Letter “M” Musings

Tags

mammals, marshmallow, muggle, mulberry, pagan blog project

After work tea: Moroccan Mint by Stash  (hah!  even my TEA starts with M)

Note: Please forgive randomly odd typos…about 2/3 of this was written on my smartphone with the evil autocorrect. I may not have caught all of the odd things it did to words.

Pagan Blog Project: M is not for “Muggle”*

this has been a blog post for the Pagan Blog Project

There are many things in the various Pagan communities, IRL and online that I find annoying…but none is quite so annoying as the use of the word “muggle” to describe people that don’t practice magic and/or aren’t Pagan.**   If you are one of these people, you might want to skip this little rant, because I’m going to jump all over you and those of your ilk for a few paragraphs.

First off, if you actually use this word to describe yourself, you look like a smug, pretentious, and sanctimonious twit.  If you find that offensive (because you didn’t take my advice to skip past here), good.  Using a derogatory term for someone not in your in-group is offensive.  And yes, the term is derogatory–otherwise, you’d just say “non-Pagan”, or better yet, call them what they self-define as–Christian, Muslim, atheist, etc.  If you find yourself needing to turn to what is nothing short of a religious slur, it says more about you than the people you are talking about.  Its not cute, and its not trendy.  It is just as offensive and just as derogatory as calling someone a spic, a jap, or a mic.  If you use this word not having thought about it,

Secondly, if you use this word you are delusional and/or idiotic. I loved the Harry Potter books, they were creative and engaging; the world that J. K. Rowling created is simply wonderful. But we don’t live in it. I don’t care how witchy you are IRL, you are no more a witch or wizard in the Harry Potter universe than the Dursleys are. Defining your non-Pagan or non-magical peers as “muggles”, as if you are something better, is hypocritical.  In the real world, we are all just people.  Religion is a choice, witchcraft and/or magic (which ever term you prefer) is a discipline (and art and a science, if you will)…it is not something you are *born* to, it is something anyone can learn (just like ice skating), and there is nothing wrong with choosing not to.

Third, (to be quite frank and tactless) it makes you look like a nut. I’m not afraid of doing nutty things, of being eccentric or even slightly dotty.  In most cases, I’m proud of it, because the eccentric and nutty things I do are at least important, creative, and inspired.  There is nothing important, creative, or inspired about calling your mom, your cousin, your neighbor, your teacher, your doctor, your bff a religious slur.  When you do something that is both insulting and dotty you draw more and more negative attention to an already marginalized group that gets enough negative attention as it is. Some of us have to live, work, and raise our children undoing the damage users of this word (and worse, this attitude) have created.

Just say no to calling people “muggles”. Its not cute, it’s not clever, and its definitely not cool.

 

*HA, as I was writing this, I saw that someone beat me to it!!  I am not alone!!!

**Or other, similar terms such as cowan, mundanes, etc

More ‘M’ Musings…

Herb of the Week: Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis)

Marshmallow is an herb with a long medicinal history dating back to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.  It is best known for its demulcent properties, for soothing irritated and inflamed throats and upper respiratory tracts, and for use as a poultice on the skin for insect bites, boils, and abrasions.  In combination with peppermint, it makes a great tea for heartburn relief.  The tea is also kind to a sore throat, and as a mouth wash. (For more info on dosages, contraindications–its a carb-y plant and diabetics should be cautious using it, and medicine interactions, click here)

Marshmallow is a mucilaginous herb, and is best prepared in a cold infusion (which protects its mucilaginous properties) by allowing the root to infuse in room temperature water (~1:4 ratio for coarsely chunked-up root)  for at least 4 hours (overnight is better).  And, of course, the treat we know as “marshmallows” started out as a confection designed as a medicine.  While marshmallows today don’t actually contain marshmallow, there are some recipes out there for marshmallow marshmallows (like this one, which I’ve not tried…somehow, I see a project coming on!).

