#Herbal Remedies Guide

[livingwellnessblog]

Consulting with a Doctor of Traditional Medicine (TCM) before starting herbal remedies?

Incorporating the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) into your healthcare journey offers a holistic approach to well-being. With the guidance of a skilled TCM practitioner, you can tap into the power of herbal prescriptions and natural r

Consulting with a Doctor of Traditional Medicine (TCM) before starting herbal remedies? Consulting with a Doctor of Traditional Medicine (TCM) before starting herbal or natural healing remedies can be highly beneficial for your overall health and well-being. Here are ten compelling reasons why seeking a TCM consultation is the best approach: Personalized Assessment: TCM doctors conduct thorough…

[solarbeamz]

-Roasted Dandelion Coffee Replacement-

We might like coffee, but that doesn't always mean that coffee likes us. If stomach trouble, burnout, and jitters have you needing to give up your favourite morning ritual, turn to this herbal alternative. Roasted dandelion offers a similar taste without the afternoon crash. Together with roots like chicory and budrock, this blend supports the liver's detoxification process and promotes glowing skin, while ashwagandha replenishes the nervous, digestive, and endocrine systems that coffee depletes.

MAKES 4 CUPS OF TEA

3 tablespoons roasted dandelion

2 teaspoons ashwagandha

1 teaspoon chicory

1 teaspoon budrock

1 teaspoon cacao nibs

OPTIONAL: A few drops of gentian flower essense, a pinch of cinnamon and/or cardamon, coconut creamer or oat milk, a favourite herbal honey such as Hawthorne Rose Honey (Link TBA)

NOTE: all herbs should be cut and sifted. Leave out cacao nibs if trying to remove caffeine entirely

To create this blend, add all the ingredients to a pint jar, put the lid on, and shake to combine. Label the jar with the tea name, ingredients, and date you made. Store out of direct sunlight.

To prepare the brew, add 1 tablespoon of the blend per 8 ounces of water to a french press, a jar of your choice, or a reusable tea strainer. Cover and steep for 10-15 minutes depending on desired strength. For an even more robust flavour, add filtered water to a small pot and bring to a gentle simmer. add 1 tablespoon of the blend per 8 ounces of water to the pot and simmer, covered, for 5-10 minutes. turn off the heat and steep, still covered, for an additional 10-15 minutes. Strain and serve with your favourite fixings.

(Radical Remedies: An Herbalists Guide To Empowered Self-Care, Brittany Ducha, pg 52)

[ismailfazil1-blog]

Top 5 Medicinal Spices | healing spices | kitchen pharmacy | Ayurvedic spices |

Spices have been prized for more than just adding flavor to our food. Across cultures, they've been used for their medicinal properties. Modern science is now catching up with traditional wisdom, revealing the wealth of health benefits these potent plants offer. Let's explore five of the top medicinal spices you can easily incorporate into your diet.

[aposbook-12]

Discover effective natural remedies for diabetes with AposBook. Our expert guide offers proven herbal treatments, dietary tips, and lifestyle changes to help manage your diabetes naturally. Take control of your health today with AposBook!

[feveruary]

Here it is guys! The 2025 Feveruary prompts! We wanted them to be more generally comfort focused so then they be able to be interpreted in different ways to allow you guys to be as creative as you’d like!

We’re so excited to share these with you and we can’t wait to see what you write! As always feel free to ask any questions or share your excitement about this event! :D

We'll post more about how to submit your work and the AO3 collection closer to the time! For now though, we wish you goodluck and happy writing!

Text Version Below:

“How did you end up like this?” 

Burning Up then Freezing Cold 

Caught in the Rain 

Herbal Remedy 

“Could you just hold me?” 

Spoon-Feeding 

“I’m still not used to being taken care of.” 

“Couldn’t you keep your cold to yourself.” 

Face Masks 

“You’re safe, it was just a dream.” 

“You’re burning up!” 

Role Reversal – Medic to Sickie 

“I wouldn’t even trust you to boil tea in your condition!” 

Falling asleep in the wrong place 

Guiding sickie back to bed 

“Is it me or is it really warm in here?” 

“I know you want to help but you’re only making things worse.” 

Delirious 

“I know ice cream is good for sore throats but that’s way too much!” 

Lost Voice/Strep Throat 

From better to worse 

“Our date can wait! You’re far more important.” 

“You need a tissue?” 

“Don’t you think you should stay home today?” 

Standing Vigil 

“You sure I’m sick? Because I feel fine.” 

Vacation Disaster 

“Well, it sounds to me like you need a little bit of TLC.” 

Alternates:

Forced to work

Cool wash cloth

"I don't get sick!"

Sneezing Fit

[astroeleanor]

Which Type of Witch Are You? (Based on Your Moon & Mercury Sign)˚˖𓍢ִ໋ 💫 ✧˚.🔮⋆

Your Moon Sign can indicate the type of witchcraft you may be naturally attuned to. Unlike your Sun or Rising sign, which respectively govern your purpose and the traits you project–your Moon sign reflects the hidden aspects of your nature, what feels intuitive.

If we really want to get precise, you could also use your Mercury sign to learn more about your magickal blue print, due to Mercury symbolizing energy manipulation (which is CRUCIAL in magick).

In witchcraft, there are intuition and personal resonance playing a huge role, and your Moon sign can reveal the magical practices and elements you’re drawn to instinctively, even if you haven’t explored them directly.

