Flowers and Herbs for Halloween

Lore to Ward off Evil or Witchcraft or Spirits and Keep You Safe

Oct 14, 2007

Old fashioned cures, remedies, protections, amulets and charms from your herb and flower garden to make your Halloween trick or treat night a safe, relaxing experience.

If you are leery about the witches, ghosts, spirits, goblins, trick or treaters and other dangers possibly lurking about on Halloween night, you might try using a few old fashioned flowers and herbs to protect and calm yourself. Over the ages, herbalists and gardeners have identified many plants that help keep you safe and healthy, soothed and calm, protected and out of harm’s way. The following tongue in cheek suggestions, with thanks to that old standby A Modern Herbal by Maude Grieve, include assorted snippets of the lore and history of flowers and herbs and might or -- might not -- work for you this Halloween night.

Sleeping Better with Herbs and Flowers for Sweet Dreams and Insomnia Cures

Whether you are worried or just too excited to sleep, try these tips. Place rosemary by the bed to prevent bad dreams and keep away evil spirits; sprinkle lavender petals and dried hops flowers to soothe, calm and help you sleep better. Bathe in lavender water to relax. Lavender deters insects, so hang a few lavender stems or a lavender wand nearby to keep those creepy Halloween spiders at bay.

A little peppermint (Menthe piperita) or chamomile or lavender flower tea will calm and relax you for the evening. Peony seeds in wine will help chase nightmares and bad dreams.

Too Much Candy? Herbs and Flowers as Stomach Ache Aids

Sipping fennel or dill (Peucedanum graveolens) seed tea soothes your tummy if you’ve eaten a little too much candy. If you need to cut down on sugar, try some sweet cicely (Myrris odorata.)

Too Much Screaming? Herbal Sore Throat Remedy

Use a little lungwort (Pulmonaria) or gargle with sage (Saliva officinalis) tea to soothe that throat made hoarse and sore by screaming in terror. Verbascum (Mullein) tea can soothe a throat, too.

Preventing Sore Feet Using Herbal Method

Prevent sore feet and keep them warm while trick or treating by lining your shoes with soft and wooly mullein (Verbascum) or lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) leaves.

General Safety Precautions Against Evil Spirits and other Troubles

Alfalfa ashes (if you do not grow alfalfa you might find alfalfa pellets at the pet store or alfalfa hay at the equine supply store) strewn about the yard can ward off evil spirits.

Hang a few sprigs of fennel and St. John’s Wort (just a whiff of this one causes evil spirits to fly away) over the door along with Angelica, a preservative against witchcraft as well as evil spirits. Ever handy, Snapdragon (Antirrhinum magus), scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) and toadflax will guard against witchcraft, too.

To chase away evil spirits, burn some fennel to create smoke (Fumitory or Fumaria officinalis) and be sure to carry some Mullein. A pot or two planted up with Vinca major (the Sorcerer’s Violet) will exorcize spirits. For protection from all evil, take a lead from the Druids and use a little mistletoe (Viscum album.)

Dill was often used in charms against witchcraft as was woody nightshade (Solanum dulcamara.) Peony seed necklaces and Geum (or Avens) amulets can be worn for protection. Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is useful as well, and may be woven into a crown.

Rue (Ruta graveolens) has very special powers, ranging from being antimagical to possibly giving second sight. The nearly all powerful wood betony (Stachys betonica) will protect both body and soul against evil spirits as well as despair and nearly whatever else ails you; wear it as an amulet or charm.

If Frightened on Halloween Night

Keep some lemon balm (Melissa officinalis, 2007 Herb of the Year) in store in case you do take fright. Lemon balm is a time honored cure for anxiety and phobias. For out and out hysteria, try tansy (Tanacetum vulgare).

If the fright is severe, a little yarrow (Achillea) might help lower your blood pressure.

Too Little Candy: Flower Solutions

If you were too scared to go out and trick or treat despite all of the handy tools listed above, or you received more tricks than treats, try a few edible flowers – candied sweet violets, maybe a few fried squash blossoms, lavender cookies, a little taste of honeysuckle.

These time tested safety tips and suggestions should not be taken literally, but they are wonderful additions to our understanding of the history, power and mystery of the many herbs and flowers in our gardens. For more Halloween-oriented articles, check out the Home and Garden Halloween Round Up. Happy Halloween!

The copyright of the article Flowers and Herbs for Halloween in Flower Gardens is owned by Barbara M. Martin. Permission to republish Flowers and Herbs for Halloween in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.