(illustration from Köhler’s Medizinal-Pflanzen, 1887)

The plant itself is native to Europe (some sources say N. Africa) and naturalized in North America (thanks to those pesky colonists and all their plants they brought over).  Its original habitat includes salt marshes and estuaries, but it will grow almost anywhere moist, with full sun.  Marshmallow flowers from July through September and can grow to some 3-5 feet tall.  The flowers and young leaves are edible in salads, and the leaves and woody root are useful medicinally.

Magically, marshmallow is associated with water, the moon, Venus (the planet and the goddess), Aphrodite, and Althea.  It makes a good herb for celebrating Beltane.  It is best used to induce compassion and tolerance.  Marshmallow is good for healing, relieving stress, and bringing forth love.

 

Backyard Bioregionalism: Mammals

In school you may have learned all sorts of mammalian traits, but really there are only three that are truly unique to mammals. Two of these you might guess quite easily–hair and teeth (not that we have teeth–other vertebrates have teeth, but the variety of types of teeth that we have). The third though, might take a bit more time to suss out. The most common answer is probably “live birth” or “producing milk”. But not all mammals give birth to live animals, and there are a number of other animals that lay eggs internally and give birth to live young (some species of sharks, for example). And while all mammals make milk, there are a few other animals make a milk-like secretion to feed their young. Since its tricky, I’ll give you a hint…

Mammals have 3 ear bones. Seriously, along with hair and teeth, three ear bones are the  unique traits present in all mammals.

And that live birth thing? Mammals are actually divided into three groups based on how they give birth.

The first group are the monotremes. They actually lay eggs. Monotremes secrete milk from a milk patch, much like sweat is secreted through our skin. There are a handful of species of monotremes, the duck-billed platypus, and four species of echidna. The platypus and one species of echidna are native to Australia, while the other echidna species are located in New Guinea.  In my backyard, we ain’t got no monotremes!

The second group of mammals are the marsupials. Marsupials give birth to very underdeveloped young which generally live in a pouch after birth. Most marsupials are native to Australia, New Guinea, and some nearby islands, though a number of species are common to South America.   But if you live in North America, there’s only one species that is present pretty much everywhere–the Virginia opossum.  This critter is native to the Pacific coastal region of the US (and into Vancouver), and from the Eastern seaboard into the midwest, south of the Great Lakes region.

The third group of mammals are the placental animals. That would be us. Us and elephants and dolphins and mice and moose, to name a few. Placental mammals, obviously have a placenta.  The number of species around the world are too many to list here, but in my “backyard”, I’ve come across raccoons,  river otter, skunks, bats, deer, dolphins (obviously not actually in my “yard”, but they are in a local area that we frequent), and foxes (and that’s leaving out the fairly common stuff like rats, mice, squirrels, rabbits, etc).  Locally, we also have porpoises, seals, black bears, and red wolves (you have to go a bit further afield for those last two).

 

Monthly Forage: Mulberries!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, mulberries.  Sweet-tart, melt in your mouth, purple-staining, mulberries.  Mulberries for pies, for cobbler, for smoothies, for jam.  And the best part is, its we are probably about halfway through mulberry season, with 6 mulberry trees along the creek behind the apartment…and even more across the street, bordering the park.  It astounds me that no one else knows what they have here!  Right now I have two gallon-sized ziplock bags in my freezer, filled to the brim with mulberries.  I’d have more, but there wouldn’t be any room for groceries (note to self: look for chest freezer on craigslist).

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Spring Forage: 3 Herbs from the Lawn

Tags

chickweed, clover, foraging, henbit

Chances are, if you live in North America, parts of Europe, and (maybe) even bits of Australia and New Zealand, that (at least some of) these “weeds” can be found in your yard, a neighbor’s yard, or a field in a park or school yard.