🎃 Also, HALLOWEEN ASTRO READINGS are available! Spooky season calls for spooky readings. Grab yours HERE. ๋࣭ ⭑🕸🦇

🩸 ARIES: Blood Witch

Engaging in a highly intense form of magic, where blood is regarded as a sacred and potent conduit for connecting to one’s spirit or the life force within.

Using blood as a potent conduit for magic (Please Don’t Do This If You Are Not Experienced, It’s Dangerous): Recognizing the deeply binding nature of blood magic, where blood serves as a link to personal power, commitment, an offering. This practice requires caution, respect & experience due to its potential risks and the energies it summons.

Fire Magic, harnessing the transformative and passionate qualities of fire, invoking flames for both protective and manifestation purposes, symbolizing the power of destruction and rebirth.

Using candles for manifestations, to focus intentions. Their flames symbolize the transformation of thoughts and wishes into reality, often chosen in specific colors and dressed with oils or herbs to align with desired outcomes.

Receiving visions while watching flames, gazing into flames as a meditative or divinatory practice, using the flickering patterns to access intuition, receive insights, and stimulate visions.

🍀 TAURUS: Nature Witch

Attuned to the natural world, drawing strength and guidance from the earth and its elements.

Working with the earth's seasonal cycles to shape intentions and actions—planting seeds of intention in spring, manifesting growth and abundance in summer, releasing old patterns in autumn, and resting and reflecting in winter.

Incorporating elements from nature, such as crystals for energy work, stones for grounding, flowers for specific spells, and leaves or branches for protection and connection to earth energies.

Creating herbal infusions for physical and spiritual well-being, selecting plants based on their energetic and medicinal properties, allowing their essence to brew into teas or potions for healing & manifestation.

Focusing on natural healing methods, using plants, roots, and other earth-based ingredients in remedies that align with holistic well-being, harnessing the healing power of nature.

Plant magick by cultivating, caring for plants, understanding their symbolic and energetic meanings, using plants in spells.

✨ GEMINI: Hedge Witch

Exploring the boundaries between the Physical and Spiritual Realms, moving between worlds, bridging the tangible and mystical through rituals, journeying, spiritual exploration, exploring liminal spaces to access guidance.

Writing petitions to manifest, writing as powerful expression of intent, often directed at specific outcomes, spirit guides, or deities, folding and placing petitions in sacred spaces or burning them to release the intention into the universe.

Channeled Writing as means of receiving messages from the spiritual realm, entering a meditative or trance-like state to allow spirit guides/ancestors/deities to communicate insights directly onto paper. (Do NOT do this if you're inexperienced, you may invite unwanted spirits)

Using affirmations as a tool for manifestation, speaking or writing positive statements with conviction to reinforce beliefs & gradually shift reality through focused intention.

Direct communication with Spirit or Deities, cultivating the ability to communicate directly with spirits often through meditation and ritual practices, building relationships with the spiritual realm for protection and support in magical workings.

🌙 CANCER: Lunar Witch

A Witch connected to the moon's energy, cycles, drawing power and guidance from moon phases.

Aligning rituals & intentions with the moon’s phases—setting new intentions with the New Moon, cultivating growth during the Waxing Moon, manifesting with the Full Moon, and releasing or banishing with the Waning Moon.

Water Magic, using moon-charged water in rituals, scrying, or cleansing practices.

Honoring and working with deities associated with the moon, such as Selene, Artemis, or Hecate, calling upon their guidance and protection in rituals/divination.

Embracing the moon’s constant cycle of waxing and waning as a reflection of life’s natural rhythm, learning to move with life’s changes, both growth and release.

Scrying often with water or mirrors to receive intuitive visions or messages, relying on lunar energies to enhance clarity and deepen connections with the spiritual realm.

Ancestor Work, connecting with past generations, honoring their wisdom, seeking their guidance, building a spiritual lineage through ritual remembrance and offerings.

🌞 LEO: Sun Witch

Sun As Your Main Source of Magic, drawing power directly from the sun’s radiant energy, treating it as your primary magical force.

Honouring the Sun’s cycles, observing and aligning with the daily and seasonal cycles of the sun, from sunrise to sunset, solstices, and equinoxes, incorporating these phases into your rituals and magical work.

Using Sun-Charged crystals/bright flowers/solar symbols, selecting vibrant and sun-aligned items like citrine, sunstone, marigolds, and sunflowers: using them to absorb solar energy, intensifying their power for use in spells and altar spaces.

Fire Magic, channeling the sun's element of fire for transformative rituals, passion spells, and dynamic energy work, drawing on the strength that fire symbolizes.

Glamour Magick, utilizing the sun's ability to draw attention, adding a glowing, magnetic aura to yourself through intention and personal energy work.

🌿 VIRGO: Green Witch

Embracing a deep connection to the earth, centering magic around the natural world, plants, ecological cycles, practicing a path rooted in respect for nature’s wisdom.

Herbal remedies, utilizing the healing properties of herbs, studying their uses and applications, crafting tinctures, teas, and salves.

Working closely with nature, building a bond with the natural environment, from understanding plant cycles to observing seasonal shifts, nature walks, gardening.

Creating natural infusions or blends using flowers, herbs, and oils, allowing them to steep and transform into infusions that carry specific properties.

Embodying the role of the healer, using knowledge of nature’s offerings to bring balance & wellness to oneself and others.

