Different Ways to Use Herbs:

DECOCTION: Place one ounce of herb in one pint of water. Make certain that roots are put in to boil before leaves. Once the water has come to a boil, simmer for about 30 minutes covered, then leave to cool completely. Strain and use as directed.

INFUSION: The original form of a potion, an infusion is not unlike a tea in quality. Pour boiling water over the herb in the proportions of one ounce herb to one pint water (although you may need much less for herbs that infuse quickly in water). Steep for fifteen to thirty minutes until a tea is formed. Use as directed.

MACERATE: To steep an herb in fat, such as done with salve and ointments. Best oils to use are almond and sesame. Warm one cup of oil over a low flame and place one-half ounce herbs wrapped in cheesecloth to soak. Continue until the herbs have lost their color and the oil is rich with their scent.

OINTMENT: A fatty substance such as lard to which herbs are added. Choose herbs according to the effect you desire, or enchant them, or both. For healing ointments, choose according to physical ailment. Three teaspoon of herb to one cup of fat, steeped and heated several times should prove very nice. Vegetable shortening will work very well, especially almond and saffron. All ointments should be kept cool and in air tight containers for best results. For magic, ointments work best when applied to pulse points or chakras.

POULTICE: A portion of herbs placed in an equal amount of boiling water to steep. Once herbs have been fully dampened, strain the water and place the herbs in gauze or cheesecloth applied directly to the affected area. This can be a little messy, so have a towel handy. It works fairly well, especially for rashes and other mild skin disorders.

TINCTURE: For ounces of herb steeped in eight ounces of alcohol for about two weeks gives a reasonable tincture. The bottle should be sealed and left in a dark area, and the liquid strained when the tincture is ready.

WASH: A tea or infusion meant only for external use. A mild form of a wash would be 1/4 ounce of herb to one pint of boiling water, steeped until lukewarm, then applied.

Drying Herbs

There are 3 different ways to dry herbs for future use, be it cooking or ritual use. The first is to make a drying screen. Take a piece of plastic window screen mesh, and fasten it to a wooden frame, fastening it to the sides of the wood. This leaves room for the air to circulate under the screen, for faster drying, and also prevents the herbs from becoming mouldy. Allow them to dry in a cool, dry place. It doesn't matter if it is warm or cool.
The second way is to use silicon gel beads, and putting them in the microwave. This is the fastest method, but also expensive. Silica beads are found in packets in new shoe boxes, inside purses, or can be purchased via mail order. Most stores do not carry them. Times vary, by the type of herb. 
The third way is by hanging them to dry. This is best with flowers or herbs with longer stems. You can tie them in a bunch and hang them upside down, or just hang them singly on a piece of cord, etc. stretched across a room. They must be upside down! This method actually takes the longest. Most flowers require being hung for two weeks.
To use the herbs, you must have a mortar & pestle. They must be ground up, and the seeds removed. It takes about 1 hour to grind up the herbs for proper consistency. They must be ground up! If you are using them for cooking, leave them on the stalks until you are ready to use them. Growing and preparing the herbs yourself, makes the magic stronger. You have had a hand in the growing, cutting, and preparation of the herbs, therefore they have a connection to you.
If you don't have a lot of space to grow them, You can make many types of containers to grow them in. A good guide for this purpose is All About Herbs from Ortho Books. An excellent guide to finding herbs, and their uses, and what part of the plant to use, is The Herb Book by John Lust. The book to learn about drying them in the microwave is called Herb Drying Handbook by Nora Blose and Dawn Cusick.
Blessed Be, and have a happy time with your herbs.

HERBS

ALOE
G/P/E: Feminine, Moon, Water.
Magical attributes: Beauty, protection, success, peace.
Uses: Aloe has always been known for its healing qualities. For treating wounds and maintaining healthy skin. It may be applied right from the plant or in gel form for burns, sunburns, and can releive poison ivy rash and helps to combat a variety of bacteria that commonly cause infections in skin wounds. It is also an excellent additive for soaps and creams as a conditioner.
After using gel from a leaf the opened leaf will seal itself so you can store it in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator for future uses.

