Historical Herbs                These plants are too dangerous for any type of experimentation as they can be lethal even in small doses. Therefore they should under no circumstances be ingested or smoked!     Belladona ( Atropa belladonna ) Belladona is one of the oldest plants associated with Witchcraft, it is also known as Deadly Nightshade and as the Plant of the Beautiful Lady. Belladonna is native to southern and central Europe and has been cultivated in parts of England. It is a poisonus plant and wasused in what might be considered some of the darker magickal arts. It was also used to induce trance for astral projection and for producing altered states of consciousness.          Foxglove ( Digitalis purprea ) The Foxglove is one of the traditional magickal plants associated with Witchcraft. It is native to almost all regions of continental Europe and the British Ilses. It is associated with love spells and connected with fairies in many European tales. The Foxglove has many folk names: Dead Men's Bells, Fairy Thimbles, Fairy Weed, Fox Bells, Goblin's Thimbles, Witches Bells, Witches Gloves and Witches Thimble. It was used to cure dropsy and today it is processed to provide heart medications. The leaves can be processed to make a black dye, this dye was used to darken lines on stone floors. This was first done to protect the house from evil, but then it became fashionable and in some cases staff in large houses were becoming poisoned by Foxglove stain! It was custom to place Foxglove over the door lintel to prevent enemies from entering, or grow them in a circle around the outside of the house so that enemies couldn't find you. Henbane ( Hyosycamus niger ) Henbane is one of the most ancient plants associated with magick. It is native to southern and central Europe and can be found in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. It is one of the primary ingredients allegdly used in the legendary Witches Flying Ointment. In mythology it was said that the dead received a crown of Henbane leaves when they entered the Underworld.         Monkshood ( Aconite napellus ) Monkshood is the deadliest of all plants associated with Witchcraft. Monkshood is also known as Wolfbane ( from the Greek lycotonum ) as it was once the practice in the Aegean/Mediterranean area to hunt wolves with arrows dipped in the juice of the aconite plant. Monkshood was originally indigenous to eastern Europe but was grown in ancient Greece and spread to Italy. It is now found in the western countries of England and in South Wales. Monkshood can produce profoundly altered states of consciousness and has been employed in shapeshifting magick.    for Mandrake and more...

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