Being Consistent in Your Practice, understanding that consistency strengthens connection and proficiency in magical and herbal skills.

Making oils infused with healing herbs, carefully selected and prepared to promote wellness, relaxation, energy cleansing, used in anointing, massage, or aromatherapy.

Planting seeds as symbols of growth, engaging in ritual planting as a tangible representation of intentions and personal growth, nurturing seeds as they develop and reflect inner transformation.

💗 LIBRA: Love Witch

A focus on balance, relationships, beauty, connection, fairness & love.

Centering magic around attraction, romance, self-love, emotional harmony, using spells and rituals to cultivate love in all forms.

Crafting love spells with intention, using herbs, crystals, candles, or written petitions to attract new love, deepen existing connections, or foster a deeper sense of self-love/self-acceptance.

Glamour Magic to enhance personal magnetism, using intention, visualization, or enchanted makeup/skincare products to project confidence.

Performing cord cutting spells to release unhealthy attachments, heal from past relationships, severing energetic ties and regain personal freedom.

🌑 SCORPIO: Shadow Witch

Working with the hidden, misunderstood aspects of the self, finding power in exploring and integrating the shadows within.

Shadow Work as a conduit for magick/power, diving into shadow work to confront and understand inner fears, traumas, unacknowledged aspects, using this introspective process as a source of personal growth.

Divination, tools like tarot, scrying, pendulums, runes.

Alchemizing your fears into empowerment, transforming fear/doubt/pain into sources of wisdom, turning challenging emotions into empowering forces that deepen your magic and connection to self.

Performing cleansing and grounding rituals to release stagnant or heavy energies accumulated, creating space for healing.

Using tarot cards as a tool for self-reflection, tapping into the imagery and messages within each card to navigate the depths of shadow work and to connect with personal intuition and wisdom.

🌪️ SAGITTARIUS: Eclectic Witch

Embracing a path that allows freedom and flexibility in magical practice, drawing from various traditions, tools, and sources to create a personal, diverse form of witchcraft.

Blending different traditions or tools into something that is “Uniquely Yours”, combining elements from multiple magical or spiritual traditions, incorporating rituals, symbols, deities, or practices that resonate personally.

Trying out various forms of magic, from herbology and crystal work to sigil crafting or divination, exploring different spells, charms, and rituals to find what aligns best with your intentions and energy.

🕯️CAPRICORN: Ceremonial Witch

Ceremonial Magic, practicing a highly organized and formal approach to magic, where each element is intentionally designed and executed to connect with specific energies or spiritual forces.

Conducting rituals with a detailed plan & defined structure, adhering to traditional sequences, symbols, aligning with ceremonial magic principles.

Following spells “by the book”, committing to spells and rituals as they are traditionally prescribed, respecting established methods to preserve the power and intent of each spell, honoring the teachings and foundations of ceremonial practices.

Crafting a ceremony with intention and purpose:, designing each ceremony with clear goals/symbolism/meaning, focusing on the purpose behind every word, gesture, and item used.

Channeling and directing energy with precision, harnessing energy with a focused, deliberate intent, directing it precisely toward a specific goal or outcome, using tools like wands, staffs, symbols to refine and amplify the energy flow.

⭐ AQUARIUS: Cosmic Witch

An innovative approach to magic, seeking universal connection and understanding through celestial energies.

Using astrological knowledge as a guiding framework in rituals, spellwork, aligning your personal practice with planetary transits, moon phases, astrological placements to amplify intentions.

Planetary Magic, connecting with the energies of individual planets, each symbolizing different aspects of life and self, invoking their powers to enhance specific goals (love, protection, wisdom, finances, career, or transformation)

Aligning with the Zodiac Seasons, adapting magickal workings to align with the qualities and energy shifts of each zodiac season, embracing the energy that each Zodiac season offers to enhance magical practice.

Looking to your birth chart and planetary alignments as a roadmap for self-growth, using this guidance to navigate life choices or make decisions that support your personal evolution.

🔮 PISCES: Divination Witch

Being drawn toward practices that reveal hidden knowledge or spiritual insights.

Using tarot as a central tool in divination, tapping into its symbolism to decode messages from the subconscious or guides, approaching readings with an intuitive style.

Dream work to uncover subconscious messages, keeping a dream journal, analyzing symbols, and even practicing lucid dreaming as a means of accessing deeper understanding.

Exploring past life connections through meditation, regression, gaining insight into karmic patterns to guide current life decisions.

Focusing on honing intuitive abilities through meditation and regular divination practice, trusting instinct and inner guidance as a compass for magical work and everyday life.

Water Magic, engaging with the element of water in spells and rituals, scrying with bowls of water, incorporating moon-charged water in cleansing rituals, channeling water’s flow and fluidity for emotional healing and psychic connection.

Trying various divination techniques, such as crystal scrying, pendulum dowsing, tea leaf reading, runes, etc.

.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆

Thank you for taking the time to read my post! Your curiosity & engagement mean the world to me. I hope you not only found it enjoyable but also enriching for your astrological knowledge. Your support & interest inspire me to continue sharing insights & information with you. I appreciate you immensely. • 🕸️ JOIN MY PATREON for exquisite & in-depth astrology content. You'll also receive a free mini reading upon joining. :)

.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆.˚⊹.🎃₊˚𖦹⋆

[esoteric-chaos]

Safety in Witchcraft

What’s not talked about enough in the spiritual community is mundane safety along with spiritual. Critical thinking is vital. I wanted to share a lot of my personal rules for myself that I have adapted into my craft.