Henbit

(scientific name: Lamium amplexicaule)

Henbit crown (the best part for eating, with or without flowers)

• sprawling, annual herb
• square stems (a sign that its in the mint family)
• fuchsia tube-like flowers with a slightly fuzzy top (though flower color is variable from pale lavender to a dark magenta)
• naturalized in Eastern North America (and in other areas globally)
• popular with pollinators (including honeybees and hummingbirds)
• similar looking plants are also edible (no poisonous look-alikes)

So, this guy is one of my favorite early spring forage foods.  Henbit is easy to find and super tasty….sort of like kale or spinach, great sauteed with a wee bit of butter and some garlic, or in salad, or in a smoothie.  Plus, you can take the flowers (fresh or dried) and make tea from them (and we all know how I like tea).  Or you can take the flowers and munch on them and they taste sort of like honeysuckle (and we all know how much I like to rid the world of honeysuckle flowers).  I will make one very practical suggestion, from personal experience…limit yourself to no more than one cup of henbit (before cooking), else you may end up very, very gassy.

If harvesting for the greens, be sure to just snip the crowns.  Also, get the juicy ones, not the sort of crunchy and dry ones for best flavor (you’ll know when you feel them up a bit, lol).    Historically, henbit has been used to help heal wounds (as a wash or in tea), to induce sweating or help digestive ailments, and to bring on menstruation (if you are pregnant, you might want to avoid this herb as a precaution).  Magically, henbit is well suited to spells or rituals for clarity, energy, cleansing, and creativity.

Henbit (L) vs Purple Dead Nettle (R)

Chickweed

Common Chickweed, great in smoothies!

 

Common chickweed (Stellaria media) is one of several species of chickweed, all of which are edible.  It is characterized by tiny, white  5 cleft-petaled flowers (which basically make it look like it has 10 petals) and paired, smooth petals.  It produces saponins (which can be toxix) and should not be consumed in large amounts, but is a nutritious and delicious addition to salads and smoothies, and can be eaten raw or cooked.  Chickweed is best when young and tender.  When looking for chickweed (as opposed to similar but poisonous species), be sure your plant has:

• NO milky sap
• A row of tiny hairs growing in a row on one side of the stem that switches to the other side at each pair of leaves
• Opposite ovate or lanceolate (meaning they are ovular with a pointy tip) leaves
• If you gently bend and twist the stem, you can break the outer stem while the inner stem remains intact
• Small white deeply notched five petaled flowers (looks like 10 petals)

I usually harvest the ends–the flower and first couple pairs of leaves.  This can then be frozen, dried, or prepared fresh (freezing  chickweed lets you add it to smoothies all year long!).  Star chickweed can also be eaten in the same manner, but mouse-eared chickweed needs to be cook to moderate its hairiness.  Magically, these flowers can be used for magic and rituals associated with love, relationships, and fidelity.  Historically, it has been used medicinally to reduce inflammation (internally and externally), as a mild laxative, and in salves and poultices for mild burns and injuries.

 

White Clover

White clover (Trifolium repens) is a low growing pasture plant readily found in yards and fields.  It is characterized by its three leaves with the pale triangular markings and tiny spiky white flowers clustered together (what we think of as the flower of a clover is really dozens of densely packed flowers).  While the leaves are technically edible, they need to be boiled for at least 5 minutes before they are easily digestible.  The flowers however, make a lovely tea, whether fresh or dried.

 

Other clover varieties can also be used as tea (red clover is especially nutritious and widely used medicinally), but care should be taken when foraging because there are some similar looking species that are poisonous (most clovers are edible, but some have mixed reviews, and others are not).

Magically, clover can be used for magics dealing with protection, money and success, love, fidelity, and exorcism.  It is a masculine herb that corresponds with Mercury and Air.  Medicinally, clover has historically been used in teas for colds, coughs, and fevers, and in washes for wounds (also as a rinse for the eyes).  Additionally, the dried flowers and seed pods can be ground up as “flour” and used as a seasoning.  the dried flowers also make a good addition to incense and potpourri.

