As practically anyone [today] can tell you, herbs do miraculous things for [and to] the human body. They can also have fatal side-effects when mixed improperly, counteractions with one another when combined with the wrong accompanying herbs, or just not do what expected when not properly enchanted.

I've said a lot on the subject of enchanting items and herbs, but I will repeat the more important aspects here.

To enchant the herb [root, tuber, etc.], you gather your energies [colored or attracted to the specific purpose intended], and release them into the herb. When you have made the herb "sing" [referring to the harmonic vibrations which will be present when properly charged], you may then break, grind, or grate the herb into your mixture. By breaking, grinding, or grating the herb, you release the energies you have used to evoke the essence of the herb and awaken its magickal uses/abilities.

Each ingredient should be enchanted by itself, and then the whole lot, once assembled. Your goal is to attune each herb to its own individual contribution to the mixture you are preparing, and then to attune them to one another under a single, chosen purpose.

Therapeutic Massage can also work wonders for many ailments. I highly recommend using the TaiChi technique for energy raising. These energies work SO well when healing. Use your hands in a counter-clockwise [widdershins] motion to remove things/illnesses and ailments from the body. You use your hands in a clockwise motion to put healing energies into the body.

Use heated oils. If you choose to mix massage oils with essential oils [as most do], MAKE SURE THEY ARE BODY OILS!! The wrong essential oils can cause serious burns to the skin! This is of the utmost importance when dealing with oils! You can use any type of body oil. This includes [but is not limited to] baby oil, lotions, and anything commercially available, scented or unscented. I personally like to use whipped baby oil. It heats without complication, goes on smoothly, and the scent is one which most people associate with happiness, security, and love.

In heating, you may use any microwave safe glass container for heating. Make sure it has a wide enough mouth [a bowl is preferable] to allow your hand to enter easily without having to devote any attention to it. After adding your herbs, oils, etc. and heating your oil, put your OWN hand into it first to make sure it is not too hot. You need the person you are attempting to help, to TRUST you. If you've burned them right at the start, they won't trust you!

Use the whole of your hand, from the heel to the tips of your fingers when delivering massage. Touching your subject is necessary. Your receiving hand removing stress and negativity; your giving hand sending in relaxation and positivity. When your subject is completely at rest, you may begin raising your "chi." Counter Clockwise to remove, Clockwise to instill.

A general working knowledge of human anatomy would be advisable when dealing with physical human subjects; just like a good knowledge of disease, energy, and how they interact is necessary when working with specific illnesses.
Making An Infusion, Otherwise Known As A Medicamentum [or "Magick Potion"]
An infusion is made by pouring boiling water over an amount of the herb, to extract the properties. It is suitable for leaves and flowers, whose parts are easily extracted.

  • Place the herb in a teapot with a close-fitting lid.
  • Pour in boiling water.
  • Leave to infuse for up to 10 full minutes.
  • Strain through a sieve or strainer into a cup.
  • Store the remainder in an amber colored jar in the fridge.
  • Be sure to properly label and date the jar.
  • 1 oz of dried herb or 2 oz fresh herb to 2 cups of boiling water.
  • One teacup (5 fl oz), 3 times a day, is considered a standard dose.

    Infusions and decoctions should be stored in tightly-stoppered or sealed jars and will last for about 3 days only, even in the fridge.
    Making A Decoction
    A decoction involves simmering the herb in water to extract its properties, and is suitble for roots or woody parts that do not easily yield their ingredients in a simple infusion. If combining two plants, where one is a root, and the other a flower, use the strained deoction of the root for pouring on the flower to make the infusion.

  • Place the root/woody herb in a saucepan and pour on 3 2/3 cups cold water.
  • Bring to a boil and simmer, until the liquid is reduced by one third.
  • Strain through a sieve into an amber jar and store in the tridge.
  • It will only keep for 3 days.
  • 2 cups of finished product should be your result.
  • One teacup (5 fl oz), 3 times a day, is considered a standard dose.
    1 oz dried herb or 2 oz fresh herb to 3 2/3 cups water

    Making A Hot Oil Infusion
    Herbs can be infused in oil, to make an extract for use in massage, or in making creams and ointments. Infused oils may keep for a few months, but will be stronger made in small batches for more immediate use. Hot infused oils may be made from herbs such as Comfrey, while flowers such as Marigold or St. John's Wort are better as cold infused oils. Any light oil, such as sunflower, safflower or sweet almond oil is a suitable medium to use.