AINTH (cockscomb)
Magical attributes: repair a broken heart

ANGELICA (Archangelica-Angelica)
G/P/E: Masculine, Venus, Fire.
Magical attributes: Protection, Exorcism.
Uses: Grow in the garden as a protection. Carry the root with you as an amulet. Burn the dried leaves in exorism rituals.

ANISE
G/P/E: Masculine, Jupiter or Moon, Air.
Magical attributes: Protection, purification, awareness, joy.
Uses: For treating coughs, bronchitis and a stuffy nose, it loosens bronchial congestion, making it easier to cough it up and expel it. A good breath freashener in the morning, and if kept by the bed it will prevent bad dreams. Also a digestive aid and can releive an upset stomach and flatulence when taken as a tea, and a treatment for colic. Also suggested that anise may be beneficial to women because certain chemicals in the plant are chemical cousins to the female hormone estrogen. Though it is mild, anise may help to relieve the discomfort of menopause. In traditional folk medicine it has been used to promote milk production in nursing mothers. It's recommened dosage would be 1 teaspoonful of seeds for every cup of boiling water, steep 10-20 minutesand strain, drink 3 cups a day for maximum effect. A good general cleansing bath is made with a handful of anise seeds and a few bay leaves. A pillow of anise keeps away nightmares. Also a good sedative.

BASIL
G/P/E: Masculine, Mars, Fire
Magical attributes: Protection, love, wealth (if carried in your wallet), healing relationships, courage, fertility, exorcism.
Uses: It is good as a tea for calming the nerves, settling the stomach, and easing cramps and good for the bladder. In tincture form, also makes a good hair rinse for brunettes. An ingredient of the Purification bath sachet. Add to love sachets and incenses.

BAY
G/P/E:
Magical attributes: wisdom, protection, psychic powers
Uses: DO NOT TAKE INTERNALLY-use as a poultice on chest for bronchitis and chest colds.

CARAWAY
G/P/E: Masculine, Mercury, Air
Magical attributes: Protection, Passion
Uses: Add to love sachets and charms to attract a lover in the more physical aspect. Also a mild stimulant for digestion.

CATNIP
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Water.
Magical attributes: Cat magic, familiars, joy, friendship, love.
Uses: Its flowers and leaves have often been used to treat colds and insomnia. It lowers fevers, dries up postnasal drip, gets rid of bad headaches and relieves sore aching bones due to colds and flus, when taken in tea form, 2-3 times daily. As an incense it may be used to consecrate magical tools.

CAMOMILE
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun or Venus, Water.
Magical attributes: Good as a meditation incense, for centering, peace, sprinkle in your home for protection, healing, money.
Uses: Is an excellent herb both internally and externally for calming. Great for digestion, fevers, burns, rs, anti-inflammatory for wounds, and sedative for nervous disorders. And releives stomachaches and diarrhea in infants and small children (always using in diluted form). In tea form, made of 2 teaspoons of the herb steeped for 5 minutes in a cup of boiling water is a gentle sleep inducer. Chamomile also makes an excellent insect repellent, simply splash some tea on face arms and feet. It is also a good hair rinse for blondes. Plant camomile in your garden to be the gardiaan of the land, and you will have certain success.

CAYENNE PEPPER
G/P/E:
Magical attributes:
Uses: An excellent flu fighter. Permotes fast recovery, stops internal and external bleeding, said to prevent heart attacks and also helps with depression and headaches. Also makes a fine liniment- quickly bringing blood to the surface of the skin, use either cider vinegar or alcohol as base for the liniment. Dilute with rose water or distilled water, heating the vinegar or spirits before using them.

CINNAMON
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical attributes: Spiritual quests, money,  augmenting power, love, success, psychic work, healing, cleansing.
Uses: It is recommended as a skin astringent and digestive aid in tea form. Ground, or taken with milk, good balance after a heavy meal or dessert. Also used for diarrhea, dysentary or general indigestion. It is an excellent aromatic and makes a good anointing oil for any magical working.