Fire safety, never leave an open flame unattended. Ever. Always burn in an open enough area with a fire safe dish or on ceramic tile away from animals and children. If you leave the room extinguish the flame. Do not sleep with fire going. I know we want to keep that spell going even during a nap but sometimes we don’t wake up in time for danger. This is absolutely vital to keep you safe. It won’t ruin a spell I promise or anger anything. Please do not add those herbs to that candle. I know it’s nice and pretty but that is a fire hazard. Stay safe.

On that note always have an open window or a well ventilated area when burning items. That goes for herbs, incense, or candle. Smoke inhalation can ruin your lungs.

Rodents, reptiles, birds, any animal is sensitive to scents and have small respiratory systems. Be careful using anything around them. Research what can be used around them. I mean research! Cross reference. Use veterinarian hospital guides, not pro essential oil blogs. Please don’t put any essential oils on your pets. They can be seriously harmed.

Moon water actually molds, very easily. So can herbal blends if not stored correctly. Check frequently and use before end of date. Distilled water is your friend to prolongs shelf-life along is storing in a cold dark place.

Witchcraft and magic is not a replacement for medical treatment and medically prescribed medication. It absolutely can aid your treatment but it is never a replacement.

Do not ingest any herbal remedies without consultation with your doctor and/or Herbalist. Especially if you have pre-existing conditions and need to take medications for it. Things can conflict and are deadly.

Also forage responsibly. Unless you are 100% certain what you have foraged is the correct plant. Don’t even chance it. It’s not worth sickness or in worst cases death.

Do NOT ingest essential oils. I don’t care what you have heard from pro essential oil pages. The distillery methods are not safe for ingestion. It can tear up your stomach lining and throat. Cause extreme nausea and vomiting. Seizures and in worst cases death.

Some covens and practitioners are not your friends. Be cautious and use stranger danger. Be cautious and never give out all of your personal information online. There are predatory people everywhere, including in this community. Please be safe. Always use your gut instinct.

Please feel free in the comments and tags to add important safety pointers you have.

[celenawrites]

John Price is a natural leader.

Always taking the lead on the field and off duty. Always confident, self-assured in his abilities to guide himself and others through difficult situations with ease.

He's always so worried about his team - slipping in some antihistamines in Gaz's pockets whenever his dust allergies kick in and make his sneezes ring out on base at ungodly hours, making sure Johnny doesn't end up recklessly in another communal mess 'fight'', and checking up on Simon after a rough mission drains all life out of his blue eyes, leaving him dull and mute from the trauma of surviving another war.

He never forgets to wish his teammates birthday, always tries his best to push them to take extra leaves so they can visit family and rest after an arduous mission, and even indulges in their frivolous past times, if only to make time pass by easier.

He always remembers to send Kate and her wife flowers as a 'thank you' for hosting him for dinner, never forgets to call Laswell and congratulate her on successful jobs, and makes sure to send the finest bottle of wine for letting some of his 'rebellious actions' go under the radar.

So when he finally comes down with the seasonal flu, you take it upon yourself to reciprocate the generosity he graces everyone with - not letting the man leave the warm, soft bed as you tend to every need of his throughout the day.

"Sweetheart, get back to bed. I'll be fine", John tells you but his stuffy nose makes his voice sound more nasally than usual.

You tut at him, recalling his high temperature, "I cannot laze around while you're suffering and need me, John. Now let me take care of you, and put the cold compress on."

"Yes ma'am."

You run around, from room to room - arranging things and making sure to check in on your dear fiance to make sure he's not in pain while you prepare some home remedies for him.

A herbal mixture you make him drink for his sore throat, which Price downs with a small wince; changing his cold compress with a new one so he can rest comfortably. Turning down the lights so that his eyes don't smart anymore, and he can actually take a nap around noon while you work on lunch - chicken noodle soup and warm porridge that can warm him up from inside and are easy on the stomach - recalling every little trick your Mum did whenever you got sick.

And when you finally come back in the room to find John sleeping, you take a moment to breathe calmly as you slowly admire him. His flushed cheeks, freshly-trimmed mutton chops, his freckle on his nose and how his nose scrunches up while he's deep in his sleep, and how oddly comforting it is - to have him in your home, to see him resting after months of separation and knowing that he possibly hasn't slept this peacefully in ages.

"Take a picture, darling. It'll last ya longer", calls out a raspy voice, followed by a dry chuckle.

Felling your ears warm up at being caught by the very object of your attention, you promptly deflect, "Oh, shut it, you big dork. Lunch's ready, if you'd like to have it."

"With you?" John asks rhetorically, with a small fond smile on his face.

"Always."

[obsidiannebula]

How to Spot AI-Generated Reference Texts

This morning I celebrated a lovely Christmas with my family. My 3 year old was ecstatic, I made my brother tear up, it was a good time. But I received something that at first, seemed like the kind of thing I would very much like to own... until I started actually looking through it. I quickly realized that this book is unmistakably AI-generated slop and should not be used or trusted as an actual reference guide. Having not been written by an actual expert in the field or even compiled by an actual researcher citing sources and synthesizing information, these books are at best three hundred pages of reading the first couple of sentences of a search result for each topic, and at worst full of dangerous misinformation that can get people killed, as with the rise of AI-generated mushroom foraging books. These are in no way reliable reference guides for anything, but especially for anything with potential health risks like ingesting plants and their compounds.

