Herbs and Essential Oils to Avoid During Pregnancy

Early pregnancy is a special time of growth for the
fetus. During pregnancy, even some normally benign
herbs act in a negative way on the body. An example of
a normally benign herb is aloe juice. It should not be
used internally as a laxative during pregnancy because
its purgative actions might create unwanted contractions. The same is true of rhubarb root. See essential oil and herb lists below.

HERBS TO AVOID DURING EARLY PREGNANCY- Do not take these herbs in early pregnancy: raspberry leaf tea, fenugreek, vervain. It is safe and useful to use raspberry tea in the last two months of pregnancy, and to use the aerial parts of vervain to stimulate contractions during labor. In early pregnancy, do not use therapeutic amounts of these three normally benigh herbs- sage, thyme, or fennel- although it is absolutely safe to use thyme, sage, and fennel in cooking during the entire pregnancy period.

ESSENTIAL OILS TO AVOID DURING PREGNANCY- Pennyroyal oil should be avoided at all cost. Many herbalists believe the herb itself can safely be used, and that pennyroyal has a bad reputation because the oil is dangerous in pregnancy. Other uterine stimulating essential oils that must be avoided are essential oils of basil, cinnamon, chamomile, myrrh, celery, and celery seed.

AVOID COMPLETELY DURING PREGNANCY- These herbs are uterine stimulators: angelica, (bark) elder tree, goldenseal, juniper, lavender, motherwort, primrose, rue, shepherd's purse, tansy, vervain (except during labor), and wood betony. The Chinese herb san qi, also called Panax notoginseng or pseudoginseng, has an adverse effect on the fetus. Note this is not Panax ginseng (Korean, Chinese ginseng) or Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng).

The Whole Herbs Plants and Oils in one go. (quick ref)

Herbs Plants and Oil Properties

Adam & Eve Roots Use for Love and Happiness and spells related.

Agrimony Use in all protection sachets and spells, also to banish negative energies and spirits. It has also long been used to reverse spells sent against the magician; i.e. it not only breaks hexes, it also sends them back to the sender. Agrimony placed under the head will make one sleep as if dead, according to ancient lore, but don't use this for insomnia: the sleeper won't awaken until the herb is removed.

Alfalfa Prosperity, Money. Keep in the home to protect from poverty and hunger. It is best placed in the cupboard or pantry.

Almond Money, Prosperity, Wisdom

Amaranth A crown of amaranth flowers worn on the head speeds healing. To make sure that you are never struck by a bullet, pull up a whole amaranth plant (including roots) preferably on a Friday during the Full Moon. Leave an offering to the plant and then fold it, roots and all, in a piece of white cloth. Wear this against your breast and you'll be 'bullet-proof.' The dried amaranth flowers have been used to call forth the dead, and are also carried to cure the affections'; i.e. to mend a broken heart.

Amber Transforms negative energy into positive. Calms, and attracts loving, faithful emotions. Opens the crown chakra and aligns the etheric bodies with the physical. Attracts prosperity.

Angelica Grown, the plant is protective. Use in all protection and exorcism incenses. Sprinkle the four corners of the house with angelica to ward off evil, or do this around the perimeter of the house. Added to the bath angelica removes curses, hexes and any spells that may have been cast against you. The root was carried in the pocket as a gambling talisman among some American Indian tribes. Angelica is also used in healing incenses and mixtures, and smoking the leaves is said to cause visions.

Anise Fill a small pillowcase with anise seeds and sleep on it. This will ensure that you have no nightmares. Use in protection and meditation incenses. Fresh anise leaves placed in a room will drive off evil, and they are sometimes placed around the magic circle to protect the magician from evil spirits. It also averts the evil eye. Anise seed is also used in purification baths, especially with bay leaves. It is used to call forth spirits to aid in magical operations, and a sprig hung on the bedpost will restore lost youth.

Apple The fruit, when eaten, induces love. Healing, Garden Magic, Immortality.

Avocado Promotes love and lust. Good when used as a beauty mask.

Banana Fertility, Potency, Prosperity

Basil Love, Exorcism, Wealth, Flying, Protection

Bay Activates the throat chakra and opens the bronchial passages. Facilitates full breath and full expression. Decongestive on all levels. Heals the heart. Good for colds, flu, rheumatism and sprains. Psychic purifier.

