucinations. Whether or not this means the spirit world actually exists and can be contacted is perhaps a topic for further discussion. Historically, growing the herb deliberately could buy you a one way ticket to the stake! As with many of the other herbs traditionally associated with the evil witch's garden, the Thornapple is ruled by Saturn.
The thornapple is a member of the Solanaceae family, as are Henbane, Mandrake and Belladonna, and like Henbane, it has unusually shaped, toothed leaves and a strong, unpleasant smell. The flowers are creamy white and trumpet shaped, and the seeds develop in the spiny pod that gained the plant the name 'thornapple'. In modern day herbal medicine, the plant is used as an antispasmodic for painful, spasmodic conditions of the digestive system, urinary tract and respiratory tract, as well as to treat asthma and as a pain killer and sedative. It is used to treat some nervous conditions, in particular Parkinsons disease and delirium.
Opium Poppy - Papaver somniferum
The next entry in this exploration into Hecate's plants is a bit of a departure from the Solanaceae family dominated entries so far. The Opium Poppy, Papaver somniferum, is the famous and notorious precursor of our modern drug, Morphine, as well as the herb behind the development of the Victorian drug, Laudanum, a tincture made from opium poppy. Unlike the rest of the herbs thus far, the Opium Poppy is ruled by the Moon, not Saturn, not altogether surprising in light of the fact that the drug provides hallucinogenic, narcotic and euphoric effects – the moon has always had an association with sleep, madness and dreams, after all! The Latin name 'papaver' apparently derives originally from the word 'pappa', meaning 'breast' – possibly alluding to the milky white sap that oozes from the ripening seed capsule. Somniferum derives from Greek, and means 'sleep bearing', unsurprisingly. Three thousand years ago, the plant was held as sacred by the ancient Sumerians, and the plant was also used by the ancient Egyptians as a sedative. The Anglo Saxons knew the plant as 'Popig', which later became the more well known 'Poppy', and apparently used the sap as a medicine for short tempered babies, although one has to wonder just how many children survived to see adulthood when dosed with this potent herb! The monks often grew the plant in their monastery herb gardens, using it in medicines to bring sleep and ease pain.
The Opium Poppy is associated with sleep and dreams, and the drug morphine derives its name from the lesser god Morpheus, who appeared in dreams. The poppy also features in Greek myths, as it appeared around Demeter as she searched for her daughter Persephone, who had been abducted by Hades. Apparently the gods had placed the plant there to grant rest to the frantic Demeter. Nyx, a night Goddess, and her son, Thanatos, death, both wear or carry poppies. Opium Poppy is truly a double edged blade, being an essential pain killer on the one hand, and unfortunately being the precursor to Heroin on the other hand – this duality is fairly typical of the herbs associated with the Underworld.
Opium Poppy is an attractive annual, with pale pink to deep red flowers, ruffled leaves and tall stems. It grows wild in some fields and wastelands, as well as being cultivated in an assortment of different variations as an attractive garden plant – generally by those who are unaware of its ancient power and reputation.
Monkshood - Aconitum angelicum, A. napellus
Aconite, more commonly known as Monkshood or Wolfsbane, is an extremely poisonous perennial, sometimes grown as a garden ornamental for its rather attractive hooded blueish purple flowers. Unlike many of the rest of the herbs mentioned so far in this article, Wolfsbane is from the ranunculaceae family and is extremely poisonous. It has a fairly substantial amount of folklore surrounding it, unsurprising given its decidedly sinister appearance. One of the earliest legends mentioning it mention its use on the isle of Chios, in eastern Aegea, in the Greek era, where it was apparently used as a form of enforced euthanasia for those unfortunates who had become senile in their old age. Another legend associates it with the saliva of Cerberus, the decidedly intimidating three headed hound of Hell, who guarded the gateway to the underworld. Aconite grew where the drops of Cerberus' saliva touched the ground. A different version of this story mentions that it is taken from the name of the hill 'Aconitus' in Pontica, where Hercules fought Cerberus, the drops of the three headed dog's saliva generating the plant when it touched the ground. Medea used the herb to poison Theseus after he deserted her. (The 'woman scorned' seems to crop up quite a bit in these legends!) According to later stories, the Anglo Saxons dipped the heads of their hunting arrows in the juice of the plant when hunting wolves, hence the alternative name of Wolfsbane, although this may also come from the myth that it can be used to cure or ward off werewolves – this depending heavily on personal opinion. The plant was another of the infamous ingredients of the traditional 'witch's flying ointment' as the juice when applied to the skin provides a tingling sensation, followed by numbness. Considering that general consensus is that this is one of the most dangerous plants in the British Isles, this is a singularly stupid use of the plant, although not greatly surprising given the other herbs also associated with witches. Another tale linking this herb to the traditional 'evil witch' mentions that it was painted onto chips of flint which were thrown at the intended target. The smallest scratch would be enough to make the victim sicken and die. The name 'Monkshood' comes, not only from the appearance of the flowers, but also from the monks, who used to grow it in their gardens and use it as an addition to rubs to relieve joint aches and pains.