So today I'm going to try and get some good use out of this book I now own by using it to demonstrate how to spot AI-generated scam books.

The first red flags jump out at us right from the cover. This is "The Home Apothecary Full Collection: Your In-Depth Holistic Guide with Natural Herbal Remedies for Long-Lasting Wellness and Optimal Health." Yeesh, what a mouthful. A soulless, artless mouthful, I must add. But hey, maybe this author is a very clinical or verbose type. Except a quick search for the author's name, Megan Morren, quickly makes it clear that this is not a real person. There is one bare-bones Facebook profile for a Megan Morren, and no social media beyond that. No LinkedIn or Pinterest or mentions in an article, nothing. Every other result shows her books: this one, and two others nearly identical to it, with slightly different names but the same "1500+ Remedies/Extra Content" claim in the same corner, utilizing the same fonts and each with a very similar AI-generated background.

That's right, we've got a pretty bog-standard AI-generated image for the cover of this book, showcasing a variety of vaguely herbal plants and jars as well as several nonsensical non-objects.

Okay, so the cover was definitely made by AI, but maybe this author is writing under a pseudonym and visually just not very creative. Let's open it up and took a look at...

Oooookay so that's how we're getting the "40 books in one" claim touted on the cover. What most people would call a chapter is here billed as an entire book, with each subtopic considered its own chapter. There's not more than two or three "chapters" per "book" and most of the chapters are only one or two pages long, which is some James Patterson-ass shit. At least if Patterson had written this book there'd be a little character to the narration and an attempt at wit, but as we'll soon see, the actual writing is... wanting, to say the least.

Obviously the first observation here is that formatting is for the BIRDS. No paragraph breaks or indents, and the paragraphs are all of roughly similar length. Furthermore, the writing reads like a copy/pasted Wikipedia page. Scratch that, I went ahead and typed "history of herbal healing" into a search engine and found the actual Wikipedia page for "History of herbalism," which actually does provide more detail on the topic as well as FIFTY-FOUR ACTUAL SOURCES and some recommended further reading, making it vastly superior to this slop. Because there's not a single source cited in this entire book, nor is there an author bio here or online that remotely suggests that the author might have some experience and expertise from which they are drawing to write or even fact-check this book.

On top of that, there is truly no authorial voice whatsoever. Even if you wanted to be very academic about it and avoid using first-person in your reference book, there should at least be some synthesizing of sources and information, expanding on the ideas presented and combining them to draw new conclusions or illustrate points. But everything here is incredibly surface-level, like someone copied the first sentence or three from the first Google result and stuck it there and then moved on to the next bullet point in the outline.

Seriously, this whole book is just page after page of walls of text. It's a nightmare to try to read if you have any sort of reading-impairing disorder like dyslexia or ADHD, and it's also just kind of ugly. And in a book supposedly about herbalism, there is not a single image or diagram. That's wild to me. There is nothing in here to aid with plant identification or demonstrate the tincturing or decocting processes or anything. I've never read an herbalism book without a single picture or diagram. Granted, I've only read a handful, but still, it seems very strange to me. And god did these endless blocks of text need SOMETHING to break them up.

Also these introductory paragraphs just scream "obligatory" to me. They're all a single paragraph of approximately the same length, providing a perfunctory and colorless overview of the subject matter. I mean, seriously? We're starting off "uplifting herbs for depression" with "Depression affects millions globally. It is characterized by x and y. While it is conventional treated with medication and therapy, there are also some herbs that can improve mood." It's so bland and robotic and uninformative. I think most fifth graders could write a better introductory paragraph, as long as we didn't penalize them for spelling or grammar.

I'd really like to get back to spending the holiday with family, so I'm going to leave it at that. It's just so frustrating to see books like this pushing legitimate texts written by real people with real expertise or at least personality out of bookshelves and searches, propagating useless or even dangerous information in place of sharing real knowledge and traditions. I had to rant a little bit and get it off my chest.I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season, and all the best for 2025. Everyone, that is, except "Megan Morren." Whoever you really are, I hope you step on Legos every day for the rest of your life. It's the least you deserve for publishing trash like this.

[odinsblog]

Funny how SCOTUS “originalists” ignore this history

Benjamin Franklin is revered in history for his fixation on inventing practical ways to make everyday life easier. He was a prolific inventor and author, and spent his life tinkering and writing to share his knowledge with the masses.

One of the more surprising areas Franklin wanted to demystify for the average American? At-home abortions.

Molly Farrell is an associate professor of English at the Ohio State University and studies early American literature. She authored a recent Slate article that suggests Franklin’s role in facilitating at-home abortions all started with a popular British math textbook.

Titled The Instructor and written by George Fisher, which Farrell said was a pseudonym, the textbook was a catch-all manual that included plenty of useful information for the average person. It had the alphabet, basic arithmetic, recipes, and farriery (which is hoof care for horses). At the time, books were very expensive, and a general manual like this one was a practical choice for many families.

Franklin saw the value of this book, and decided to create an updated version for residents of the U.S, telling readers his goal was to make the text “more immediately useful to Americans.” This included updating city names, adding Colonial history, and other minor tweaks.

But as Farrell describes, the most significant change in the book was swapping out a section that included a medical textbook from London, with a Virginia medical handbook from 1734 called Every Man His Own Doctor: The Poor Planter’s Physician.