Crimson Clover (or Italian Clover), not to be confused with Red Clover (which is really pink

Herbal Remedies: Bitten!

Tags

animal bites, bee stings, bug bites, herbal remedies, mosquitoes

(Nuisance) Bug Bites and Stings

Since biting insects can harbor disease (malaria, west nile, lyme disease, etc)—and its annoying to be scratching anyhow, it is better to simply avoid getting bit in the fist place. Around the home one can eliminate places where mosquitoes can breed, make sure that screens are in good condition, and plant plants that pests dislike. In areas where this is difficult, protective clothing should be worn. Chemical insect repellents can also be used, or there are herbal alternatives.

Bug Repellant

2 oz vodka or carrier oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
15 drops citronella essential oil
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 drops cedar essential oil (optional)
5 drops lemongrass essential oil (optional)

Mix and spritz on exposed skin (if in alcohol), or rub on exposed skin (carrier oil)…avoid clothing as oils can stain/discolor. (Remember, no insect repellent is effective against all bugs all of the time–essential oils are volatile, evaporate quickly, and must be reapplied regularly.) If you use a carrier oil, try infusing catnip into the oil prior to mixing the essential oils.

Sometimes though, you get bitten anyhow.  And itchy is annoying…so try this recipe out!

DIY “Calamine”

1/2 c betonite clay
1/4 c baking soda
1/8 c kaolin clay
20 drops of lavender, tea tree, or some combination of the two
10 drops of chamomile, yarrow, calendula, or some combination of the three
1 teaspoon of powdered goldenseal or echinacea or some combination of the two
witch hazel to desired consistency

Mix, store in a jar (its not necessary to refrigerate, but it feels awesome if you do, and it lasts longer), apply to bug bites and other itchy ouchies (poison ivy, chicken pox, etc) as needed.

Other remedies!

• Pest repellent plants for the garden include basil which deters mosquitoes and flies (and it tastes and grows well with tomato as a companion plant), henbit which is a general insect repellent, the mole plant which doesn’t deter bugs but will deter moles and mice, tansy deters ants and flies, peppermint deters flies, mosquitoes and ants (and also rats), and pennyroyal deters fleas (but is not meant to be ingested, so keep away from where kids and pets can ingest it).
• Essential oils citronella and its cousin lemongrass, eucalyptus, bay laurel, lavender, thyme, geranium, and mint family plants (catnip, peppermint, etc) can be diluted in a carrier oil (you can also try infused oils of these plants), or added to aloe vera gel or witch hazel as a spray to repel insects.
• Real vanilla extract (as opposed to the flavoring) is reported to deter mosquitoes. Real vanilla extract is also expensive…not sure the effectiveness of this, much less if it works in dilution (but at least it smells yummy…and is baby safe)
• Bentonite clay and echinacea tincture or powdered echinacea and lavender essential oil combined to form a paste/plaster to apply to insect bites and stings to relieve itching.
• Fresh leaf poultices can be made from plantain, chickweed, sassafras, or willow and applied to bites (to make a fresh leaf poultice, be certain you have identified plant properly, pick leaf, chew, apply to bite, cover with band-aid if needed to hold in place).
• Apply witch hazel to a cotton ball and cover with a band-aid to hold in place as a sort of mini compress to bug bites.

Other bites (and stings)…

Getting bit can be bad.  There are some bites that can do serious damage or even be fatal.  Know what care to give and when to seek medical help for some of the more common bites and stings:

