Planetary Herbalism: Unconventional Wisdom for Understanding the Planetary Natures

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Herbs of Venus:

Mallow, Rose (White or Pink), Hibiscus, Lady’s Mantle, Plantain, Lotus (Nelumba spp), Orris Root, Lady’s Slipper Orchid, Amaranths, Sumac, Red Root, Squirting Cucumber, Strawberry (Wild and Cultivated), Goldenseal, Raspberry, Love Dodder, Mimosa Pudica (Touch-Me-Not), Albizziae Julibrissia (Mimosa Tree), Silk-Cotton Tree, Benzoin, Vanilla, Pansies,

Temperature: Warm-Neutral-Cool

Taste: Sweet, Sour, Mucilaginous, Herbaceous, Juicy, Watery, Floral

Nature: Big Showy Flowers, Vigourous very verdant plants, fast growing, usually not long lived (even the perennials), colonising, fragrant, Red-Pink-White, fruiting

Fragrance: Strong, Fruity/Floral, Temporal (fades quickly when dried)

Medicinal Actions: Cooling, Nourishing, Vulnerary, Anti-Septic, Cardiac, Uro-Genital, Female Reproduction, Skin, Styptic, Astringent, Mucilaginious, Soothing, Vitamin C

Spiritual Uses: Best for Bathing, Dyeing (oils, fabrics), Growing (Gardening is an action of Venus).

Planetary Nature: Subtle, Enhances the Feminine nature of the spheres,

Tagates Petula

Herbs of the Sun:

Calendula (official), Marigold (Tagetes), Calamus, Cinnamon, Angelica spp, Cedar/Thuja, Ginger, Black Pepper, Rosemary, Bay Laurel, Frankincense, Columbine, Orange (fruit, bark, flower), Lemon, Rue, Reishi, Asafoetida, White Mustard, Celadine, Saffron,

Temperature: Warm-Hot

Taste: Salty, Acrid, Bitter, Spicy, Warm

Nature: Vigourous, White-Red-Orange, Highly Fragrant, Stimulating, Phototoxic, Tall, Long Lived / Self-Pollinating /Self-Seeding

Fragrance: Spicy, Warm, Oriental, Bitter, Pungent, Timeless (retains frangrance even when dried).

Medicinal Action: Neuro-protective, Stomachic, Analgesic, Dispersing, activating, blood, acute infection, diaphoretic, sudoforic, anti-microbial, irritant, photo-sensitising

Spiritual Uses: Incense, Bathing (mindful of photosensitising effects), Dyeing, Floor Sweep, Charms, Success, Cleansing, Protection.

Planetary Nature: Powerful, enhances the six primary spheres,

Phytolacca Americana

Herbs of Saturn:

Pokeberry (Phytolacca), Elder (Sambucus Spp), Mullein, Qing Dai (Calcined Woad Powder), Cypress, Bittersweet (Solanum Dulcamara), Scammony/High John Root, Solomon’s Seal (Polygonum Odoratum), Smartweed/Bistort, Woad (many kinds of False Indigos i.e. Baptisia are also Saturnian), Yew, Woodland Violet, Job’s Tears, Myrrh, Hemp Root. Hemp-Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), Blackberry (leaves, thorn, root), Earthsmoke.

Temperature: Cool or Cold, Dry

Taste: Easily confused with toxic planets (caution), bitter, sweet, earthy, herbaceous

Nature: Marginal, Shade loving, damp woodland conditions, often mistaken for its toxic cousins, potent- may cause purging, slow growing, fruiting, black-purple and white-yellow. tough plants, easy to transplant or use a cutting to grow, long lived, colonising.

Fragrance: Musk, Earthy, Rich, Opium, Pungent

Medicinal Action: Nourishing, Tonifying, Dispersing, Bones, Oncological, Debility, Masses, Tumours, Lymphatic, Gall/Spleen, Anaesthetic, Wasting Diseases (Diabetes),

Spiritual Uses: strong against sorcery, thieves, and spirits. Can be Impeccatory.

Planetary Nature: Very Potent, inhibited by Mars, Takes some time to access, but once you understand it, can overcome major obstacles.

Curcuma Longa

Herbs of Mars:

Nettle, Yarrow, Bloodroot, Cayenne, Chili, Clove, Mace, Dragon’s Blood resin, Guinea Pepper, Cardamom, Coriander, Cumin, Basil (both Holy and Official), Ashwagandha, Garlic, Tumeric, Japanese Knotweed, Guineahen Weed (Petiveria Allicea), Thistles , Madder, Rhubarb, Nasturtium

Temperature: Very Warm-Hot, Dry

Taste: Spicy, Pungent, Bitter, Acrid, Inflammatory

Nature: Vigourous Plants with Showy Flowers, Usually Fragrant or Pungent (or both), Irritant/Urticaria to touch, Pink-Red-Orange, Seeds or Root, Fast Growing, Near Tropical or Tropical Zone (Prefers Warm Climate), Hard to Eliminate.