This medical handbook provided home remedies for a variety of ailments, allowing people to handle their more minor illnesses at home, like a fever or gout. One entry, however, was “for the suppression of the courses”, which Farrell discovered meant a missed menstrual period.

“The book starts to prescribe basically all of the best-known herbal abortifacients and contraceptives that were circulating at the time,” Farrell said. “It's just sort of a greatest hits of what 18th-century herbalists would have given a woman who wanted to end a pregnancy early.”

“It's very explicit, very detailed, also very accurate for the time in terms of what was known ... for how to end a pregnancy pretty early on.”

Including this information in a widely circulated guide for everyday life bears a significance to today’s heated debate over access to abortion and contraception in the United States. In particular, the leaked Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade and states that “a right to abortion is not deeply rooted in the nation's histories and traditions.��

Farrell said the book was immensely popular, and she did not find any evidence of objections to the inclusion of the section.

“It didn't really bother anybody that a typical instructional manual could include material like this,”she said. “It just wasn't something to be remarked upon. It was just a part of everyday life.”

(continue reading) more ←

[blackwoolncrown]

Reading list for Afro-Herbalism:

A Healing Grove: African Tree Remedies and Rituals for the Body and Spirit by Stephanie Rose Bird

Affrilachia: Poems by Frank X Walker

African American Medicine in Washington, D.C.: Healing the Capital During the Civil War Era by Heather Butts

African American Midwifery in the South: Dialogues of Birth, Race, and Memory by Gertrude Jacinta Fraser

African American Slave Medicine: Herbal and Non-Herbal Treatments by Herbert Covey

African Ethnobotany in the Americas edited by Robert Voeks and John Rashford

Africanisms in the Gullah Dialect by Lorenzo Dow Turner

Africans and Native Americans: The Language of Race and the Evolution of Red-Black Peoples by Jack Forbes

African Medicine: A Complete Guide to Yoruba Healing Science and African Herbal Remedies by Dr. Tariq M. Sawandi, PhD

Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh, African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed by Bryant Terry

Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” by Zora Neale Hurston

Big Mama’s Back in the Kitchen by Charlene Johnson

Big Mama’s Old Black Pot by Ethel Dixon

Black Belief: Folk Beliefs of Blacks in America and West Africa by Henry H. Mitchell

Black Diamonds, Vol. 1 No. 1 and Vol. 1 Nos. 2–3 edited by Edward J. Cabbell

Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors by Carolyn Finney

Black Food Geographies: Race, Self-Reliance, and Food Access in Washington, D.C. by Ashanté M. Reese

Black Indian Slave Narratives edited by Patrick Minges

Black Magic: Religion and the African American Conjuring Tradition by Yvonne P. Chireau

Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry edited by Camille T. Dungy

Blacks in Appalachia edited by William Turner and Edward J. Cabbell

Caribbean Vegan: Meat-Free, Egg-Free, Dairy-Free Authentic Island Cuisine for Every Occasion by Taymer Mason

Dreams of Africa in Alabama: The Slave Ship Clotilda and the Story of the Last Africans Brought to America by Sylviane Diouf

Faith, Health, and Healing in African American Life by Emilie Townes and Stephanie Y. Mitchem

Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land by Leah Penniman

Folk Wisdom and Mother Wit: John Lee – An African American Herbal Healer by John Lee and Arvilla Payne-Jackson

Four Seasons of Mojo: An Herbal Guide to Natural Living by Stephanie Rose Bird

Freedom Farmers: Agricultural Resistance and the Black Freedom Movement by Monica White

Fruits of the Harvest: Recipes to Celebrate Kwanzaa and Other Holidays by Eric Copage

George Washington Carver by Tonya Bolden

George Washington Carver: In His Own Words edited by Gary Kremer

God, Dr. Buzzard, and the Bolito Man: A Saltwater Geechee Talks About Life on Sapelo Island, Georgia by Cornelia Bailey

Gone Home: Race and Roots through Appalachia by Karida Brown

Ethno-Botany of the Black Americans by William Ed Grime

Gullah Cuisine: By Land and by Sea by Charlotte Jenkins and William Baldwin

Gullah Culture in America by Emory Shaw Campbell and Wilbur Cross

Gullah/Geechee: Africa’s Seeds in the Winds of the Diaspora-St. Helena’s Serenity by Queen Quet Marquetta Goodwine

High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America by Jessica Harris and Maya Angelou

Homecoming: The Story of African-American Farmers by Charlene Gilbert

Hoodoo Medicine: Gullah Herbal Remedies by Faith Mitchell

Jambalaya: The Natural Woman’s Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals by Luisah Teish

Just Medicine: A Cure for Racial Inequality in American Health Care by Dayna Bowen Matthew

Leaves of Green: A Handbook of Herbal Remedies by Maude E. Scott

Like a Weaving: References and Resources on Black Appalachians by Edward J. Cabbell

Listen to Me Good: The Story of an Alabama Midwife by Margaret Charles Smith and Linda Janet Holmes

Making Gullah: A History of Sapelo Islanders, Race, and the American Imagination by Melissa Cooper

Mandy’s Favorite Louisiana Recipes by Natalie V. Scott

Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present by Harriet Washington

Mojo Workin’: The Old African American Hoodoo System by Katrina Hazzard-Donald

Motherwit: An Alabama Midwife’s Story by Onnie Lee Logan as told to Katherine Clark

