Florabrae's Library

A brief guide to the ingredients sourced and used in our products - traditional uses - folklore.

"There is always more than meets the eye" - Greenwitch majick

Bay Leaf

Divination by fire. Historical uses.

Used to ward off negativity, burned in temples and homes for purification.

Smoke used for divination and prophetic trances.

Leaves used in sleep for prophetic dreams

Trees used to ward off negative forces, and the plague

Black Pepper

Fire and defence. Historical records

Early divination spells (16th century) recorded peppercorns as a magnet for wealth. Possibly as this spice was rare and expensive.

Also used in witch jars to ward off evil spirits.

Mainly used as a counter curse.

Cedarwood

Grounding, purifying. Fairly new to these shores

Not a native but now used for grounding and purifying as the Native Indians did. Historically Scotland would have used something like Juniper branches for "Saining" - a tradition that used dried burning branches to create a thick intense smoke to purify the home, at Hogmany, this was done to drive out spirits and ward off disease.

Chamomile

1 of the 9 sacred herbs. Known as Maythen, and recorded in the Lacnuga, a 10th century Anglo-Saxon manuscript.

Used to ward off illnesses, venomous hexes and curses.

Burned on fires at Midsummer, the smoke was said to carry magical purification properties, cleansing the sick and ensuring a bountiful harvest.

Charcoal

Protection and Presage.

Charcoal was wood transformed by fire. In many Beltane practises the charcoal left over from the fires were used to protect crops and animals for the year ahead.

"Black salt" charcoal ground with salt, was used as a potent boundary protection.

"Burnt stick" was often used ground in milk for bloat, and often as a poultice for wounds.

Cinnamon

Sacred wellness Historical records

Used in ancient Egypt as perfume, health, its antimicrobial properties were even utilised in mummification.

Gifted between royals in the UK in the 1100's a real luxury, locked away in boxes. A main ingredient in "Dukes powder" which was documented as a restorative treatment in a "Mulled wine" in 1560 for Mary of Guise

Clove

Protection and clarity. Fairly new to these shores

Not a native but later used for protection and mental clarity Historically Scotland would have used cloves pomanders (oranges or wax balls) studded heavily with whole cloves and hung in homes to ward off disease and plague.

Eucalyptus

Sacred to the Aboriginal Australians Used for healing, protection and purification. For thousands of years used for antiseptic bandaging of wounds, steam inhalations for coughs and digestive issues.

A tree of knowledge, and a bridge between realms, this tree has had and still has many ceremonial uses.

Frankincense

Anointing the Gods

Used in Egypt and Greece as an offering to the Gods, Smoke and oils, offerings of essence. Purification

Used by the elites as perfume since Cleopatra.

Also used in mummification for its preservation and antimicrobial properties.

Ginger

Ancient wellness Historical records

Used in ancient India ~3000BCE, deeply embedded in Ayurvedic medicine. Used in Ancient China ~500BCE

Later, once this spice reached Scottish shores it was associated with Fire, wealth, protection.

In Scottish records from 1576 Ginger, used in a medicinal ale, was mentioned in the "evidence" against Bessie Dunlop - a famous healer accused of witchcraft

Green Clay

Medicinal Clay Historical records

The oldest know records of medicinal clay use date back to Mesopotamian clay tablets from about 2500 BC.

Green clay can be traced back to Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. It was utilised as an anti-inflammatory, an antiseptic on battle wounds and a skin purifying cosmetic.

Jasmine

Aroma of the Goddesses Used for perfume and medicinal purposes from ancient Egypt, Persia, India and China. Used to scent the bathwater of the wealthy, used to wash the statues of the Gods. Jasmine is mentioned extensively in the ancient Vedic texts, and was used as a cooling, anti -inflammatory

Kaolin

Oldest records are from ancient China

Used for clotting activation on wounds, skin soother and protectant. Traditionally used in many formulas for cholera, dysentery and upset stomachs ~2500BC

Then over 2000yrs ago became an essential ingredient in the Tang Dynasty porcelain

Lavender