CLOVE
G/P/E: Masculine, Jupiter or Uranus, Fire.
Magical attributes: Dispel negativity, protection, money, incense against gossip, vision, cleansing.
Uses: It has a mild antiseptic quality for toothaches (chew), or in tea form it is an expectorant for colds, also good foe nausea or vomiting. It is an antibacterial,antiseptic, and analgesic, which means it helps prevent disease and infection.

COMFREY
G/P/E: Feminine, Saturn, Water.
Magical attributes: Safe travel spells, money, healing.
Uses: Has been known to slow bleeding, aid colds, ease burns. As a poultice or a tea, comfrey may be applied to bites, sores, rashes, broken bones, and cuts. Also a good ingredient for lotions to soothe unburn.

CORIANDER
G/P/E: Masculine, Mars, Fire.
Magical attributes: Protection of home, peace , good in ritual drinks, incenses for longevity and love, security.
Uses: If added to wine, it makes a servieable love potion for 2 consenting parties. Also used in love sachets and charms.

DANDELION
G/P/E: Masculine, Jupiter, Air.
Magical attributes: Divination, welcoming, messages.
Uses: The ground root can act as a coffee substitute, and the flowers make a lovely wine. A superb cleansing tonic, and the milky juice is a diuretic, a tonic and a releif for common stomach problems. Use a handful of flower tops to 1 pint of boiling water, steep 10 minutes and strain. Drink this several times a day. Use the milky latex from the stem , rub on a wart several times daily and soon its gone. Also good for night blindness.

FENNEL
G/P/E: Masculine, Mercury, Fire.
Magical attributes: Purification, protection, healing, money.
Uses: Sometimes employed as an appetite suppressant and digestive aid. Used in tea form to expel mucus.
Chew the seeds slowly for really bad breath, or use the fluid extract to rub on gums.

GINGER
G/P/E: Masculine, Mars, Fire.
Magical attributes: Power, success, love, money
Uses: Acts as an aid to ingestion or colds (tea form). Also in tea form, good for cramps, to stimulate the digestive organs, migraines and nausea, external stiffness. Can be added to the bath as a way to ease pain and increase circulation, but only use a few sprinkles, not to much, like cayenne, ginger quickly brings the blood to the surface of the skin. For pain you can also soak cloths in ginger tea and apply them directly to the painful areas. Add in cooking to detoxify meat, especially chicken. A good healing tea is made from a pinch of peppermint, a pinch of ginger and either a pinch of clove powder or 2 bruised cloves, add 1 cup of hot water and steep.

GINSENG
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical attributes: Love, wishes, beauty, desire, immortality,long life
Uses: Stimulant, tonic, and agent for prolonged life. Also a mild pain killer, and improves blood circulation. Reported to successfully treat asthma, bronchitis, cancer, flatulence, diabetes, weakness, fever, coughs and heartburn, and a mild stimulant. In tea form it helps to relieve stress and moderate heart disease.

GARLIC
G/P/E: Masculine, Mars, Fire.
Magical attributes: Protection, healing, good weather, courage, exorsicm, protection from supernatural creatures such as ghosts or vampric creatures.
Uses: Lowers tension, ease colds, and improve circulation. Garlic vinegar can be used to disinfect wounds and soothe rheumatic pain and any common pain (made from one liter of vinegar and ten cloves of crushed garlic steeped for at least 10 days). Shrinks warts, relieves pain from teeth and earaches. Good for high and low blood pressure and removing parasites and infections. To ease the pain of aching joints, a toothache or an earache, place a crushed raw bulb of garlic on a peice of gauze and place over the area of pain. For joints, try using garlic paste.

LAVENDER
G/P/E: Masculine, Mercury, Air.
Magical attributes: Sleep, long life, peace, wishes, protection, love, purification.
Uses: Has strong antiseptic qualities. Mild infusions (3 tablespoons to 6 cups of water) make a good sedative, headache treatment, and digestive aid. Used in oil or tincture form to heal cuts, burns or scalds,bites. Thisalso acts as a tonic and may be used for colds, chills, and the flu. Lavendar is an excellent aromatic, usually mixing well with other floral scents. An ingredient in the Purification bath sachet, also used in purification incenses. It is thrown onto the Midsummer fires by Witches as a sacrifice to the ancient gods. Lavender is a frequent addition to healing sachets,especially bath mixtures, and is added to incenses to cause sleep. Lavendar is a great antibiotic, antidepressant, sedative and detoxifer. Stimulates the immune system.