My Bag Was Always Packed: The Life and Times of a Virginia Midwife by Claudine Curry Smith and Mildred Hopkins Baker Roberson

My Face Is Black Is True: Callie House and the Struggle for Ex-Slave Reparations by Mary Frances Berry

My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem

On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker by A'Lelia Bundles

Papa Jim’s Herbal Magic Workbook by Papa Jim

Places for the Spirit: Traditional African American Gardens by Vaughn Sills (Photographer), Hilton Als (Foreword), Lowry Pei (Introduction)

Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy DeGruy

Rooted in the Earth: Reclaiming the African American Environmental Heritage by Diane Glave

Rufus Estes’ Good Things to Eat: The First Cookbook by an African-American Chef by Rufus Estes

Secret Doctors: Ethnomedicine of African Americans by Wonda Fontenot

Sex, Sickness, and Slavery: Illness in the Antebellum South by Marli Weiner with Mayzie Hough

Slavery’s Exiles: The Story of the American Maroons by Sylviane Diouf

Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time by Adrian Miller

Spirituality and the Black Helping Tradition in Social Work by Elmer P. Martin Jr. and Joanne Mitchell Martin

Sticks, Stones, Roots & Bones: Hoodoo, Mojo & Conjuring with Herbs by Stephanie Rose Bird

The African-American Heritage Cookbook: Traditional Recipes and Fond Remembrances from Alabama’s Renowned Tuskegee Institute by Carolyn Quick Tillery

The Black Family Reunion Cookbook (Recipes and Food Memories from the National Council of Negro Women) edited by Libby Clark

The Conjure Woman and Other Conjure Tales by Charles Chesnutt

The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature by J. Drew Lanham

The Jemima Code: Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks by Toni Tipton-Martin

The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, from the Washingtons to the Obamas by Adrian Miller

The Taste of Country Cooking: The 30th Anniversary Edition of a Great Classic Southern Cookbook by Edna Lewis

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study: An Insiders’ Account of the Shocking Medical Experiment Conducted by Government Doctors Against African American Men by Fred D. Gray

Trace: Memory, History, Race, and the American Landscape by Lauret E. Savoy

Vegan Soul Kitchen: Fresh, Healthy, and Creative African-American Cuisine by Bryant Terry

Vibration Cooking: Or, The Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl by Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor

Voodoo and Hoodoo: The Craft as Revealed by Traditional Practitioners by Jim Haskins

When Roots Die: Endangered Traditions on the Sea Islands by Patricia Jones-Jackson

Working Conjure: A Guide to Hoodoo Folk Magic by Hoodoo Sen Moise

Working the Roots: Over 400 Years of Traditional African American Healing by Michelle Lee

Wurkn Dem Rootz: Ancestral Hoodoo by Medicine Man

Zora Neale Hurston: Folklore, Memoirs, and Other Writings: Mules and Men, Tell My Horse, Dust Tracks on a Road, Selected Articles by Zora Neale Hurston

The Ways of Herbalism in the African World with Olatokunboh Obasi MSc, RH (webinar via The American Herbalists Guild)

[southernmermaidsgrotto]

Hoodoo, Rootwork and Conjure sources by Black Authors

Because you should only ever be learning your ancestral ways from kinfolk. Here's a compilation of some books, videos and podcast episodes I recommend reading and listening to, on customs, traditions, folk tales, songs, spirits and history. As always, use your own critical thinking and spiritual discernment when approaching these sources as with any others.

Hoodoo in America by Zora Neale Hurston (1931)

Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston (1936)

Tell my horse by Zora Neale Hurston (1938)

Let Nobody Turn Us Around: An African American Anthology by Manning Marable and Leith Mullings, editors (2003)

Black Magic: Religion and the African American Conjuring Tradition by Yvonne P. Chireau (2006)

African American Folk Healing by Stephanie Mitchem (2007)

Hoodoo Medicine: Gullah Herbal Remedies by Faith Mitchell (2011)

Mojo Workin': The Old African American Hoodoo System by Katrina Hazzard-Donald (2012)

Rootwork: Using the Folk Magick of Black America for Love, Money and Success by Tayannah Lee McQuillar (2012)

Talking to the Dead: Religion, Music, and Lived Memory among Gullah/Geechee Women by LeRhonda S. Manigault-Bryant (2014)

Working the Roots: Over 400 Years Of Traditional African American Healing by Michele Elizabeth Lee (2017)

Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston (2018)

Jambalaya: The Natural Woman's Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals by Luisa Teish (2021)

African American Herbalism: A Practical Guide to Healing Plants and Folk Traditions by Lucretia VanDyke (2022)

These are just some suggestions but there's many many more!! This is by no means a complete list.

I recommend to avoid authors who downplay the importance of black history or straight out deny how blackness is central to hoodoo. The magic, power and ashé is in the culture and bloodline. You can't separate it from the people. I also recommend avoiding or at the very least taking with a huge grain of salt authors with ties to known appropriators and marketeers, and anyone who propagates revisionist history or rather denies historical facts and spreads harmful conspiracy theories. Sadly, that includes some black authors, particularly those who learnt from, and even praise, white appropriators undermining hoodoo and other african and african diasporic traditions. Be careful who you get your information from. Keeping things traditional means honoring real history and truth.

