wild witchcraft is an introduction to herbalism which was published in 2022 by a woman whose life's work focuses on foraging, traditional witchcraft, and appalachian folk medicine. this book provides information on witchcraft, gardening, foraging, and folk medicine. i'd say the book is friendly and suitable for beginners---she's thorough (without being intimidating).
history of herbalism
- note that she is writing this from the perspective of someone who lives in the US.
- "western herbalism" is a melting pot of herbalism / folklore from around the world (aka whoever has been brought into, or was originally in, the US)
- europe---hippocrates (400bce) separated illness from spiritual causes (aka illness is not from an angry spirit/god/etc.). around the same time, egypt, india, and china were places of well-dispersed information on herbs and medicine. 10th cent ce---first european medical school in salerno, italy, which drew on greek and islamic medical texts.
- 1400s---printing press increases circulation of herbalism knowledge.
- 1708---culpeper's complete herbal is published; first herbalism text published in north america. blended indigenous, african, and european knowledge.
- (aside: when i think of herbalism, i think of chinese medicine. is that just a me thing? she doesn't touch on how 'eastern' practices fit into herbalism---are they not typically part of the western world? i might be overthinking this and making false connections.)
- onto the history of folk medicine! for parts of US history, indigenous medicine was romanticized, exotified, and seen as 'more powerful' than british medicine. (ehh? i think i need a fact checker on that one. initial internet search says 'maybe.')
- emphasis on how european settlers were relying on knowledge from indigenous people because they were on foreign soil. new plants, new animals, new terrain, and everybody's gotta eat.
- folk medicine was circulated due to affordability and accessibility
- importance of forming relationship with the land, plants, and seasons---the "being in tune with life" part of things is where she's turning to witchcraft more thank folk medicine.
gardening
- know your climate zone so you know what plants you can grow.
- soil is made of mineral solids, air, water, and organic matter. organic matter contains organisms and plant roots, recently dead material (ex. yard waste, manure), and very dead material (soil humus).
- soils: darker = more organic matter, red/brown = good aeration, some waterlogging, gray/olive = oversaturated, too much water.
- how to plant seeds. to soften the seed coat, you can keep it between wet paper towels in the fridge. scarifying---damage seed coat and soak.
plants of interest
- calendula / marigold - can tolerate some frost. pest deterrent. medicine for skin. also nice flavor for cooking / baking (used raw).
- catnip - "great container plant." "not fussy." calm nerves, restful sleep.
- lemon balm - protection, viruses, anxiety. also good for baking / cooking.
- rosemary - clear mind, for sore throats and congestion.
- henbane - was once used in psychoactive beers....
foraging
i could take the time to learn my local plants.
folk medicine
- tea
- boil water, then add herbs. don't boil leaves and flowers; it damages the parts we want to use.
- decoctions
- simmer tougher plant parts---roots, stems, seeds---for 10-30min.
- tincture
- done with vodka or any other high-proof alchohol. look up solubility charts---not everything can be made into an effective tincture. some plant chemicals are soluble in water but not alcohol.
interesting recipes
- winter cordial (pg133)
- rosemary, conifer needles, orange peel, rose hips, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, clove, vanilla bean; vodka or brandy.
- lemon balm tincture
- lemon balm, high-proof alcohol.
todo
- plant lemon balm
- read about trota of solerno
- grow rosemary from grocery store???
- fennel?
- also gotta remember to plant the non-herbalism seeds i bought.
plants i would like to grow in the future
- calendula
other notes
- internet says not to brew tea with leaves from african violet. oh well...