LEMON
G/P/E: Feminine, Moon or Neptune, Water.
Magical attributes: Purification, love, blessings.
Uses: Sweetens breath. Antiseptic, antibacterial and hypotensive. For chills and sore throat, the juice of a lemon mixed in a glass of honey and warm water, taken 3 times daily should help. For nose bleeds, apply a small piece of cotton, soaked in lemon juice. In oil form it is used for treating warts, insect bites, tension headaches, eliminates cellulite, and is an anti-wrinkle tonic.. Stimulates the digestive system. Also makes a good skin cleanser, hair rinse for blondes, and cleaning agent for brass and silver.

LILAC
G/P/E:
Magical attributes: protection, beauty, love

MARIGOLD
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical attributes: Prophesy, legal matters, the psychic, seeing magical creatures, love, clairvoyance, dreams, business or legal affairs.
Uses: For internal use the flowers are prepared by infusion and recommended for the flu, fever, rheumatism, jaundice, and painful menstration. Externally, buds are made into compresses for the treatment of burns. Marigold petal ointment can help chapped hands and vericose veins, also works wonders with eczema and inflammation. To ease inflammation, dip a compress into a strong marigold tea combined with an equal part of apple cider vinegar. Sprains can also be helped with marigold petals steeped in vinegar, or make a lotion with milk. Simmer 12 heads in 2 cups milk, steep, strain and apply. Also use as an antiseptic in first aid. Place the flower beneath the head at night to induce clairvoyant dreams. Sometimes added to love sachets. It should be gathered at noon.

MARJORAM
G/P/E: Masculine, Mercury, Air
Magical attributes: protection, love, healing.
Uses: Add to all love charms. Give to a greiving person to bring them happiness.

MINT (SPEARMINT & PEPPERMINT)
G/P/E:Masculine, Mercury or Venus, Air.
Magical attributes: Money, healing, strength, augment power, luck, travel.
Uses: Mint in tea form aids upset stomachs, flu, and can be used to ease hiccups. Inhalations of the leaves in boiling water is recommended for head colds and asthma. Mint tea used instead of aspirin is great for headaches, particularly premenstrual headaches. Nervous headaches can be relieved if you lie in a dark room with fresh peppermint leaves on the forehead. Aids the respiratory and circulatory systems. An anti-inflammatory and an antiseptic. Ideal for treating indigestion,, flatuence, vericose veins, headaches, migranes, skin irritations,rheumatism, toothache, and general fatigue.

MYRRH
G/P/E: Feminine, Jupiter or Moon, Water.
Magical attributes: Bless objects, lift energy, spiritual growth, focus.
Uses: Myrrh oil can act as a mosquito repellent, and in tincture form it is a good treatment for gums.

NETTLE
G/P/E: Masculine, Mars, Fire.
Magical attributes: To advert danger, protection, healing.
Uses: Use gloves to handle so as to avoid getting pricked. High in vitamin C and iron and when in tea form can ease asthma and up your energy levels.

PARSLEY
G/P/E: Masculine, Mercury, Air.
Magical attributes: Fresh parsley leaves in tea form are a treatment for cramps, while dried root decoctions eases urinary infections and arthritis. Externally, crushed leaves relieve insect bites, and may be applied in poultice form to sprains.

PINE
G/P/E:Masculine, Mars, Air.
Magical attributes: Attunement to nature, centering, cleansing, healing, productivity, purificationagainst illness.
Uses:Pine buds prepared by decoction act as an ecpectorant and antiseptic. This same mixture can be used for inhalation for head colds, although it is easier to toss some needles in hot water. Green cones and needlescan be added to bath water to ease muscle pains and swelling. For magic, pine is best suited for its aromatic qualities of bringing one back into balance, and enhancing connection with the natural world.

POPPY
G/P/E: Female, Moon, Water
Magical attributes: Fertility, Prosperity
Uses: Use the seeds in prosperity amulets.