Bean Protection, Exorcism, Wart Charming, Reconciliation's, Potency, Love

Belladonna *POISON* Some say it helps induce Astral projection. Other wonderful uses in this section.

Benzoin Awakens higher mindedness. Encourages confidence and empowerment. Calms and sedates the mind and emotions. Relieves dry skin, coughs, and arthritis. Natural deodorant and preservative.

Blackberry Fill a small pillowcase with anise seeds and sleep on it. This will ensure that you have no nightmares. Use in protection and meditation incenses. Fresh anise leaves placed in a room will drive off evil, and they are sometimes placed around the magic circle to protect the magician from evil spirits. It also averts the evil eye. Anise seed is also used in purification baths, especially with bay leaves. It is used to call forth spirits to aid in magical operations, and a sprig hung on the bedpost will restore lost youth.

Boneset The plant wards off evil spirits. Make an infusion and sprinkle about the house to drive away evil.

Blueberry Protection against evil spirits and negativity.

Burdock Cast around the home to ward off negativity. Add to protection incenses and use in such spells. Gather burdock roots in the waning Moon, dry and then cut them into small pieces. String these on red thread like beads and wear for protection against evil and negativity. The leaves of the burdock, when laid to the soles of the feet, help to cure gout.

Cabbage Use for Luck

Cactus Protection, Chastity

Caper Potency, Lust, Luck

Caraway The caraway serves as protection against Lilith, as well as all manner of evil spirits, entities and plain old negativity. It s often carried for this purpose. Any object which holds some caraway seeds is theft-proof.

Carrot Seed Mother Nature's skin nurturer. Relieves and replenishes dry, aging skin. Helps to reduce wrinkles and restore elasticity. Stimulates endocrine function. *Not for use during pregnancy. Fertility,Lust

Cascara Sagrada Sprinkle an infusion of cascara sagrada around your home before go to any court proceeding. It will help win your case. Cascara sagrada is also use in money spells, and worn as an amulet against evil and hexes.

Catnip Given to your cat, catnip creates a psychic bond between the two of you. It is also intoxicating to the cat. Catnip is used in love sachets, usually in conjunction with rose petals. If you hold catnip in your hand until it is warm, then hold anyone else's hand, they will forever be your friend, as long as you keep the catnip you used for the spell in some safe place. Grown near the home or hung over the door, catnip attracts good spirits and great luck. Catnip is also used in spells designed to enhance beauty and happiness. Large catnip leaves are pressed and used as bookmarks in magical texts.

Cedar Attracts prosperity. Encourages flow. Elimination of blockages, and toxins, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Cleanses and purifies the body, skin and the environment from all negativity and stagnation. Gives relief from bronchitis, colds, arthritis, and can have a diuretic effect. Repels incects. *Not for use during pregnancy*.

Celery Chew the seeds to aid in concentration, or use in spell pillows to induce sleep. Burned with orris root, celery seed increases psychic powers. The stalk, along with the seeds, induces lust when eaten. Witches supposedly ate celery seed before flying off on their brooms that they wouldn't become dizzy and fall.

Centaury The smoke from burning or fuming centaury drives off snakes.

Chamomile Chamomile is used to attract money and a handwash of the infusion is some times used by gamblers to ensure winnings. It is used in sleep and meditation incenses, and the infusion is also added to the bath to attract love. It is also a purifying and protective herb. When sprinkled around the property, it removes curses and spells cast against you.

Cherry Love, Divination

Chickweed Carry or use in spells designed to attract a love or to maintain a relationship

Chicory Chicory is used to remove all obstacles that might crop up in your life. It is carried for this purpose. At one time it was thought to make its possessor invisible, and to open locked boxes and doors if held against the locks. But for these last two purposes, chicory has to be gathered with a gold knife in perfect silence at noon or midnight on Midsummer. If you anoint your body with chicory juice, you will obtain favors from great persons. It is also carried to promote frugality.

Chili pepper Chili Pepper is used to assure Fidelity, Hex Breaking and Love.

Cinnamon Psychic awareness and protection. Blends with and
emphasizes all other essences. Attracts money and "security".
Aphrodisiac. Very healing on all levels. Good for colds, flu, headache, toothache, and sore muscles. Helps to heal the heart and kidneys.