• Bee stings–Normally, bees and wasps aren’t that big of a deal…but for some people, their sting can be deadly.  If you are watching someone else’s kids (or they are playing at your house, or you coach a team, etc) make sure you find out if they are allergic to bees or wasps, and that (if so) they have an Epi-pen (or other appropriate intervention) and that you know what to do if they get stung, and that you have an emergency contact for the parent.  (and if your child is the one with that allergy, make sure the people they are with know those things)
• Snakes–If you are in North America, there are 4 families of snakes that are venomous–coral snakes, cottonmouths (aka water moccasins), copperheads, and rattlesnakes.  About 8,000 people a year are bitten, and most of them are bitten because they are being stupid–if you see a venomous snake, don’t try to pick it up, leave it alone.  If it somewhere that you don’t want it to be because it creates an hazard (like your bathtub) and you need to make sure it is gone, call animal control.  And, if you are in an environment that you are likely to share with a venomous snake, practice due diligence….The Hubby was once bitten by a rattlesnake, but due to luck and clothing, it only got his boot.  If you are bitten, DO NOT PANIC, and DO seek immediate professional help at a local hospital.  (with the exception of #7, this is a pretty good guide of what to do (and not to do) if you get bitten by a snake…if you are wondering why # 7 isn’t a good idea, check out “don’t” #9)
• Mammals–Generally speaking, the most common mammal bite that one is likely to have is a dog bite, followed by a cat bite, followed by the bite of a wild animal such as a bat, raccoon, rodents, etc.  Some things to keep in mind: while a dog is more likely to be the source of a bite, a cat is more likely to cause an infection (due to their dental structure they cause puncture wounds), also if you are bitten by a raccoon, bat, skunk, or fox, you have the highest probability of rabies (compared to other mammals).  The best way to deal with a bite by a mammal is to avoid getting bitten!  If, however you are bitten, you need to think about the possibility of infection, and know the risk factors and signs of illnesses that can be caused by animal bites in order to make the appropriate decisions about seeking medical assistance.  For immediate care after a minor bite, thoroughly wash the wound with soap and water, and apply some antibiotic creme with a bandage.  With a serious wound, apply pressure with a clean, dry dressing and seek medical attention.  If you are at all unsure of the immunization status of an animal (or know that they are not immunized), the official recommendation is to seek medical attention.  Also, the CDC recommends that you seek medical attention if you find a bat in or around a sleeping area, whether or not you find a bite mark, as bat bites can be difficult to spot.
• Spiders–World-wide, there are only about a dozen types of spiders that are dangerous to humans, and in North America, there are two groups to worry about–the widows (which include the black widow) and the recluses (which includes the brown recluse).  These two spiders, when they bite, do so because we have startled them and invaded their space.  (By the way, one study suggests that 30% of “spider bite” legions have actually been MRSA infections.)  The space they prefer happens to be warm, dry, dark, undisturbed areas like woodpiles, closets, sheds, etc.  If you suspect a bit from one of these insects, seek medical attention.  For more information about the spiders and symptoms of their bites, check out this site.
• Miscellaneous–Depending on where you live (or visit), you may have other animals around that might be a bite risk.  People have been bitten by alligators and crocodiles, sharks, and all sorts of animals….and (I’m going to go out on a limb here and invent a statistic) I’m willing to be that 9 times out of 10, when they get bit, its because they did something stupid and frightened the animal or because (in the case of sharks) they were mistaken for food.   Leave wild animals alone.  Know the animals where you live, know how to behave around them, and know what to do if you have an adverse encounter with one.

Other Herbal Remedies posts: Anxiety & Stress, ENT issues, Funky Feet, for Babies

June Forage: Japanese Honeysuckle

Tags

bioregionalism, edible plants, forage, herbs, honeysuckle, invasive species, know your flora, magical herbs, medicinal herbs, wildcrafting

Not long ago, when most people were still fairly attuned to nature, it was commonly noted that her flowers resembled lovers entwined, thereby making “Love Bind,” as she was sometimes called, a symbol of devotion and love. In Victorian times, it was said that if one brought a Honeysuckle bouquet into the house, a wedding would follow within the year. Prudence being the operative theme in those days, perhaps marriage was the only possible option for release of wanton desires, for it was well-known that the perfume that spills from her honey-lipped blossoms would spark dreams of passion and desire.