Aconite is a hardy perennial and generally grows in damp and shady places in mountainous and hilly regions, reaching up to 2 metres tall in height. It has deeply divided, palmate leaves which are a glossy dark green above and silvery below, and blue violet coloured flowers formed in tall spikes, which appear between May and June each year. The root is often black in colour, another symbol tying it quite effectively to the Underworld. It is associated with Hecate, Cerberus and Medea, and probably by extension with Cerridwen as another of the Crone / Witch associated Goddesses.
As with many of the herbs associated with witchcraft, Aconite first stimulates the nervous system and grants pain relief, but later on leads to paralysis, vomiting, stomach pains, diarrhoea and finally death. I wouldn't recommend anyone uses this herb for medicinal purposes or even for magical uses. There are plenty of safer options out there without toying with a plant that is, after all, associated with the very darkest face of the Goddess!
Mandrake - Mandragora officinarum
Last, but most certainly not least, is the venerable Mandrake, a plant that has a huge amount of folklore, myth and legend associated with it. When you think of witchcraft, this is perhaps the first plant that springs to mind, such is the nature of the lore associated with it. Mandrake, also known as Satan's Apple, Herb of Circe, Mandragora, Womandrake, Sorcerer's Root, Witches Mannikin and Dragon-doll amongst other names, is a perennial plant growing to approximately 1 foot high, native to south east Europe and America. The huge root that generated much of the lore associated with this plant is gnarled and substantial, sometimes reaching as deep as 3 feet below the ground. The large, dark green leaves are roughly ovate, with white, bell shaped, strongly fragrant flowers and apple shaped fruits. They begin a greenish colour and ripen to a deep yellow, with a smell resembling that of the pineapple. Frustratingly enough, there are quite a few plants referred to as 'Mandrake' – European Mandrake and American Mandrake being the two most commonly known. Some of the plants referred to as 'Mandrake' of one sort of another are not part of the Mandrake family – for example Bryony (Brionia dioica) which is sometimes referred to as 'English Mandrake'.
There are a number of theories about where the names for this plant originally derived, one of which being from the Greek 'mandragorus', which apparently comes from two Sanskrit words meaning 'sleep bringing substances'. The Greeks dedicated it to Aphrodite. Mandrake dates back to the Egyptians, roughly 1700BCE, and has been found in some of the pyramids. Theophrastus mentioned it as being an aphrodisiac, in the 4th century. In Pliny's era, it was used to induce sleep and deaden pain before surgical procedures, and it was also made into a wine to give on a sponge to those about to be executed. On the other side of the coin, they were used as a general good luck charm. The Germans named the charms made from the root 'alrauns', after a famous sorceress from the era, named the Alrauna Maiden, who made and used charms of this nature. One of the most well known pieces of folklore associated with the Mandrake is the belief that uprooting the plant would cause it to scream violently, a noise that could kill anyone close enough to hear it. In order to avoid the lethal screams, a dog would be tied to the plant and urged to pull it up, using raw meat to encourage the dog's movement. Mandrake also has a legendary reputation as a fertility aid, as well as increasing the sex drive. It always intrigues me how many of the plants used to promote fertility and boost the sex drive are also highly associated with the devil! I'm sure many of my readers can draw amusing parallels here between Christianity's strong antipathy towards sex and fertility and the immediate association between plants that encourage this and the devil's presence.
Medicinally, Mandrake is not really used for much these days, given that the roots are powerfully emetic and purgative. The ancients used it as an anodyne and soporific, to treat rheumatic complaints, while larger doses of it can cause delirium and madness, typical of many of the Underworld associated plants. The leaves are – according to Mrs Grieve – quite harmless, although I'm not sure it is worth experimenting with.
Interested in this article? You may also be interested in the following books:
The Charmed Garden - Diane Morgan; Findhorn Press - Scotland
What's Your Poison? Volume 1 – The Garden of Hades; Tina Tarrant; Capall Bann – Somerset
Herb Craft : A Guide to the Shamanic & Ritual use of Herbs; Susan Lavender & Anna Franklin; Capall Bann – Somerset
Plants of Mystery and Magic - Michael Jordan; Cassell & Co – London
Pharmako/Poeia: Plant Powers, Poisons & Herbcraft- Dale Pendell; Mercury House – San Francisco
Pharmako/Dynamis – Dale Pendell; Mercury House – San Francisco
Pharmako/Gnosis – Dale Pendell; Mercury House – San Francisco
To the best of my knowledge, all the images used in this article are non copyright and public domain. If this is not the case and you wish an image removed, please do email me.