Citron Psychic Powers, Healing

Citronella Protects, cleanses and clears the aura. Strengthens the life-force. Encourages self-expression and creativity. Good for
writers and actors. Brings clarity to the mind and inner vision. Good for attracting prosperity. Activates the throat chakra and acts as a tonic for all throat ailments. Repells insects. Deoderizer.

Cumin Protection, Fidelity, Exorcism

Clary Sage Calming relaxant. Brings well-being to the spirit. Contains a hormone-like agent similar to estrogen that regulates hormonal balance. Relieves tired, sore or injured muscles and menstrual cramping when used in massage. Aphrodesiac. Antiseptic for oily skin and dandruff.
*Not for use during pregnancy. Do not drink alcohol or drive when under it's influence*

Clove Burned as an incense, cloves attract riches, drive away hostile and negative forces, produce spiritual vibrations, and purify the area. Cloves are burned as an incense to stop others from gossiping about you. Worn or carried, cloves attract the opposite sex and bring comfort to the bereaved. evil presences. Protects and cleanses the body and aura. Balances 2nd and 4th chakras. Calming and comforting to the emotions. Strengthens eyesight and protects one from disease and infection. Very antiseptic, good for oral infections and toothache pain. Assists with digestive, muscular, and bronchial ailments.

Coltsfoot Add to love sachets and use in spells of peace and tranquility. The leaves, when smoked, can cause visions.

Comfrey Worn or carried, comfrey protects and ensures safety during travel. Also, tuck some into your suitcases so that they aren't  lost or stolen. The root is also used in money spells

Curry Protection

Daisy Lust, Luck

Damiana Damiana is used in lust infusions as well as lust spells. It is also burned to produce visions.

Dandelion To find out how long you will live, blow the seeds off the head of a dandelion. You will live as many years as there are seeds left on the head. To tell the time: blow three times at the seed head. The number left is the hour. The root, when dried, roasted and ground like coffee, is used to make a tea. This infusion will promote psychic powers. This same tea, steaming and placed beside the bed, will call spirits. To send a message to a loved one, blow at the seed head in his or her direction and visualize your message. Dandelion, buried in the northwest corner of the house, brings favorable winds.

Dragon's Blood Energizes and attracts inspiration and success.
Protection. Virility, strength and passion. Attraction of male energies. Purifies, "burns" out illness and infection. Helps heal bones, teeth, blood disorders, and reproductive organs.

Ebony Protection, Power

Echinacea Echinacea was used by Indians as an offering to
spirit and strengthen spells

Edelweiss Invisibility, Bullet-Proofing

Elecampane Worn, elecampane attracts love Sew up some of the leaves or flowers in pink cloth, or make a sachet. It is also carried for protection, and the herb smoldered on charcoal aids in sharpening psychic powers, particularly when scrying.

Eucalyptus The leaves are used to stuff healing poppets and are carried to maintain good health. To relieve colds, ring green candles with the leaves and pods and burn them to the socket, visualizing the person (or yourself) as being completely healthy. Also hang a small branch or twig of eucalyptus over the sick bed. String the immature (green) pods on green thread and wear to help heal sore throats. Placed beneath the pillow, the pods guard against colds. The leaves are also carried for protection.

Evening Primrose Rich in GLA, vitamins and minerals. Excellent for face and body massage, especially to combat dry, skin and eczema. a nerve tonic, Hormonal balancer, good for menstrual problems and for balancing the effects of menopause.

Fennel Grown around the home, fennel confers protection. Wearing a piece of fennel in the left shoe will prevent wood ticks from biting your legs. Fennel is also hung up at windows and doors to ward off evil spirits, and the seeds can be carried for the same reason. Fennel is used in purification sachets, as well as healing mixtures.

Fern Rain Making, Protection, Luck, Riches, Eternal Youth, Health, Exorcism

Figwort Hung from the neck, the figwort keeps the wearer healthy and protects against the evil eye. The plant is also smoked over Midsummer fires and then hung in the home for its protective powers.

Frankincense A sacred, purifying scent used to cleanse the body, aura, and environment of all negative influences. Promotes a meditative state. Sun energy. Opens the crown chakra and has a healing affect on infections, and viruses. Revitalizes dry and/or aging skin. Helps with asthma and bronchial infections.