(source)

If there is any plant that I have a love-hate relationship with…its honeysuckle.  On one hand, its fragrant and tasty and medicinal.  On the other hand, its a pervasively invasive species that does an incredible amount of damage to native ecosystems. When it comes to plants like these (kudzu, garlic mustard, mimosa, etc), I’m particularly bloodthirsty (sapthirsty?) and more than happy to pick ’em til they’re gone (a number of parks are more than happy to let you rid them of invasive species, if you ask the persons in charge of them).

There are about 180 species of honeysuckle, most native to the northern hemisphere. The greatest number of species is in China with over 100. North America and Europe have only about 20 native species each, and the ones in Europe are usually toxic.  Taste is not a measure of toxicity. Some Lonicera have delicious berries that are quite toxic and some have unpalatable berries that are not toxic at all. This is one plant on which taste is not a measure of edibility. Properly identify the species.

(from one of my fave wild edible sites, Eat the weeds)

Our favorite way to enjoy honeysuckle, of course, is sucking the nectar out of the bottom of the freshly picked flower…but we also dry the flower buds and fresh blooms to use in teas and salves.  I’m more then happy to pick as many of the flowers as possible, because less flowers mean less berries, and less berries mean less seeds, and less seeds, mean less honeysuckle plants taking over and smothering native plants.  Unfortunately, honeysuckle is a difficult plant to control the growth and spread of.

General Description: 

Japanese honeysuckle is a perennial vine that climbs by twisting its stems around vertical structures, including limbs and trunks of shrubs and small trees. Leaves are oblong to oval, sometimes lobed, have short stalks, and occur in pairs along the stem. In southern and mid-Atlantic states, Japanese honeysuckle often remains evergreen – its leaves remain attached through the winter. In colder northern climates, the leaves may fall off after exposure to prolonged winter temperatures. Flowers are tubular, with five fused petals, white to pink, turning yellow with age, very fragrant, and occur in pairs along the stem at leaf junctures. Stems and leaves are sometimes covered with fine, soft hairs. Japanese honeysuckle blooms from late April through July and sometimes into October. Small black fruits (photo) are produced in autumn, each containing 2-3 oval to oblong, dark brown seeds about 1/4 inch across.

(from the National Park Service’s “Least Wanted” list)

Parts of interest:   Harvest the unopened blooms early in the morning for infusions or tinctures.  Open blooms can also be harvested for tea and for culinary preparations (honey suckle flowers are tasty in salads).  The young leaves and vine tips of Japanese honeysuckle are edible after boiling (I haven’t tried this myself yet)–the big thing to remember here is the “after boiling”–the leaves are said to have high levels of saponins, which can make you sick to your tummy, but are mostly removed through parboiling, and not readily absorbed through the human digestive tract anyhow. Additionally, it is reported that the vines themselves can be used for basketry. DO NOT INGEST THE BERRIES!  Reports of toxicity vary, but honeysuckle berries are generally agreed to be mildly poisonous in  most species.

How to prepare flowers:  There are a number of ways to use honeysuckle blooms.  First, consider drying them for later use in infusions.  Honeysuckle makes an excellent additive in salves, and a lovely and fragrant infusion.  The unopened blooms are best for drying, but the opened blossoms are suitable for using fresh.  Flowers can be candied, used to make a simple syrup (which can even be used in adult beverages), infused in honey, or turned into jelly.

What its good for:  Medicinally, honeysuckle has been traditionally recommended to combat inflammation, fever, infection, and skin conditions.  Magically, it is said to attract friends, love, prosperity, fidelity, and clear thinking.

Errata:  Honeysuckle is a plant that has quite a bit of disagreement about its use–which species and which parts of a particular species should be used for which ailments, which parts of the plants from which species are safe, etc.  If you choose to forage for honeysuckle as a food or medicine, please do so with caution.

Practice Safe Herbalism!

Tags

herbal safety

The Poison Garden’s gate at Alnwick Gardens.