Fragrance: Spicy, Pungent, Irritant, Acrid, Sulfuric

Medicinal Actions: Styptic, Astringent, Irritant Blood, Kidneys, Venomous Bites/Stings, Urticaria (causes), Irritant, Anodyne, Nutritive, Libido, Counteracts Toxicity.

Spiritual Uses: Teas, Food, Tincture, Impeccatory acts, Protection and Strength.

Planetary Nature: Firey, explosive, short lived. neutralised by Venus.

Potentilla Fructuctosa

Herbs of Mercury:

Fennel, Spearmint, Lemongrass, Vetiver, Palmarosa, Cinquefoil, Devil’s Shoestring (Viburnum Spp.), Wood Betony, Sweet Gum, Mastic, Spicebush, Lavender, Joe Pye/Gravelroot, Marjoram, Woodruff, Cleavers, Pineapple Weed, Caraway, Dill, Coltsfoot, Pine pollen, Moneywort, Trefoil, Honeysuckle, Groundsel, Licorice, Broomstraw, Catnip, Anis seeds.

Temperature: True Neutral (Slightly Warm or Cool)

Taste: Astringent, Sweet, Floral, Fragrant

Nature: Shrubby, Creeping, found on Paths and Roads, Yellow-White-Pink-Lavender, Wandering (shows up far from cultivated areas), humble but plentiful flowers, almost always safe to wild-harvest and consume,

Fragrance: Floral-Herbaceous, Soft, Licorice, Fresh, Coumarin

Medicinal Action: Astringent, Nervine, Analgesic, Upper Respiratory, Calmative, Lymphatic, Anti-Spasmodic, Headaches, Stomachic, Anti-Toxic, Anodyne

Spiritual Uses: All. Best for Abre Camino (Road Opening- Candles, Baths, Floor, Incense etc), Very Lucky, Gambling. Friendship.

Planetary Nature: Subtle but Strong, inhibited by the Moon, flexible, multi-faceted, plays well with others, growing undetected.

Salix Babylonica

Herbs of the Moon:

Eucalyptus, Eyebright, Chamomile, Star Anise, Peony (White, Root), Limes, Poppy (Oriental + California), Milkweed, Lily (Madonna), Blue Lotus, Starwort, Lunaria Annua (Moonwort), Moonflower (Ipomea), Heuchera (Coral Bells), Horsemint, Sweetpea, Mugwort, Irish Moss, Sweetpea, Willow, Birch, Camphor, Wintergreen, Hydrangea

Temperature: Cool-Very Cold

Taste: Menthol, Anodyne, Fruity, Sour

Nature: Long-lived, Medium Sized, Medium growing, small colonies, frequently cultivated (indoor/outdoor), white-indigo, pale yellow, silvery leaf, loves water or damp areas, shade tolerant, fragrant, high volatile essential oil content.

Fragrance: Strong, Floral, Menthol, Sweet, Opiate

Medicinal Action: Anodyne, Analgesic, Neurological, Lower Respiratory, Mucilaginious, Soothing, Cooling, Anti-Phlegmatic, Expectorant, Anti-Diarrheal, Laxative, Good for toxic internal waters.

Spiritual Uses: Teas, External, Incense, Smudge, Dreams, Luck, Family, Second Sight, Cleansing, Strong against Ghosts.

Planetary Nature: Subtle, Malleable, Easily Accessible

Herbs of Jupiter:

Nutmeg, Oak, Blueflag (Iris), Agrimony, Compass Flower, Herbe Robert (Geum), Self-heal, Anis-Hyssop, Hyssop Official, Salvia spp, Chapparal, Milk thistle, Carnation (Dianthus-Clove), Valerian, Wormwood, Elecampagne, Boldo, Comfrey, Cascara Sagrada, Juniper, Yellow Dock, Centaury, Chicory, Figwort, Chelone Glabra (Turtleshead), Sarsaparilla, Sassafras

Temperature: Neutral (Without Extremes), Slightly Warm, Slightly Cool.

Taste: Acrid, Bitter, Herbal, Fragrant

Nature: Prolific, Often Wild colonies, Proud, Handsome, Prominent Flowers, Blade Leaves, Yellow roots, Purple-White-Yellow, fragrant, pungent, some love or loathe the scents,

Fragrance: Woodsy, Spicy, Pungent, Herbal

Medicinal Action: Many, but prominently associated with the liver: hepa-protective, hepa-repairative. laxative, cholagogic, anti-scruphola, stomachic, digestive, sedative, anti-toxic, lymphatic, gastro-intestinal, purgative, anti fungal, anti parasitical,

Spiritual Uses: Wealth, Cleansing, Health, Mastery, Invocation

Planetary Nature: Powerful, Inhibited by Saturn, Able to do many things