  • Place the herb and oil in a glass bowl, over a saucepan of simmering water, and heat gently for a couple of hours.
  • Pour through a jelly bag into a clean jar.
  • Squeeze out as much oil as possible through the bag (wear gloves, as the oil is still hot at this point), to get a really strong extract.
  • Pour into clean, dark bottles, seal and store in a cool place.
  • Use within 3 months of making.
    9 oz dried herb or 1 1/4 lb fresh to 2 cups pure vegetable oil.

    Making A Cold Oil Infusion
    Some plants contain important medicinal oils which are highly volatile, making they escape with heat. A cold oil infusion retains their properties much more successfully.

  • Pack a large jar with the herb and cover with an oil mentioned above.
  • Seal and leave in a sunny spot for 2 weeks.
  • Pour slowly through a jelly bag into a clean jar, allowing time for the oil to filter through the fabric.
  • Squeeze out as much oil as possible through the bag.
  • To make the infused oil as strong as possible, repeat steps 1-4 with the same oil and new amounts of the herb.
  • Pour into clean, small, dark bottles.
  • Remember than when opened, the oil starts to deteriorate.
    9 oz dried herb or 1 1/4 lb fresh to 2 cups pure vegetable oil.
    Making A Tincture

    Many herbs contain active ingredients which are not easily extracted by water, or are destroyed by heat, and a tincture solves these problems as well as preserving the extract. A tincture is an extract of an herb in a mixture of alcohol and water, normally 25% alcohol strength. This is one of the most concentrated extracts from an herb, and the alcohol preserves the medicine for 2 years or more. The alcohol used commercially is ethyl alcohol, but spirits such as brandy or vodka can be used for home tinctures. Do not use industrial alsohol, isopropyl alcohol or methylated spirits, as they are ALL poisonous!

    Because a tincture is such a concentrated extrace, only use where recommended, and for short periods of time. Do not be tempted to increase the dosage!! CAUTION!!

    If in any doubt about using a tincture, seek professional advice, or stick to the other methods described above. Do NOT give tinctures to children and remember to keep all medicines out of your child's reach!



  • Put the herb into a large jar and pour on the alcohol/water mixture.
  • Seal the jar and store in a cool place for two weeks.
  • Occasionally, shake the jar to evenly recoat the herbs.
  • Pour mixture throgh a jelly bag into a clean jar.
  • Squeeze out the tincture from the bag.
  • Ideally, use a wine press and press the mixture into a clean jar.
  • Pour the strained liquid into clean dark bottles.
  • Seal and store in a cool dry place.
  • Be sure to date and label each bottle.
  • 1 tsp, three times a day is considered standard dosage.
    7 oz dried herb or 1 1/2 oz fresh herb to 2 1/2 cups alcohol and 1 1/2 cups water.
    Poultices
    A poultice acts in a similar way to a compress, but the herb itself is used rather than just a liquid extract. Normally poultices are applied hot, and it may be useful to apply a little o0il to the skin first, to stop the herb from sticking.

  • Chop up the fresh herb if it is too large, and place sufficient herbs to cover the affected area into a saucepan.
  • Add a little water and simmer for a couple of minutes.
  • Squeeze out any excess moisture and [careful not to burn your subject] place the herb on the affected area.
  • Cover with gauze wrap to hold in place.
  • Keep in place for 3-4 hours, replacing every hour with a fresh, hot [but not too hot] poultice. Use a good handful of the fresh herb.
    Making An Ointment
    An ointment contains oils or fats, but no water, and is useful to form a protective layer over the skin. Petroleum jelly or paraffin wax may be used, but a wonderful natural method is to use vegetable oil, such as sweet almond or sunflower, with beeswax. This is also very easy to make at home.

  • Place the beeswax and oil in a glass bowl over a sauce pan of water.
  • Bring do a boil and simmer the water until the wax has melted into the oil.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Stir continually as the oil/wax mixture cools and stiffens.
  • Essential oils may be added at this state, and stirred into the mixture.
  • Pour or spoon into small, clean, dark ointment jars.
  • Seal and store.
  • Make in small amounts, as the storage times vary greatly due to conditions.

    1 oz beeswax, 1/2 c oil, 25 drops of essential oils, but only 10 if for very sensitive skin. Also, please see the warnings concerning essential oils at the beginning of this page!

    Symptoms & The Herbal Cure
    There are literally thousands of herbs out there to assist the Magick User in healing the body. Most drug store chains and even WalMart's pharmacy carries herbal remedies for virtually every ailment.