ALFALFA (Medicago sativa): Medicinal—nutritive, diuretic, lowers cholesterol, digestive, laxative, tonic, anti-inflammatory. Caution: avoid if you are on warfarin or have an auto-immune disease. Magical—grounding, money, prosperity, protection. Ruled by the planet Venus and the element of earth.
ALLSPICE (Pimenta dioica): Medicinal—antibacterial, hypotensive, antineuralgic, analgesic, antitumour, carminative, digestive stimulant, aromatic, anti-inflammatory, rubefacient, antiflatulent. Caution: avoid for two weeks before surgery. Magical—energy, healing, luck, money, virility. Ruled by the planet Mars and the element of fire.
ALMOND (Prunus dulcis syn. Prunus amygdalus/Amygdalus communis/Amygdalus dulcis): Medicinal—hypoglycaemic, lowers LDL and total cholesterol levels, immunostimulant, antioxidant, hepato-protective. Magical—Ostara, regeneration, divination, fertility, love, luck, money. Ruled by the planets Mercury and the sun and the element of air. Sacred to Zeus, Freya, Phyllis, Amacas, Demophoon, Cybele, Attis, Nana, Car, Metis, Carmenta, and the Caryatids.
AMARANTH (Amaranthus spp.): Medicinal—astringent, antioxidant, lowers cholesterol. Magical—death, funerals, healing, immortality, protection. Sacred to Artemis and Demeter. It is ruled by the planet Saturn and the element of fire.
ANGELICA (Angelica archangelica syn. Angelica officinalis): Medicinal—expectorant, carminative, bitter, bactericidal, circulatory stimulant, antioxidant. Caution: avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you take warfarin. Magical—Beltane, Midsummer, healing, protection, cleansing, exorcism, purification, banishing, blessing, clairvoyance, visions, warding, peace. Ruled by the sun and the element of fire. Sacred to sun gods and Venus.
ANISE (Pimpinella anisum): Medicinal—digestive, carminative, aromatic, galactogogue, diaphoretic. Caution: avoid if you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to oestrogen. Magical—clairvoyance, banishing, divination, exorcism, protection. Ruled by the planet Mercury and the element of air. Sacred to Apollo, Hermes, and Mercury.
APPLE (Malus spp.): Medicinal—antioxidant, hypolipidemic, hypotensive. Magical—fertility, lust, love, marriage, immortality, fidelity, harvest, initiation, wisdom. Ruled by the sun and Venus and the element of water. Sacred to Aphrodite, Apollo, Bel, Ceridwen, Demeter, Diana, Eve, Flora, Godiva, Herakles, Hesperides, Iduna, Inanna, Kore, Lugh, Mêliae, Morgana, Nehallenia, Olwen, Persephone, Pomona, sun gods, Titaea, Venus, and Zeus.
APRICOT (Prunus armeniaca): Medicinal—the fruit is a mild laxative and is cleansing. Magical—love. Ruled by the planet Venus and the element of water.
ARROWROOT (Maranta arundinaceae): Medicinal—demulcent, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic. Magical—good luck, prosperity. Ruled by the planet Jupiter and the element of water.
ASAFOETIDA (Ferula foetida): Medicinal—antispasmodic, expectorant, stimulant, emmenagogue, vermifuge, sedative, hypotensive. Caution: should not be taken by children, if pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have bleeding disorders, gastro-intestinal problems, or blood pressure problems. Magical—exorcism, purification, prophetic dreams, fertility. Ruled by Saturn or Mars and the element of fire. Sacred to Athene, Priapus, and Saturn.
ASPARAGUS (Asparagus officinalis): Medicinal—antispasmodic, aperient, cardiac, demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic, sedative, tonic. Magical—fertility, lust, potency. Ruled by the planets Mars and Jupiter, the element of fire, and the signs Gemini and Virgo. Sacred to Zeus, Hermes, and Mercury.
AVOCADO (Persea americana): Medicinal—nutritive, lowers cholesterol levels, antioxidant, antimicrobial. Magical—happiness, wealth, longevity, love, lust.
BARLEY (Hordeum vulgare): Medicinal—diuretic, demulcent, expectorant, galactofuge, lenitive, stomachic, digestive, emollient, nutritive, febrifuge, stomachic. Caution: best avoided by nursing mothers since it can reduce milk flow. Magical—fertility, initiation, harvest, Lughnasa, and the Autumn Equinox. Sacred to Demeter and Ceres.
BAY (Laurus nobilis): Medicinal—external use as a compress on bruises and sprains. Caution: avoid if pregnant. Magical—prophecy, divination, healing, consecrating tarot cards, protection, banishing negativity, cleansing, spiritual purification, prophetic dreams, sealing. Ruled by the sun and the element of fire. Sacred to gods of healing, Adonis, Apollo, Aesculapius, Ceres, Ceridwen, Cupid, Daphne, Eros, Faunus, Ra, Vishnu, Mars, Ares, and sun and dawn gods and goddesses.
