I have been blessed with the gift of hawthorn from the ever lovely Raheli of Belladonna & Bones & Everyday Podcast Since she has just had a wonderful harvest of berries I decided to share some of the amazing information regarding this wonderful plant Hawthorn Botanical name: Cratagus Monogyna Common names: Whitethorn, Hazels, Gazels, Halves, Quickset, Bread-and-Cheese Tree, Albesyne, L’Epine Noble, Hagedorn, Hedgethorn, Fairy Bush, May blossom, May Bush, May Flower, Quick, Thorn, Haw, Hag Thorn, Ladies Meat, Tree of Chastity, May Tree Gender: Masculine Deities: Belenus, Cardea, the White Goddess, Hymen Maia and Flora. Element: Fire Planetary influence: Mars Location: Britain, Europe, North Africa, Western Asia, North America has the greatest species diversification of this genus, but different species are native throughout the northern Hemisphere Hawthorn is popular as an introduced species in Australia Magikal Properties: Consecration, Fertility, Marriage (male-female unity) Love (Beyerl) Binding (Annecdotal) Protection (Family practice), Health (Multinational), Defense (Bitish Isles cultural practice) Communication with Otherworld/Fae (Family practice) & also in a strange turn Chastity (Annecdotal) Magikal Use: extremely potent in ritual use, protected by the goddess and can not be cut except May eve when in ritual you work with the trees, used as the Maypole when celebrating the goddess Flora, Hawthorn make for particularly potent wands, Thorns can be used to mark wax, to write with magical ink, or to fix something for magical purposes Hawthorn is sacred to the Fae/Fairies, one must ask permission before taking the blooms or sprigs. This plant has the proscription that its flowering boughs must never be allowed into your house as it will ensure the death of the Mother, if using fallen wood leave a gift, certainly leave an substantial offering when cutting down a whole tree for May day. Never cut down a solitary Tree as it may be a Faery Fort or entrance to other-worlds, leaves of the Hawthorn placed in someones bed is said to bring chastity Constituents according to modern medical analysis: Saponins, Glycosides, Flavonoids, Cardioactive glycosides, Ascorbic acid, condensed Tannins. Cardiotonic amines Medicinal Use: Among them being antispasmodic, cardio vascular, sedative and a vasodilator. Young leaves and flower buds can be added to salads. Teas are made from the berries and flowers. Also strong liquor is made from the buds. Hawthorn helps regulate blood pressure. It is used as a heart tonic and for kidney troubles, remedy for general heart weakness that is caused by infectious diseases such as diphtheria or scarlet fever as well as to improve the overall function of an old and tired heart muscle. It can be used preventively, especially recommended for people who are under constant pressure and stress, or remedially, for those recovering from a heart attack. According to Chinese and Japanese studies, Hawthorn clearly shows a positive effect on the whole coronary system and also helps to reduce LDL. Hawthorn is the best overall heart tonic available in the herbal pharmacopoeia and is even recognised by allopathic medicine for its healing virtues, and is included in the Commission E list of medicinally useful plants. It is a singularly safe remedy that can be used over extended periods of time, as it contains no digitalis-like compounds or other Cardio active constituents that build up in the body over time. The flowers and berries are astringent and can be used for sort throats. makes wonderful jellies and cordials. Modern medicine is unable to currently replicate the effects Hawthorn has in a laboratory situation Do what thou will - Cherie Legal mumbo jumbo: As with all herbal information/remedies I post, this is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease - seek advice from professional accredited sources, metaphysical properties are supplied with no promise of result and as such should be looked at as a historical traditional or folkloric curiosity Sources: A Modern Herbal - Mrs M Grieve W.R Busse, W.Juretzek, E.Koch - Hawthorn (Crataegus).Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements A Compendium of Herbal Magick - Paul Beyerl Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs - Cunningham Personal Practices of the Johansson and OHanlon families Images sources: Google search,HortusCamden, Pintrest, Blogspot
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +0000
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