Don’t Eat What You Can’t Name
*a Pagan morality tale from yours truly, originally posted @ Pagan Forum*

I once knew a talented fellow
That could weave a tale, fierce or mellow
But never did he ever learn
The leaf of tree, wildflower, or fern

So when one night, he deigned to gather
Parts of plants he thought would matter
And he boiled them in a brew to drink
Then promptly expired in a lather, I think.

Don’t Wipe With It, Either
*an alternative ending by Perzephone @ Pagan Forum*

I once knew a talented fellow
That could weave a tale, fierce or mellow
But never did he ever learn
The leaf of tree, wildflower, or fern

So when one night, he deigned to gather
Parts of plants he thought wouldn’t matter
Cleaning his regions most tender
A fearsome red rash he did render

Lately, I’ve seen and heard several DIY ideas and herbal recipes and concoctions on blog posts and FB statuses on different pages that have made me cringe. Please, please do plenty of research before you use any recipe or herb you see on the internet or outside of a reliable herbal guide*…especially if you are intending it for a child, a pregnant woman, or a furry friend.  In fact, I feel so strongly about this that even though I just posted it on the blog’s FB page, I’m posting it here as well as a second reminder (and, I know some of you aren’t FB users)!

I’ve been practicing herbalism for over a decade, and I still always ALWAYS double (and triple) check dosage, contraindications, interactions, and any new information that has come about about the safety** and efficacy of an herb before I use it in a manner that is not consistent with my personal normal use. ALWAYS. Because you never have the excuse of “well, I didn’t know” or “But so-and-so on the internet said its what they did” when it is someone else’s life and health at stake.  Please practice safe herbalism!

A QUICK REMINDER ON HERBAL SAFETY
(this is by no means a definitive list)

• NEVER assume that because a herbal remedy is “natural” that it is “safe”.
• NEVER assume that because an herbal remedy works a certain way in an adult that it will work the same way in a child.
• NEVER assume that because an herbal remedy is safe for us that it is safe for our pets.
• NEVER assume that just because something is being used topically or for cosmetic purposes that it can’t be toxic.
• NEVER assume that a magical herb should be used medicinally or cosmetically.

• ALWAYS research all of the herbs (whether they are being used in an infusion, as an essential oil, etc) that you are using.
• ALWAYS check their toxicity for whomever you are planning to use them on AND those that might come into contact with them accidentally–human or animal (or for that matter plant).
• ALWAYS check for contraindications with medical conditions and medications and allergies.
• ALWAYS double and triple check your dosages and measurements.
• ALWAYS be 100% sure of your identification of a plant if you are foraging, AND that you are gathering it from a safe place–if you are not sure, DO NOT USE IT. Otherwise, be sure the company or individual you are getting your herbs from is reputable.

Addendum:

*I use the term “reliable herbal guide” fairly broadly–your “guide” to herbalism might be a professional herbalist or a really, really good herbal, or a combination of in person, in print and (accurate and reliable) internet sources.  Unless your cousin’s girl friend’s uncle’s tarot card reader is any of those things, they don’t qualify.  Nor, for that matter, do I.  I try to be as reliable, accurate, researched and multi-sourced as possible before I post anything, but I’m certainly not perfect.

**Also, if working with poisonous plants is a goal of yours, for whatever reason, that’s fine.  I’m not one to pass judgement, I work with a number of plants that aren’t entirely safe myself.  They have a valid spot in magical herbalism for those of us of the witchy persuasion.  But please, please, please be smart about it.  Keep both herbs and the tools used to process them out of the reach of children and pets.  Have a separate set of tools for those substances (don’t make smoothies in the blender you pulverize arnica in).  Get training from someone that knows what they are doing.  Respect the plant, and don’t push the limits of safety, use them properly and in the correct dosages.  Be wary of working with herbs that are addictive in nature, particularly if you have a history of addiction, or it runs in the family.