ROSE
G/P/E:Feminine, Venus, Water.
Magical attributes: Love, friendship, luck, protection, psychic power and divination.
Uses: Conserves of roses or rose petals in honey are often recommended for nausea and sore throats. Roses are high in vitamin C.

ROSEMARY
G/P/E:Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical attributes: Improve memory, sleep, purification, youth, love, power, healing, protection, intellectual.
Uses: Promotes healing of wounds, acts as an antiseptic, and can be a mild stimulant. Good in teas for treating flu, stress, and headaches or body aches. Mental and physical booster. Used for treating (oil form) muscular sprains, arthritis, rheumatism, depression, fatigue, memory loss, migraine headaches, coughs, flu and diabetes. Exellent remedy for acne or cellulite. When the leaves are soaked in wine for two weeks, small glasses may be taken as a digestive aid. Oil of rosemary is excellent in hair conditioners, and the flowers of this herb may be added to lotion recipes to improve the complextion. Add to all purification bath sachets, love incenses, and protection incenses. Make a simple of rosemary and use it to cleanse the hands before working magic, if you have no time for a regular ritual bath. Burn rosemary and juniper as a healing and recuperation incense.

SAGE
G/P/E:Masculine, Jupiter or Venus, Air.
Magical attributes: Fertility, longevity, wishes, wisdom, protection, purification. Burn around house or person to purify them from evil or negativity,(old Native American technique).
Uses: Can be used in an infusion to aid digestion, or as part of a honey wine to fight colds and fever. When applied in compresses it can ease many skin discomforts, including dandruff. If made into cream it is good for muscular pain, and if dried and smoked sometimes gives relief to asthma.

THYME
G/P/E:Feminine, Venu, Water.
Magical attributes: Sleep, psychic energy, courage, healing.
Uses: Powerful antivirial, antibiotic, and diuretic properties. It helps eliminate wastes from the body. It is used in treating whooping coughs, warts, rheumatism and acne. A strong antiseptic which when prepared by infusion is useful for poor digestion, exhastion, colds, and infections, and with honey is an effective treatment for sore throats. Also used in tea form as a fever breaker, headache reducer and to be rid of intestinal worms, and can be used as a mouthwash. Also, a great insect repellent. Use both the leaves and flowers. This tea works best for headaches when taken cold. Take a magical cleansing bath in the spring of thyme and marjoram ( used in tea form or whole herbs). A pillow stuffed with it cures nightmares.

TUMERIC
Uses: added to warm milk it regulates menstrual cycle.

VALERIAN
G/P/E:Feminine, Mercury or Venus, Water.
Magical attributes: Love, calming, sleep.
Uses: Use the dried, powdered root. Promotes relaxation while counteracting the effects of insomnia, anxiety, nervousness, headaches, premenstrual syndrome and menstrual cramping. For sleep, before bed take 1 teaspoon of herb to 1 pint of water and simmer. Also acts as a good substitute for catnip. Use the fresh herb in spells of love, also to get fighting couples together. Used in the Purification bath sachet.

WITCH HAZEL
G/P/E: Masculine, Saturn or Sun, Fire.
Magical attributes: Protection, chastity, healing the heart.
Uses: In tincture form it is good as a mouth rinse and to ease hemorrhoids. As a compress, witch hazel can be applied to insect bites and other skin irritations.

YARROW
G/P/E: Feminine, Venus, Water.
Magical uses: Courage, love, psychic abilities, divination.
Uses: A very potent healer, it intensifies the medicinal action of other herbs taken with it. Helps eliminate toxins (good for colds). Most useful in its abilities to staunch blood flow. In poultice form , it is useful against infections and swelling. In magic there is evidence that yarrow was often used as a component in incantations. The tea drunk prior to divination will enhance one's powers of perception (a touch of peppermint brightens this brew up and always works better). Also drink the tea to stop arthritis symptoms such as swelling and inflammation and generally end all aching, sore muscles, or stiff joints or back pain.It can aid in calming the patient. A powerful incense additive for divination and love spells. Also associated with weather divination.