Let me also give you a last but very important reminder: the best teachings you'll ever get are going to come from the mouths of your own blood. Not a book or anything on the internet. They may choose to put certain people and things in your path to help you or point you in the right direction, but each lineage is different and you have to honor your own. Talk to your family members, to the Elders in your community, learn your genealogy, divine before moving forwards, talk to your dead, acknowledge your people and they'll acknowledge you and guide you to where you need to be.

May this be of service and may your ancestors and spirits bless you and yours 🕯️💀

[andromedas-library]

human domestication guide

so one thing I love about human domestication guide is how with herbolistic medicin it’s possible to actually most of the drugs that the affini use. I’m an herbolist so this was one of the main draws for me and I’ve been exparamenting with this idea some and I’ve been able to replicate some of the effects to a lesser degree. And while I can’t crear any of them to the degree that the xnenodrug potency is without risking damage it is still possible to make herbal remedies that do most of them. I’m not fully familiar with all of them but as of now the only one I have no clue on how to approach is class omega. But if anyone’s intrested in my research please feel free to reach out but I will be attempting to find ways to replicate each one in some way or another for myself and others in this community if anyone would find that interesting.

[aposbook-12]

Explore a comprehensive guide to natural weight loss remedies with AposBook. Learn about safe and effective ways to shed pounds naturally, backed by expert insights and proven results. Achieve your weight loss goals without harsh chemicals or extreme diets

[thejournallo]

Explain the basic: Herbs,Oils and Crystals.

Disclaimer: All the things in this post are based on research and personal experience. As much as I could be a teacher, I suggest you find many resources for knowledge to develop your own experiences.

I will do another post about each of those three things to let you have some guide lines that you can follow, especially for the crystals because some have different ways to be clensed, and if you clense it with the wrong thing, it could damage the crystal (nothing will happen if you break or damage a crystal, but we have to take care of our things).

In witchcraft, the selection and use of herbs, oils, and crystals often depend on an individual's belief system, intuition, and the specific intentions or goals of their practice. Herbs, oils, and crystals are tools we can use in any type of ritual or spell.

Herbs:

Magical Properties: Different herbs are believed to possess unique magical properties. For instance, rosemary might be associated with protection, lavender with relaxation and purification, and sage with cleansing negative energies.

Ritual Use: Herbs can be used in rituals, spells, and potions. They may be burned as incense, infused in oils or teas, or sprinkled during ceremonies to invoke specific energies or intentions.

Healing: Herbalism is often a part of witchcraft, where herbs are used for medicinal purposes. Herbal remedies may be prepared for physical healing, emotional balance, or spiritual well-being.

Oils: Disclaimer: Make sure you research the oils you buy/use because some oils can damage or hurt your skin in a really bad way. as well as some aromatherapy oils that can hurt your pet (if you have one).

Anointing: Oils are commonly used for anointing tools, candles, or individuals during rituals. They are believed to imbue objects or people with specific energies or intentions.

Aromatherapy: Essential oils are used for their scents, which are thought to influence moods, emotions, and energies. Different scents are associated with various properties, such as calming, energizing, or purifying.

Crystals:

Energies and Properties: Crystals are believed to have their own unique energies and properties. For example, amethyst might be associated with spiritual growth and intuition, while quartz might be seen as a general-purpose amplifier of energies.

Charging and Cleansing: Crystals are often charged with specific intentions and cleansed of any negative energies. They can be placed under moonlight or sunlight, smudged with sage, or buried in earth to reset their energies.

Meditation and Ritual: Crystals are frequently used in meditation practices or incorporated into rituals. They may be held, worn as jewelry, or placed in specific patterns to enhance spiritual work.

As always, I will love to hear your thoughts! and if you have any questions, I will be more than happy to answer them! If you liked it, leave a comment or reblog (that is always appreciated!). and have a wonderful day or night!

[ahqkas]

Hiii!!! Can you please write some period comfort for Charles Smith?? My cramps are horrible and I currently have an obsession with him😭

THE NATURE OF COMFORT ; charles smith

RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2 MASTERLIST!

CHARLES NOTICED THE SUBTLE SIGNS BEFORE YOU EVEN SAID A WORD — the way you moved a bit more slowly, the slight wince you tried to hide. Without needing to be asked, he instinctively knew you were in pain and in instant, he was ready to offer you comfort.

“Come here, love,” he murmured, his voice soft and filled with concern. He guided you to a comfortable spot by the fire, making sure you weren’t hurting any more. He then prepared a hot water bottle, knowing the warmth would help ease your cramps, and gently placed it on your abdomen. The women of the camp taught him the little trick.

Charles had a knack for understanding what you needed without you having to announce it. He brewed you a cup of herbal tea, a blend he had learned from his knowledge of natural remedies, designed to soothe and relax. Handing it to you, he sat down beside your form, his presence steady and reassuring.

“Drink this,” he said gently, his eyes full of empathy at your pain. “It’ll help with the pain.”

He stayed close, offering his warmth. His large, calloused hands moved with gentleness as he massaged your lower back, his fingers finding the tight spots and working to ease the tension. His touch was soothing, and he took his time, ensuring you felt every ounce of his care and attention he’d gratefully provide for you.

He’d also take over any tasks that might be too strenuous for you, ensuring you didn’t have to worry about anything. Whether it was taking care of the horses, fetching water, or any other chore, Charles handled it all, giving you the space and time to rest and regain strength.

When he cared, he cared deeply and made sure to show you just how much he did.

© ahqkas — all rights reserved. even when credited, these works are prohibited to be reposted, translated or modified