BERGAMOT, MONARDA (Monarda didyma): Medicinal—anthelmintic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, rubefacient, stimulant. Caution: avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. Magical—protection, meditation. Ruled by the planet Mercury and the element of air.
BERGAMOT, CITRUS (Citrus bergamia): Medicinal—carminative, antiseptic, antispasmodic. Magical—money and success. Ruled by the planet Mercury and the element of air.
BILBERRY (Vaccinium myrtillus): Medicinal—antioxidant, gastro-intestinal, anti-inflammatory, antioedematous, vasoprotective. Magical—counter magic, protection, luck, money. Ruled by the planet Jupiter and the elements fire and water.
BLACKBERRY (Rubus fructicosus): Medicinal—astringent, depurative, diuretic, tonic, vulnerary. Magical—Autumn Equinox, harvest, abundance, death, consecrating the cup or cauldron. Ruled by the planet Venus and the element of water. Sacred to Brigantia, Brighid, fairies, and harvest goddesses.
BLUEBERRY (Vaccinium corymbosum): Medicinal—nutritive, antioxidant, astringent, anti-inflammatory, circulatory stimulant, hypotensive. Magical—protection and counter magic. Ruled by the planet Jupiter and the element of water.
BUCKWHEAT (Fagopyrum esculentum): Medicinal—anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, demulcent, diuretic, nutritive, tonic, vasodilator, antihistamine. Magical—protection from negativity, poverty, and evil; money attraction and wealth; Autumn Equinox. Ruled by the planet Venus and the element of earth. Sacred to harvest gods and goddesses.
CABBAGE (Brassica oleracea): Medicinal—used externally as a cooling, soothing poultice for inflamed and irritated skin. Magical—luck. Ruled by the moon and the element of water.
CAROB (Ceratonia siliqua): Medicinal—mild laxative. Magical—health, wealth. Ruled by the planet Jupiter and the element of fire. Sacred to Zeus and Jupiter.
CHERRY (Prunus avium): Medicinal—astringent, diuretic, tonic. Magical—happiness, love, divination.
CHERVIL (Anthriscus cerefolium): Medicinal—tonic, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, stimulant. Caution: avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. Magical—mental activity, clarity, Samhain, initiation, connection to the higher self. Ruled by the planet Jupiter and the elements of air and water. Sacred to the goddess Ceridwen.
CHICORY (Cichorium intybus): Medicinal—liver tonic, bitter, laxative, mild diuretic, anti-inflammatory. Caution: avoid medicinal use if pregnant or breastfeeding. Magical—removal of obstacles, invisibility, Lughnasa, Autumn Equinox. Ruled by Jupiter and the element of air. Sacred to harvest gods and goddesses.
CLARY SAGE (Salvia sclarea): Medicinal—antispasmodic, appetizer, aromatic, astringent, balsamic, carminative, pectoral, tonic. Caution: avoid if you are taking chloral hydrate or hexobarbitone. Magical—visions, getting the sight, opening the third eye. Ruled by Mercury and the moon and the element of air.
COCONUT (Cocos nucifera): Medicinal—antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal. Magical—luck, purification, protection, chastity.
CORN (i.e., all grain crops): Magical—abundance, harvest, Autumn Equinox, Lughnasa. Ruled by the sun and the element of fire. Sacred to gods and goddesses of the harvest such as Demeter and Ceres.
CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus): Medicinal—depurative, diuretic, emollient, purgative, resolvent. Magical—chastity, healing, fertility, astral travel. Ruled by the moon and the element of water.
DATE PALM (Phoenix dactylifera): Medicinal—nutritive, laxative. Magical—regeneration, fertility, rebirth. Sacred to Amun, Isis, Lat, Demeter, Leto, Nike, Inanna, and Nepthys.
FIG (Ficus carica): Medicinal—laxative. Magical—love, fertility. Ruled by the planet Jupiter and the element of fire. Sacred to Dionysus, Bacchus, Juno, Pan, and Isis.
FRANGIPANI (Plumeria spp.): Medicinal—antipyretic, antibiotic. Magical—love, attraction.
HAZEL (Corylus avellana): Medicinal—astringent, diaphoretic, febrifuge, nutritive, odontalgic, stomachic, tonic. Magical—Autumn Equinox, wisdom, inspiration, making and consecrating wands, dowsing, protection. Ruled by the planet Mercury and the element of air. Sacred to Aengus, Artemis, Diana, Chandra, Connla, Fionn, Hecate, Lleu, Lugh, Mac Coll, Manannan, Mercury, Ogma, Taliesin, Thor, and Boann.
HIBISCUS (Hibiscus spp.): Medicinal—anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, lowers LDL cholesterol, antioxidant, antibacterial, diuretic. Caution: avoid medicinal use if you have low blood pressure or are pregnant or breastfeeding. Magical—love, lust, divination.
HOP (Humulus lupulus): Medicinal—anaphrodisiac, analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, anodyne, astringent, bitter, diuretic, febrifuge, hypnotic, nervine, sedative, stimulant, stomachic, tonic, vermifuge. Magical—Lughnasa, underworld travel, wolf totems. Ruled by the planet Mars and the element of air. Sacred to Brighid and Leto.