Garlic Garlic was once worn to guard against the plague. It is still used to absorb diseases. Simply rub fresh, peeled clovess of garlic onto the afflicted part of the body, then throw into running water An old spell utilized garlic in protecting against hepatitis. To do this, simply wear thirteen cloves of garlic at the end of cord around the neck for thirteen days On the last day, in the middle of thc night, walk to a corner of an intersectior of two streets, remove the necklace throw it behind you and run home with out looking back. Garlic is also extremely protective Sailors carry some while on board ship to protect against its wreckage. Soldiers wore garlic as a defense in the middle ages, While Roman soldiers ate it to give them courage. It is placed in the home to guard against the intrusion of evil, to keep out robbers and thieves, and is hung over the door to repel envious people. Garlic is especially protective in new homes Worn, garlic guards against foul weather (mountaineers wear it) as well as monsters, and it also shields you from the blows of your enemies. When evil spirits are about, bite into garlic to send them away, or sprinkle powdered garlic on the floor (if you don't mind smelling it for some time). Garlic is also placed beneath children's pillows to protect them while asleep, and brides once carried a clove of garlic in the' pocket for good luck and to keep evil far from her
on her big day. Rubbed onto pots and pans before cooking in them garlic removes negative vibrations which might otherwise contaminate the food. When eaten, garlic acts as a lust. inducer, and when a magnet or lodestone, is rubbed with garlic it loses its magic& powers.

Geranium Balances the mind and body. Calms and stabilizes the emotions. Astringent, Good healing oil for all skin types. Helps to relieve eczema and psoriasis. Repels insects and negative thought forms and environments. Diuretic. Good as a massage oil for cellulite.

Ginger Eating ginger before performing spells will lend them power, since you have been 'heated up' by the ginger. It is especially true of love spells, in which ginger is much-used. Whole ginger roots are planted an grown to attract money, or the powdered root is sprinkled into pockets or on money for this purpose. Ginger is also used in success spells or to ensure the success of a magical operation. In the Pacific the Dobu islanden make much use of ginger in their magic They chew it and spit it at the 'seat' of an illness to cure it, and also spit chewed ginger at an oncoming storm, while at sea, to halt
it.

Ginseng The root is carried to attract love as well as to guard one's health, to draw money, and to ensure sexual potency. Ginseng will also bring beauty to all who carry it. Burn ginseng to ward off evil spirits and to break hexes and curses. A tea of ginseng is used as a powerful lust-inducing drink, whether alone or mixed with other like herbs. Hold a ginseng root in your hands, visualize your wish into the root, and throw it into running water. Or, carve your wish onto a root and toss into the water. Ginseng can be a substitute for the mandrake.

Gotu Kola Use in meditation incenses. Burn small amount prior to (but not during) meditation.

Grape Fertility, Garden Magic, Mental Powers, Money

Grapefruit Refreshing and uplifting. Brings renewed energy, "a second wind". Antiseptic to the skin. Tones all bodily tissues and helps *erase* cellulite. Antidepressant.

Grass Psychic Powers, Protection

Hawthorn Hawthorn has long been used to increase fertility. Because of this power it is incorporated into weddings, especially those performed in the spring. The leaves, curiously enough, are also used to enforce or maintain chastity or celibacy. The leaves are placed beneath the mattress or around the bedroom for this purpose. Carried in a sachet on a fishing trip hawthorn ensures a good catch, and worn or carried it promotes happiness in the troubled depressed, or sad. Hawthorn protects against lightning, and in the house in which it resides, no evil ghosts may enter. It is also powerful for protecting against damage to the house from storms. The Romans placed hawthorn in cradles to guard the child from evil spells. In the past most Witch's gardens contained at least one hawthorn hedge. The hawthorn is sacred to the fairies, and is part of the tree fairy triad of Britain: 'Oak, Ash and Thorn,' and where all three trees grow together it is said that one may see fairies.

Heliotrope Exorcism, Prophetic dreams, Healing, Wealth, Invisibility

Hemlock *POISON* Destroy Sexual Drives

Henna Use for Healing

Hibiscus Lust, Love, Divination

Honeysuckle Strengthens the mind and memory. Balancing to the right and left brain. Awakens the crown and brow chakra's, bringing psychic awareness. Induced prophetic dreams and assists one to let go of the past. Strengthens and brings flexibility to the body. Helps heal sore throats, headaches and asthma.