LIME (Citrus acida): Medicinal—nutritive, antiscorbutic, antiviral, tonic, astringent, antiseptic, antibacterial. Magical—healing, love, protection. Ruled by the element of fire.
NUTMEG (Myristica fragrans): Medicinal—sedative, carminative, aromatic, antispasmodic, antimicrobial, antiemetic, hypotensive. Caution: avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. Magical—counter magic, luck, justice, money, virility, aphrodisiac, Yule. Ruled by the planet Jupiter and the element of air.
OLIVE (Olea europaea): Medicinal—antioxidant, bitter tonic, hypotensive. Magical—new beginnings, peace, continuity, the expulsion of evil and negativity, consecration, purification, blessing. Ruled by the sun and the element of fire. Sacred to Amun Ra, Apollo, Artemis, Athene, Auxesia Hera, Damia, Demeter, Ganymede, Hercules, Hermes, Indra, Isis, Juno, Jupiter, Nut, Poseidon, sun gods, and Zeus.
ONION (Allium cepa): Medicinal—antimicrobial, antibiotic, antibacterial, antifungal, anticoagulant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic. Magical—protection, dispelling negativity, exorcism. Ruled by the planet Mars and the element of fire.
ORANGE (Citrus × sinensis): Medicinal—antioxidants, appetizer, astringent, blood purifier. Magical—love, energy, joy. Ruled by the sun and the element of fire.
PEAR (Pyrus communis): Medicinal—anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, nutritive. Magical—love, marriage, fertility. Ruled by the planet Venus and the element of water. Sacred to Hera and Juno.
RUE (Ruta graveolens): Medicinal—anthelmintic, antidote, antispasmodic, carminative, emetic, emmenagogue, expectorant, haemostatic, ophthalmic, rubefacient, strongly stimulant, mildly stomachic, uterotonic. Caution: Rue is generally safe in food amounts but is not recommended in medicinal quantities. Avoid if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Magical—anaphrodisiac, inner vision, clairvoyance, banishes negative energies, exorcism, purification. It is ruled by the sun and the element of fire. Sacred to Aradia, Diana, Hermes, Horus, Mars, Menthu, Mercury, and Odysseus.
SAFFRON (Crocus sativus): Medicinal—anodyne, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, appetizer, carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, sedative, stimulant. Caution: avoid large amounts in pregnancy and breastfeeding or if you have bipolar disorder, a heart condition, or low blood pressure. Magical—love, marriage, handfasting, lifts the spirits, divination, aphrodisiac, beginnings, dawn, strength, wealth. Though given to the sun by the astrologer-herbalists, for its golden stamens and dye, the ancients thought saffron was sacred to moon goddesses. It is ruled by the sun and the element of fire. Sacred to the deities Amun Ra, Ashtoreth, Eos, Indra, Jupiter, and Zeus.
SORREL (Rumex acetosa): Medicinal—stringent, diuretic, laxative, refrigerant. Caution: avoid large amounts if you have kidney stones or kidney disease and during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It should not be taken by children. Magical—love. Ruled by the planet Venus and the element of earth. Sacred to Venus and Aphrodite.
STAR ANISE (Illicium verum): Medicinal—antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant. Magical—psychic skills, protection, prosperity, ritual cleansing. Ruled by the planet Jupiter and the element of air.
STRAWBERRY (Fragaria spp.): Medicinal—mildly astringent, diuretic, laxative, tonic. Magical—blessing, love, Midsummer, fertility. Ruled by the planet Venus and the elements of earth or water. Sacred to fairies, Freya, love goddesses, and mother goddesses.
TANGERINE (Citrus tangerina): Medicinal—antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, depurative, sedative, stomachic, antispasmodic, tonic, digestive. Magical—energy, strength, power. Ruled by the sun and the element of fire.
TEA (Camellia sinensis): Medicinal—stimulant, astringent, antioxidant. Magical—courage, strength, prosperity. Ruled by the sun and the element of fire.
TOMATO (Solanum lycopersicum): Medicinal—antioxidant, anti-inflammatory. Magical—love, protection.
VANILLA (Vanilla planifolia): Medicinal—antioxidant, anti-inflammatory. Magical—happiness, good fortune.
VINE, GRAPE (Vitis vinafera): Medicinal—vasoprotective, venotonic, antioxidant, astringent, collagen stabilising. Magical—everlasting life, divine intoxication, entheogen, negating the ego, Lughnasa and the Autumn Equinox. Ruled by the sun and the element of fire. Sacred to Adonis, Apollo, Bacchus, Dionysus, Flora, Inanna, Ishtar, Liber Pater, Orpheus, Osiris, and Ra.
WALNUT (Juglans regia): Medicinal—antilithic, diuretic, stimulant. Magical—fertility, anointing, wishes. Ruled by the sun and the element of fire. Sacred to Adonis, Apollo, and Jupiter.